Freshmen That Made Winning Plays in Appleton
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After a quick pitstop a few days ago, I want to continue highlighting kids who played well in Appleton last weekend. I thought there were plenty of talented kids up there, so I want to spend another day or two…
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Continue ReadingAfter a quick pitstop a few days ago, I want to continue highlighting kids who played well in Appleton last weekend. I thought there were plenty of talented kids up there, so I want to spend another day or two highlighting them.
Physically, Krull has been ready for high school basketball for a while, so I don’t think she’ll be overwhelmed when she joins her sisters at Xavier. The aspects of Krull’s game that make her unique among her peers in the 2027 class are her power, body control, and speed. I could talk about her skills, but I feel I’ve done enough of that recently, and I’m sure this isn’t the last time I’ll highlight her. However, her physical tools give her a chance to be an elite performer in the Bay Conference this season, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if she physically overwhelms every other team in the conference.
Carrington Balthasar Carrington Balthasar 5'8" | SG Whitefish Bay | 2027 WI
The Blue Dukes will have a roster of trustworthy guards with the ball in their hands. They got Sage Miskel Sage Miskel 5'7" | PG Whitefish Bay | 2026 State WI in the door last season, and she had a standout first season. This year, they’ll get a few more guards in that same mold, and Balthasar is one of them. Balthasar has played in aggressive up-tempo and physically demanding full-court pressing teams with Wisconsin Impact and has thrived there, showing her conditioning and poise throughout games this summer. Balthasar never seems to lose focus, which is uncommon for newcomers, but I think she’ll be excellent with the ball in her hands. Also, don’t be surprised if she finds her way on the floor late in close games early in the season because she can get after it defensively.
There’s plenty of flash in Harden’s game. She’s arguably the best ball handler in her class in Wisconsin, and if she isn’t, she’s up there. Harden does an excellent job of creating space and beating her initial defender off the dribble to get a numerical advantage when attacking the basket. There may be some growing pains at Vel Phillips Memorial as Harden and Avery Blue Avery Blue 5'7" | CG Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI figure out how to best coexist in the backcourt. However, they have a chance to be a productive backcourt, especially in January and February. If you haven’t seen her, you’ll love the creativity that she plays with when she gets the ball in her hands.
Taressa Hennes Taressa Hennes 6'0" | SF Hartford Union | 2027 State WI
Another Hartford newcomer who will make an impact early will be Taressa Hennes Taressa Hennes 6'0" | SF Hartford Union | 2027 State WI . Once she plays a game this season, she’ll become one of the most athletic kids in Wisconsin High School Girls Basketball. There aren’t many kids in the state who can grab the rim, and fewer will do it repeatedly for the fun of doing it, but Hennes grabbed the iron multiple times before and after the games she played. I’m unsure if many people in Wisconsin will know who this is, but I thought she played a similar style to a kid who graduated from Waterloo West in Iowa last spring named Sahara Williams. Now, Hennes has ways to go to reach the level Williams was at in her senior season. That said, the way Hennes rebounded over crowds, played with physicality, and had a passion for playing the game as hard as possible every second she was on the floor. However, it reminded me of when I watched Williams last summer and at the Iowa State Tournament last February and March.