Class of 2024: Intriguing Shooters
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Shooting is a skill that can help players get to the next level. Players who can shoot can affect the game by standing still if you want to talk about spacing at a basic level. Creating space for more ball-dominant…
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Continue ReadingShooting is a skill that can help players get to the next level. Players who can shoot can affect the game by standing still if you want to talk about spacing at a basic level. Creating space for more ball-dominant players helps a team maximize its ability as a unit. These are four players I want to talk about due to their ability to shoot. Nobody listed is in any particular order.
Olivia Conway Olivia Conway 5'6" | PG Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI -5’6 G-Catholic Memorial: Conway was the inspiration for this piece today. I got to see her play for the first time this afternoon, and I liked what I saw from her. The Crusader is a little bit smaller than you’d like from an off-ball guard, but she makes it work. Conway gets defenders to bite on ball fakes consistently and is comfortable taking the ball to the basket when attacking recovering defenses. She is only shooting 35% from behind the 3-point line, but there’s some context I want to add. When the Crusaders have the ball, most of what they do runs through G. Lomen. When Lomen gets past her initial defender, Conway’s nearest defender is usually the only one who doesn’t help, giving Conway tougher looks than other Crusaders get. That said, she’s gotten better since her freshman season, and I expect that trend to continue for the next two years.
Alexa Kinas Alexa Kinas 5'8" | CG Kaukauna | 2024 State WI -5’8 G-Kaukauna: To start off with Kinas, she looks taller than 5’8. The sophomore also lets the ball go at the highest point on her jumper. Her first season and a half have proven that Kinas isn’t just a good shooter but a consistent one as well. Over her career, Kinas has shot 44% from the 3-point line for the Galloping Ghosts. Adding more context to Kinas as a shooter, she’s doing this in the most talent-rich conference in the state, the FVA. Kinas and Zarneke have the talent to surprise people in February, and for Kinas, it all has to do with her ability to shoot the ball at an elite level.
Molly Janke Molly Janke 5'10" | SG Ellsworth | 2024 State WI -5’11 G/F-Ellsworth: Janke has greatly improved her shooting this season. The sophomore has increased her 3-point percentage by 13 percentage points from 29% last season to 42% this season. Her jumper is unique, to say the least, because she doesn’t use her guiding hand that much. That said, the results speak for themself. At this point in the season, Janke has taken about as many 3’s as she did a season ago, and the improvement is staggering. Janke is much more than just a shooter, but I have to mention her improvement in this aspect of her game.
Addy Zacher-5’6 G-Muskego: The Muskego sophomore has led the Warriors in assists this season. Zacher hasn’t shot the ball that much, but the results of her shooting are impressive. Although a few games aren’t fully available, Zacher is likely shooting over 40% from behind the line. When Zacher does get her shots, they look comfortable, simple, and fluid. From what I see on her tape, I wish she would take more so I’d feel better speaking so highly of her shot. I believe in her ability to shoot, and as she gains more experience, she will likely get more chances to show it off.