Players to Watch: 2024 Guards
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The sophomores in Wisconsin are incredibly talented from top to bottom. Most of these players earned playing time during their freshmen seasons. As sophomores, many of these players are starting to find a groove. With a lot of data available…
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Continue ReadingThe sophomores in Wisconsin are incredibly talented from top to bottom. Most of these players earned playing time during their freshmen seasons. As sophomores, many of these players are starting to find a groove. With a lot of data available on these players, I feel very comfortable talking about four guards in particular. To be clear, this is not a ranking of these players.
Claire Bjorge Claire Bjorge 5'8" | CG De Pere | 2024 State WI -5’8 G-De Pere: When Bjorge gets time to survey the floor, she’s one of the most dangerous players I’ve seen. There isn’t a pass I don’t think Bjorge is capable of making, whether that be a 40-foot cross-court pass to an open shooter or passing through a zone. The other reason the De Pere sophomore is dangerous in space is her ability to shoot. Over her first season and a half, Bjorge is a 44% 3-point shooter. I also feel like I’ve seen the best and worst versions of Bjorge. Against Germantown, the Red Birds were a mess from start to finish, and Bjorge couldn’t find a rhythm. However, the ability to bounce back the way she did against Pewaukee was impressive. With their star senior and leading scorer out most of the game with foul trouble, Bjorge was unbelievable. The sophomore looked like a completely different player and almost led the Red Birds to a win over a top Division 2 team. The version of Bjorge I saw that day is one of the best guards in the state. Last Thursday, Bjorge recorded her first double-double, 17 points, and 10 assists against Appleton North.
Sarah Aleknavicius Sarah Aleknavicius 5'11" | CG Grafton | 2024 State WI -5’11 G-Grafton: To be completely honest, Aleknavicius confuses me in the best way possible. I don’t know many other players who fit so many different roles on the floor. While in a zone, I think the Grafton sophomore would excel in any area. Offensively, the 5-foot-11 guard can initiate offense effectively and space the floor. However, Aleknavicius is also balanced enough to exploit mismatches in the paint if that’s what’s needed. As a sophomore, Aleknavicius seems to understand how to affect a game in as many ways as humanly possible. As the guard continues to develop, she has a chance to be a great player at the high school level.
Lindsey Schadewalt Lindsey Schadewalt 5'10" | SG New Glarus | 2024 State WI -5’10 G-New Glarus: I am a huge admirer of Schadewalt offensively. I believe, if Schadewalt played in a better conference, more people would know about her. Her efficiency is low because of how much she’s asked to do. The sophomore will be the No. 1 name on scouting reports, and other teams will devote most of their resources to slowing her down. Because of that, I’m willing to look past her shooting from the field. However, she shoots 41% from behind the 3-point line. Schadewalt also shows her shooting ability at the free-throw line with a 91% free throw percentage. I also think that the Glarner Knight has potential defensively. She has good size and length to guard on the perimeter, and if she can continue to develop as a defender, I’m excited to see where she ends up.
Reagan Briggs Reagan Briggs 5'9" | SG Verona | 2024 State WI -5’9 G-Verona: As a team, Verona has had a lot of ups and downs this season. Recently the Wildcats have earned some massive conference wins, and Briggs has been at the heart of them. It seems odd for a player who led a Wildcat team in scoring who ended up in the Division 1 semi-finals. However, that feels like that’s what has happened. In the last four games, the sophomore has scored 16.7 points per game in an equal opportunity offense that every player has bought into, and it’s a beautiful thing to see in person. The consistency Briggs has shown to score within the offense is incredible. Briggs is also a versatile scorer who has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. Behind the 3-point line, Briggs can shoot teams out of zones. She also uses that threat to get into her in-between game. Overall, she’s a complete scorer, and if the Wildcats continue to win, the sophomore could explode onto the playoff scene again.