The Exclusive: Stock Risers

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Over the weekend, plenty of players excelled in the Chicagoland area. However, I want to talk about some kids who raised their stock significantly with their play. Even though I only got to see these teams play once, I know that they’ve gotten better.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="329571" first="Gracie" last="McNabb"]-Chapman Basketball Academy 2023</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Grafton guard didn’t play a high usage role during the high school season but has played incredibly well this summer. I’ve seen her play a few times. She’s been engaged and influential on both ends of the floor. McNabb has shot the ball well all AAU season to the point that I believe every shot she takes will fall. Defensively, McNabb has defended some talented kids and done more than hold her own. The junior has been consistent with her play, and from what she’s shown, she’s more than capable of playing at the next level.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="340025" first="Adrianna" last="Gonzalez"]-Playground Club 2024 National</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I have known that Gonzalez could score in bunches. She’s done that all year at Indian Trail, where she’s needed to put the ball in the basket. From what I’ve seen with this group, she’s shown that she’s able to play with other talented kids. At the next level, that’s something she’ll need to do, and seeing her play against Minnesota Fury. I am confident that she can fit in anywhere. She scored and defended kids four inches taller than her at a high level. Gonzalez was a big reason that her team won that game.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="329560" first="Madison" last="Ehlenbach"]-Foundation Athletics 2024</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Columbus wing is quickly becoming one of my favorite under-the-radar ’24 prospects. She’s an athletic 5-foot-9 wing with the lateral quickness to stay in front of the kids she’s asked to defend. Offensively, she has the tools to be anything a coach would want her to be. If you need her to space the floor and be a spot-up shooter, create her shot off the dribble, attack the basket and finish with either hand, those are all things she’s capable of doing at a high level. Ehlenbach’s name will start floating around some college staff soon if it hasn’t already.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Hailee Bauer-Wisconsin Blizzard 2025 Chase</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The only knock on Bauer’s freshman season is that she played in Division 5. However, she’s gone around this AAU season and kept doing the same things she did at Lourdes Academy. Bauer is a natural lead guard who looks to pass first, which is odd for a kid who averaged over 15 points as a freshman. I watch her play, and I notice where her eyes go. She surveys the court in transition, looking for cutters, open shooters, or blown assignments. Bauer didn’t even take a 3-pointer until about four minutes left and made another by the end. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Olivia Witkowski-Wisconsin Blizzard 2025 Chase</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">In my opinion, nobody jumped off the page as Witkowski did. The 6-foot forward always seemed to get a hand on the ball. I loved how she dominated around the rim on both ends of the floor. She dominated the glass and blocked or changed multiple shots. However, what stood out with Witkowski was how she defended when she got pulled away from the basket. She moves her feet superbly for a kid of her size. She looked as comfortable defending on the perimeter as she did around the basket. If she keeps getting better, we’re talking about an intriguing defensive prospect.</span>