Early Season Observations: Intriguing Forwards

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">As we approach the one-month mark of the season, I haven’t gotten to highlighting great starts to the season by forwards. Forwards roles, like guards, don’t always involve scoring in bunches. I have a great deal of respect for forwards who do the little things to help their team win games. I didn’t write this list in any order, nor is this a list of the top forwards.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="262976" first="Callie" last="Smith"]-6’0 F-’22-Belleville: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Smith is one of the best at controlling the paint on the defensive end. She is good at deterring opposing guards from driving into the paint. Smith does this by blocking over three shots a game and pulling down over 14 rebounds per game. Her rebounding mark is second-best in Wisconsin as of writing this. Smith’s blocks put her in the top-10 in blocks in the state. Smith’s only knock is that she’s not a prolific scorer, but she does so much to help her team win.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156072" first="Allison" last="Hampel"]-6’0 F-’23-Greenfield: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Hampel is one of the most consistent players, in terms of box numbers, that I have come across. Scoring-wise, outside of one 28 point performance, Hampel has scored around 15 to 18 points per night. Rebounding is no different for Hampel. The junior has been in double figures rebounding in all but one game. Overall, Hampel is a consistent threat on both ends of the floor and is as consistent as they come.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156067" first="Neveah" last="Thomas"]-6’0 F-’23-Kenosha Bradford: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In just two games, Thomas has continued where she left off last season. The junior is one of the most versatile players in the state. She is a three-level scorer with a motor to play defense at a high level. Thomas makes plays defensively all the time. The 6’0 forward is averaging four blocks and steals in her two games. Her game is one of the most malleable ones in the state. I’m confident she can do anything.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="264920" first="Ayianna" last="Johnson"]-6’3 F-’23-Jefferson: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="264920" first="Ayianna" last="Johnson"] is one of the more unique players I’ve come across. Johnson is averaging a double-double so far this season, 21 points and 12 rebounds. The junior forward is one of my favorite prospects because she doesn’t play how most 6’3 players play. Johnson is quick and uses her long strides to blow by defenders and get to the rim. Defensively, her height alone serves as a deterrent for guards, but she is also good at timing her jumps to block shots when necessary. Although it’s hard to tell if she’s a guard or forward at times, her ceiling is high.</span>