Class of 2024: Stock Risers

With a newly updated set of rankings comes a new stock risers piece. The 2024 class has some of the most high-end talents in the state, and plenty of kids’ game has improved over the past few months. Without further ado, here are some of the biggest stock risers in the class. [player_tooltip player_id="209605" first="Claire" last="Bjorge"] The De Pere guard is one of the most gifted combo guards in the 2024 class. I’d lean more into thinking of her as a scoring guard, but she also led one of the best offenses in the state last season, so she’s much more than just a scorer. Bjorge is incredibly mentally tough. That’ll be the main takeaway I’ll have on her for a long time. Her performance in the sectional final against Germantown was unbelievable. Her 19 points, eight assists, and five rebounds were the difference in the Red Birds avenging their early season loss and earning a trip to the Resch Center. [player_tooltip player_id="266982" first="Lila" last="Posthuma"] The Prescott wing is a kid who hasn’t been around the major cities in Wisconsin but believe me when I say she’s one of the most skilled players in America’s Dairyland. The Cardinal sophomore can do a little bit of everything. She has the tools to score in every way imaginable. Her size and high release make her shot challenging to contest, and her footwork makes her a solid option with her back to the basket. Posthuma is also a threat with the ball at the top of the key. The 6-foot athletic wing has a ton of potential due to her versatility. [player_tooltip player_id="266985" first="Kloe" last="Zentkowski"] The 6-foot guard is one of the most intriguing prospects in the state. Zentkowski has the guard instincts of a point guard and an improving all-around game. The Superior native makes the right plays with the ball, and her size gives her the versatility to play different roles within an offense. Her jumper and ability to finish around the basket make her offensive game something any coach can mold how they see fit. Defensively, her mobility makes her ceiling high. [player_tooltip player_id="266999" first="Mary" last="Stroebel"] Everything Stroebel does seems quiet. She doesn’t do anything that she’s incapable of doing or anything that doesn’t involve the betterment of her team. When you look at her numbers during the high school season, her rise may confuse some people, but there are a few things to note. One is she wasn’t the focal point of her team’s offense or even the second, for that matter. She sacrificed for the betterment of her team, and every time I’ve seen her for her talented Wisconsin Impact team, she’s been effective. Her athleticism and ability to hit shots everywhere on the floor make her a scholarship-level talent. [player_tooltip player_id="209907" first="Nevaeh" last="Thompson"] Thompson has one of the more unique skill sets in the state. She does most of her damage in the paint, but it usually comes from her facing up on the perimeter and driving through her initial defender. I still know the game when I’m guessing she figured out how to get the most out of herself. Against future Division 1 state champions Kettle Moraine, Thompson was the leading scorer with 19 points and handed the Lazers their only Classic loss. Thompson was the best player that night in Wales and was the best player on the floor that night. [player_tooltip player_id="209585" first="Emily" last="Cooper"] The McDonnell Central guard is the glue that holds good teams together. She defends at a high level and has shown she can knock down perimeter jumpers this spring at a high clip. The first time I saw her play was at the State Tournament. In that game, she set the pace early. She made incredible passes and got her teammates easy baskets. Some of those passes seemed to be 60-feet. [player_tooltip player_id="342361" first="Olivia" last="Grothaus"] The Hudson Raider is a versatile post. Grothaus has the athleticism to play in transition as a cutter or ball-handler. She can attack from the perimeter or with her back to the basket. Grothaus’ mobility makes her as intriguing as anyone with her skillset. She has the potential to continue to rise in these rankings and recruiting boards. [player_tooltip player_id="266996" first="Keyah" last="Strop"] There may not be any player who forces the issue more than Strop. She flies around the court for every loose ball and aggressively attacks the basket. I’ve enjoyed watching her play on the PGH Circuit because her impact on the game goes beyond what the box score says. Strop’s game is versatile enough to do anything a coach would want. That makes her valuable. [player_tooltip player_id="329560" first="Madison" last="Ehlenbach"] There aren’t many kids who rose their stock on the PGH Circuit the way Ehlenbach did. She showed that she could score like some of the more elite players in this class. To start a game in one of the PGH Live, Ehlenbach scored with a spot-up 3-pointer. On the next offensive possession, the sophomore used a pump fake and a left-hand dribble to knock down a 15-foot jumper. In the offensive possession after that, she showed that she could attack and finish at the basket with her left hand. She still has room to grow, but the signs are there. [player_tooltip player_id="209599" first="Ava" last="Collier-White"] The Prairie School has a talented young backcourt. It’s well-rounded due to what Collier-White brings to that team. She doesn’t need the ball to succeed and can pressure opposing ball-handlers. She forces mistakes out of kids who can’t handle the kind of defense that she brings. I’ve enjoyed watching her play on the PGH Circuit and expect her to get some small school looks if she hasn’t already.