Continuing to Introduce the Class of 2027

Brady Peterson September 21, 2023 @ 05:57 PM

Today will be the last day I'll go through some newcomers to keep tabs on this season. Every year, there will be fresh faces who can help a team reach that next level or play a role on a competitive team. By no means were the names mentioned this week the only newcomers who'll make a name for themselves, but these are some of the players I liked over the summer and at camps.   [player_tooltip player_id='751252' first='Carrington' last='Balthasar']   Whitefish Bay seems to have a roster built around trustworthy and creative lead guards. With [player_tooltip player_id='509716' first='Sage' last='Miskel'] entering her sophomore season and a few other similar kids coming this season, Balthasar fits the skillset of a Blue Duke lead guard. Balthasar is comfortable playing fast, sees passing lanes well, and isn't afraid to try and pass into a small window. Her ability to create at the point of attack and apply pressure on defenses in transition will help the Blue Dukes excel on the offensive end this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='764927' first='Kennedy' last='Ebben']   The Papermakers d have their fair share of talent in the backcourt already, so I'm not sure what her first season will look like. However, she's more than ready to handle the initiating responsibility of a high school offense. She plays with a ton of poise and doesn't seem to get rattled to score if the opportunities arise, but her ability with the ball will get her onto the floor. Nothing seems to faze her on the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='751290' first='Oriah' last='Harris']   The Abbotsford wing was one of the most intriguing kids at the Freshmen Showcase. I thought she played confidently and made shots when the opportunity came. She didn't force anything and looked comfortable in a setting where you expect someone to either try to do too much, play too passively, or not be their best selves because they don't know their teammates. I'm eager to see how she gets on in her first season of high school ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan']   I'd heard of Morgan before this season and got to see her play in a casual setting last fall at Grafton. I like how well she plays away from the ball in particular. She doesn't get discouraged if the ball doesn't find her, and she continues moving, looking for open space. She can shoot the ball at a high level and provide spacing that allows her teammates to attack the rim because of her gravity on the perimeter. Even if she's standing still, teams will still have to keep a defender on her and not have them help off her.

Today will be the last day I'll go through some newcomers to keep tabs on this season. Every year, there will be fresh faces who can help a team reach that next level or play a role on a competitive team. By no means were the names mentioned this week the only newcomers who'll make a name for themselves, but these are some of the players I liked over the summer and at camps.