The Exclusive: Under-The-Radar Talent

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">The last thing I’d like to discuss is some under-the-radar kids who I haven’t discussed to this point. These kids bring a specific set of skills to the table that I think will help them gain next-level interest. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="209596" first="Eva" last="Brandenburg"]-Chapman Basketball Academy 2023 Frings</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I can’t imagine how little fun it is to be defended by Brandenburg for a whole game, let alone one possession. The sophomore is someone who may not score in double digits more than a few times all summer, but she’s going to help this team win games. I love the things she does in a full-court press because it allows her to do what she does best. She’s a hellacious on-ball defender who attacks any lackadaisical dribble or passes from her assignment or players around her. If you ask any ball-handler who’s dealt with her, they’ll tell you the same thing if they were honest.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="266997" first="Annamaria" last="Luna"]-Playground Club National 2024</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Wauwatosa West guard is someone I’ve known about for a while but found hard to judge due to the team she played on. What she did against Minnesota Fury impressed me because she excelled within her role on the team. She was allowed to shoot with some space and be an off-ball defender. She took and made multiple 3’s with confidence. On defense, only standing at 5-foot-5, she has her limitations. However, she never let anyone back cut on her, lose her on screens, or get space with her around. She will probably end as a 3&amp;D player at the next level, and watching her excel within that role was informative. Luna was a defensive sub at the end of the game. That tells me a lot about what her coaches think of her.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Payton Grenzer-Wisconsin Blizzard 2024 Hawley</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I saw Blizzard’s 2024 team play twice against two different games. Grenzer dominated down low against a shorter team from Texas first. She kept the ball high, got easy baskets, and got her hands on most rebounds. She then matched up with two 6-foot-3 girls, and she did the same thing. These two performances lead me to believe that she will be able to play her game against any team. That’s intriguing. As a 6-foot-2 forward, Grenzer’s touch around the rim and ability to own the area around the basket will be appealing to next-level coaches.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Emily Montgomery-Team Wisconsin 2024 Noll</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The 5-foot-8 wing is a rangy two or three but will likely be a two at the next level. I missed Montgomery’s scoring outburst later on Saturday, but I saw her play against a Full Package team where she did well defensively one-on-one. Her athleticism will play at the next level. I like what she can do defensively against talented off-ball wings. When I watch her play, she doesn’t make mistakes on that side of the ball. She may miss some shots, but nothing changes her demeanor. She’s even keel and will always fight on the defensive end.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="338950" first="Lillian" last="Merow"]-Chapman Basketball Academy 2025</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Port Washington native has gotten way better since I first watched her film six months ago. The 6-foot-2 forward looks comfortable in the paint and understands what she wants to do offensively and defensively to succeed. It’s easy to tell from the outside that she’ll continue to get better throughout her high school and college career. I liked watching her use her physical tools to own the area around the rim, which will likely carry over into her high school season.</span>