Brady’s Observations: Underrated Players

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">I’ve lost count of how many games I’ve attended this season. However, there have been some names that have stuck with me all year. I want to highlight a few players who, I think, have been great in their roles this season. There are four names that I want to specifically highlight because I feel I haven’t done it enough. These players are in no particular order.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Erica Bub-5’10 G-’24 Arrowhead</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">In all honesty, Bub was the inspiration for this piece. I just got home from Arrowhead’s loss to Germantown, but Bub was so good, I had to find a way to talk about her. She had nine early points thanks to three 3’s. The sophomore showed the potential of being a good high school player. Her measurables also make it possible she could be a next-level prospect. I’m not sure what she ended with scoring-wise tonight, but I’m positive it was a career-high.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="266988" first="MiKayla" last="Werner"]-6’0 G/F-’24 Hortonville</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I genuinely believe that Werner is one of the most talented players in the state. There are very few teams in America with six-foot wings who shoot 40% from the 3-point line and defend the paint who come off the bench. The sophomore has earned more opportunities as the season has gone on, and I was lucky enough to witness her best game of the season, on the road against Appleton East. Werner earned a double-double against the Patriots by attacking the offensive glass. Her size and athleticism help her pluck rebounds over girls who try and box her out. Usually, when teams have three Division 1 athletes graduate, the team will get noticeably less competitive. I don’t see it happening because of both Werner and T. Mocadlo.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Reenie Ganzer-5’10 F-’23-Pius XI</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Of the five starters at Pius, Ganzer is the one that doesn’t get as many plaudits as the others. I’ve seen her play on three occasions now, and I’ve concluded that she is one of the best teammates out there. If I didn’t go to the Waunakee game, I don’t think I would’ve realized her talent. Three Lady Popes got into foul trouble, including Seattle commit M. Moore against Waunakee. Moore left the game in the second half with Pius losing, and when she came back in, they were ahead. That was down to how well Ganzer played. Ganzer defended a girl who’s four inches taller than her in the paint and blanked her. The junior played at such a high level that afternoon. That win was all because of what Ganzer did.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="264945" first="Lili" last="Hartel"]-5’9 G/F-’23-Mukwonago</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Nothing that Hartel does is glamorous. She’s at home when she makes people uncomfortable. The Mukwonago junior is one of the toughest defenders in the state and has been for a while now. For her to take that next step, her offensive game needed to improve, and it has. She has shown that she can score 20 points in a game if needed. That said, her defense will likely force a coach to give her a shot because she’s going to be a capable and willing defender the second she steps on a college campus. However, the potential she’s shown as a two-way prospect this season should get more eyes on her this summer.</span>