Class of 2024: High Ceiling Guards
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The class of 2024 is interesting because plenty of kids have one thing they excel at right now. As sophomores, they have time to grow as players. I want to highlight four guards that have high ceilings. In my opinion,…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2024 is interesting because plenty of kids have one thing they excel at right now. As sophomores, they have time to grow as players. I want to highlight four guards that have high ceilings. In my opinion, these are kids to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.
Brynn Kirch Brynn Kirch 5'6" | PG McFarland | 2024 State WI -5’6 PG-McFarland
If there’s one thing I know Kirch will do on the floor, she’ll create. From what I’ve seen, she is more of a pass-first guard than a scoring guard. The Spartan has been out for a few weeks. In that time, I got to see the Spartans in person for the first time. I honestly felt they needed another ball-handler to get T. Mallegni, playing off the ball more, which Kirch could bring. When Kirch has been on the floor, she’s led her team in assists and was pulling down over six rebounds per game. I got to see her play at the Top 250 Expo in Appleton, and I think she’s a better scorer than she’s shown this season. I’m not sure what her timetable looks like to get back on the floor, but her presence is valuable.
Claire Bjorge Claire Bjorge 5'8" | CG De Pere | 2024 State WI -5’8 G-De Pere
Looking a little more short-term with Bjorge, but the sophomore playing well in the postseason could lead to the Redbirds having a deep playoff run. There aren’t many kids who have a better-looking jumper than her. Bjorge has been consistent of late scoring the ball, even earning a double-double against Bay Port with 18 points and 10 steals. I know I saw maybe one of the worst games she’s played against Germantown, where nothing seemed to go right as a whole. The only reason I bring that up is because of what she did the very next day. Although the Redbirds lost to Pewaukee in overtime, the sophomore thrived. Bjorge came out of the gates aggressively against one of the best teams in the state. Even when J. Meulemans fouled out in overtime, she almost won that game for her team. The mental toughness she showed to come back to the same gym and play that well is something I will never forget.
Gracie Gopalan Gracie Gopalan 5'4" | PG Waupun | 2024 State WI -5’4 PG-Waupun
Gopalan may be the most crucial player for the Warriors this season. The lead guard is the tone-setter for everything the Warriors do. Gopalan isn’t going to turn the ball over, and she gets the ball to teammates when they’re open. If Waupun wants to speed the game up, the sophomore is more than capable of doing that. The Warrior is also capable of maximizing her teams’ possessions. Her offensive game will bloom over the next few seasons with more opportunity.
Molly Janke Molly Janke 5'10" | SG Ellsworth | 2024 State WI -5’11 G-Ellsworth
The Ellsworth native has made herself into not just an average shooter but a good shooter, which is a game-changer. Janke is one of the best athletes in the class of ’24. I don’t worry about her defensively because she has the size and lateral quickness to stay with almost anyone. Offensively, her game seems to be leading more to her being a wing at the college level. If the improvements she’s shown are the beginning of a trend, Janke could become one of the premier prospects in Wisconsin.