Players to Watch: Point Forwards
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Point Forwards are some of my favorite types of players on the floor. Point Forwards gives a team a ton of flexibility by being a non-guard who can break a press, initiate an offense, and excel in most areas on…
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Continue ReadingPoint Forwards are some of my favorite types of players on the floor. Point Forwards gives a team a ton of flexibility by being a non-guard who can break a press, initiate an offense, and excel in most areas on offense. Wisconsin has a few of these players that stick out in my mind. Due to that, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite Point Forwards in Wisconsin. To be clear, I am not ranking these players on this list.
Alana Zarneke Alana Zarneke 6'0" | SF Kaukauna | 2023 State WI -6’0 G/F-’23-Kaukauna: The best way I can describe Zarneke is that she looks like a guard who hit a growth spurt. Everything Zarneke does on the court looks incredibly smooth. The Galloping Ghost’s jump shot is one of the most aesthetically pleasing shots I’ve witnessed. The junior’s ball-handling is also smooth. Zareneke can contort her body around the rim to shield the ball from shot blockers and finish with her left or right hand. At the high school level, I believe Zarneke could play any position on the floor. Off of the top of my head, I can’t think of many players I can say that about confidently. If the Fox Valley Association, as a conference, had a most improved player award this season, it would have to go to Zarneke. I love her game, and with Division 1 sectionals available, there are a few possible games that could put the junior on a lot of coach’s radars if she continues to play this well.
Mahra Wieman Mahra Wieman 5'10" | CG Reedburg | 2022 State WI -5’10 F-’22-Reedsburg: To begin, I have to refer to Mahra Wieman Mahra Wieman 5'10" | CG Reedburg | 2022 State WI as Reedsburg all-time leading scorer Mahra Wieman Mahra Wieman 5'10" | CG Reedburg | 2022 State WI . Wieman can score in almost every way imaginable. Even though Wieman scores more than 20 points per game, she does an excellent job balancing her distribution. The senior is always aware of where her teammates are on the floor. Wieman also understands how to take advantage of mismatches, which most defenders are. The Beaver can isolate forwards and score in a variety of ways. Wieman also has the balance and touch to take guards into the paint. Whatever Wieman ends up doing after she graduates, if her basketball career is anything to go by, she will be a winner somewhere.
Ayianna Johnson Ayianna Johnson 6'3" | C Jefferson | 2023 State WI -6’3 G/F-’23-Jefferson: Johnson is an incredible athlete, and it shows in her game. Although she doesn’t do a ton of initiating at the moment, she shows flashes of guard skills. From the top of the key, she is dangerous and can take one dribble and get a layup, and if a defense crashes on her drives, she can get a pass to any teammate she wants. Johnson has some juice off the dribble, and that burst makes her dangerous, in my opinion. The junior hasn’t shot the ball that much as of yet. However, her free-throw percentage gives me hope that Johnson could stretch the floor.
Lily Truchon Lily Truchon 5'11" | PG South Shore | 2023 State WI -5’11 G/F-’23-South Shore: Truchon is one of my favorite players to check on from game to game. The numbers she puts up at South Shore are amazing 25 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists per game. The argument that some may bring up is that Truchon plays at a small school against lesser competition. As a 5’11 initiator, the junior is as good as they come. The junior can score at all three levels. Truchon can even pass at a high level.