Players Who Deserve More Recognition This Season
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This morning, I’d like to talk about a few kids who’ve surprised me this season. Some of these kids I’ve known about but were better than I remembered, and some were kids I was seeing for the first time. Regardless,…
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Continue ReadingThis morning, I’d like to talk about a few kids who’ve surprised me this season. Some of these kids I’ve known about but were better than I remembered, and some were kids I was seeing for the first time. Regardless, let’s talk about a few of these kids.
Torie Neubauer Torie Neubauer 6'0" | PF Appleton East | 2025 State WI
The Appleton East sophomore sat on the bench last season as the Patriots made a run to the state title game. After a large senior class graduated, Neubauer is one of the significant pieces in the Patriots’ rotation this season. The 6-foot forward has all the tools to succeed in the FVA. She can move her feet defensively, alter shots at the rim, stretch the floor offensively, and runs the floor exceptionally well. She’ll become a household name over the next few seasons.
Reese Jaramillo Reese Jaramillo 5'9" | SG Prairie | 2024 State WI
I love kids who play with passion. Jaramillo is a kid who doesn’t have some of the physical tools her teammates have, but she always seems to find the ball on either end of the floor. She’s the first one on the floor chasing after loose balls, and with some of the most athletic guards in the 2025 class on her roster, Jaramillo provides much-needed spacing for her teammates to attack the rim. The junior is an excellent shooter who contributes to winning.
Ellie Demet Ellie Demet 5'8" | SG Watertown | 2024 State WI
Some kids have a unique style of play because nobody else does what they do at the level they do. There aren’t many kids who are comfortable in uncomfortable situations like Demet is. It can be in the micro or the macro, but Demet always seems to find a way to succeed when someone who doesn’t know her and her game thinks she shouldn’t. There aren’t many kids who can create their shots between three defenders and make it look like she’s alone in the gym. Not many kids who’ve played as an off-ball guard all their lives could switch to playing as a lead guard, then lead their team against some of the best teams in the state and compete. She’ll succeed in anything she does.
Savannah James Savannah James 5'7" | CG Grafton | 2024 State WI
Granted, I haven’t seen James as much, but I didn’t know how well she could create shots in isolation. I knew she could make shots and make them with little to no room. However, she’s so quick with her first step she creates multiple feet of space on a step-back, and that’s more than enough for her to take a shot and make that shot. Not many kids can stick to her for 36 minutes, and that’s what defenses need if they want to keep her quiet for the entirety of a game.