Players to Watch: Every WIAA Division
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Somehow a month of the season has already come and gone. With the latter part of the season about to get underway, these are a few players to follow as the postseason approaches. I want to pick out a player…
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Continue ReadingSomehow a month of the season has already come and gone. With the latter part of the season about to get underway, these are a few players to follow as the postseason approaches. I want to pick out a player in every division in the WIAA, to get a wide range of kids. These players all will have significant roles to play with their teams looking to make a deep playoff run. None of these players, as far as I know, are committed.
Lindsay Steien Lindsay Steien 5'9" | CG Blair- Taylor | 2023 State WI -5’9 G-’23-Blair-Taylor: We’re starting with Division 5 player on this list, who is also currently leading the state in scoring. Steien, when she graduates, has a chance to finish her high school career with 2,000 points. Last season Blair-Taylor was in Division 4 and lost to Dairyland-Large rival Cochrane-Fountain City in the regional final. With the drop of divisions, however, Steien may be the best player in the division this season. From short clips I’ve seen of Steien, is she can force the issue. Steien puts an incredible amount of pressure on players she guards. The junior’s jump shot has the same motion every time, and she has improved on her game every, and her numbers show that improvement.
Lalani Ellis Lalani Ellis 5'7" | PG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2023 State WI -5’7 G-’23-Milwaukee Academy of Science: I was able to see Milwaukee Academy of Science play Pius XI just before Thanksgiving. In that game, the Lady Novas were a little bit out of sorts, but their core three players excelled in their time on the floor. What I saw from Ellis was a lot of drives. On those drives, she showed excellent footwork and touch around the rim. The guard isn’t much of a shooter, even though teams know that Ellis can get to the basket whenever she wants. If anyone is going to beat Division 4 power Aquinas, it may be the Lady Novas due to their ability to exploit the Blugolds lack of size with players like Ellis.
Halle Vande Hey Halle Vande Hey 6'0" | C Xavier | 2024 State WI -6’0 F-’24-Xavier: In my opinion, three teams have shown they are a class above the rest in Division 3 Waupun, Prairie du Chein, and Freedom. For a team to unseat one of those three teams, they need a game wrecker, and that’s what Vande Hey can be. The sophomore doesn’t fit in any common position, and I love that about her. Offensively this season, she hasn’t played up to the level that I believe she can, so I’m expecting a little more from her the rest of the season. Defensively is where she can change games. Vande Hey’s athleticism allows her to guard almost anyone and the instincts to make plays on the ball.
Gabby Wilke Gabby Wilke 6'1" | PF Beaver Dam | 2024 State WI -6’2 F-’24-Beaver Dam: Even though Beaver Dam lost back-to-back games to Reedsburg and Milwaukee Academy of Science, the Golden Beavers have every reason to believe Division 2 runs through them. Gabby Wilke Gabby Wilke 6'1" | PF Beaver Dam | 2024 State WI is a big reason they can still lift the gold ball at the end of the season. Wilke is a mobile 6’2 forward who plays with aggression in the paint and with grace on the perimeter. The only time I’ve seen her get out of her element is when Reedsburg brought timely doubles to her and didn’t foul, and very few teams can defend as Reedsburg can. The sophomore also has a soft shooting touch from the outside. Wilke’s jumper also has good lift and a high release, where she can shoot from anywhere. The Golden Beaver also puts in effort rebounding, where she excels on both the defensive and offensive boards.
Annika Pluemer Annika Pluemer 5'9" | CG Brookfield East | 2023 State WI -5’9 G-’23-Brookfield East: Brookfield East has earned some impressive wins early in the season, thanks to Pluemer. Pluemer scored 35 points and pulled down 16 rebounds against a talented Germantown, which prompted me to look at her numbers closely from her nine games. In those nine games, Pluemer has played incredibly well. The junior has artificially improved her numbers by making more 3-point attempts and free throws. From the line last season, she shot about 68%. This season that number is up around 92%. From the 3-point line, her percentage has gone from 32% to 46%. Her shooting numbers have been great this season, and it has forced me to take her and her Spartan team as serious contenders to get to Green Bay.