Hidden Gems That Have Shined
In this article:
Last night I saw my 30th high school game of the year, and I’ve seen plenty of talented kids committed to playing basketball in college. Today, I want to highlight some kids I’ve seen who may not have seen the…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLast night I saw my 30th high school game of the year, and I’ve seen plenty of talented kids committed to playing basketball in college. Today, I want to highlight some kids I’ve seen who may not have seen the floor much or don’t play on high-level high school teams that are talented.
Jane Wallace
Even before I saw Whitefish Bay play, I wondered who this lefty was with a silky smooth jumper. That player was Jane Wallace. Her shot looked so good I expected every jumper she took to go in, and I was mostly right. The wing has a ton of ability on the floor, but she’s an elite floor spacer.
Eva Engel
Laconia seems to have hoarded most of the talent in the 2025 class, and Engel may be one of the quietest crucial pieces on any team in the state. She doesn’t have to score or record any stat to do winning things for Laconia, but she can do everything if she has to. I’ve seen her guard the opposing team’s best wing, then switch on a screen to defend a post. She’s a swiss army knife.
At Kettle Moraine, talented kids have to wait multiple years in some situations to get their chance, and I loved what Emily Gomez Emily Gomez 5'5" | PG Kettle Moraine | 2025 State WI has done with her minutes. I love Gomez’s jumper and believe she’ll be an above-average shooter in the Classic 8. She also plays hard every second she’s on the floor, which helps her endear herself to coaches and viewers alike.
Keegan Lodes
Lodes may be one of the best-hidden gems in southeast Wisconsin. Lodes is a 5-foot-11 wing who can shoot the ball as well as anyone. Her length also makes her an intriguing defender in the long haul. Even though I saw her play in a blowout, I can’t wait to see how she fills a more prominent role at KM over the next few years.
Teagan Schoenecker Teagan Schoenecker 6'0" | PG Oregon | 2026 State WI
The Oregon freshman did some good things against one of the most aggressive defenses we have in the state, in Kettle Moraine. She got overwhelmed a few times, but that’s happened to some of the best guards in Wisconsin. Her length and ability to handle the ball and initiate offense are intriguing, and she puts in the effort on the defensive end.
The sophomore at the Prairie School has plenty of room to grow. She changes games by being the best athlete on the floor. Decker will make plays throughout the game that most can’t. You may see Decker jumping a passing while being a pass and a half away or attacking the basket and running through weak contact. She makes athletic plays all the time.
Bella Miller
Although Miller may not usually create her shot off the dribble, she can still break games open with her shooting. Against Franklin, she made a handful of perimeter jumpers that kept the Warriors in the game, even though other starters found themselves in foul trouble.
Brooklyn Birt Brooklyn Birt 5'10" | PF Menomonie | 2025 State WI
I think it’s fair to say that Birt was the player who helped push Menomonie past Rice Lake. In one of the most intriguing conference games in the state this week, a newcomer made all the difference. Birt scored 19 points in the Mustangs’ 50-44 win over a talented Rice Lake team. I wasn’t aware of Birt before that game, but I know her name now.