Class of 2025: Players I Plan on Watching This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I discussed some players you should watch because they're in store for prominent seasons. Today, I want to talk about players I have as players I have to watch, and I'll explain why for each player. It could be because they could have prominent seasons, check in on their development, role with their high school team, or another reason. Regardless, I'll make it known.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528120' first='Naveya' last='Jackson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For better or worse, the first iteration of Sun Prairie West girls basketball didn't go according to plan, I'm sure. Losing Avree Antony before even attending the school was a massive blow, and by default, they wouldn't be as good with her as they were without her. Jackson was a kid who didn't get much varsity run in her freshman season and could've learned a lot as a rotational piece behind the backcourt of Antony-Auston-Outlay. Regardless, she showed a fair bit of promise last season, but there'll be much more on her plate this season with the graduation of four significant contributors in the class of 2023. Every team needs guard play, and for the Wolves, all eyes are on Jackson to see if she can be one of the top combo guards in the Big Eight and continue the run of talented backcourts with [player_tooltip player_id='329599' first='Ceanna' last='Froh'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448302' first='Mia' last='Racine']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anytime a talented player transfers, especially to a program like West De Pere, it's intriguing. Racine brings an extra facet to the game that hasn't been in the Phantoms program. Racine is a 6-1 forward who's probably a better shooter than she realizes. She has solid touch and plays physically around the basket. The best chance for West De Pere maybe next season after [player_tooltip player_id='329595' first='Ella' last='Francois'] returns from injury, but having a piece like Racine lifts the ceiling of what this season could look like.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448288' first='Emily' last='Jensen']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a log jam in Verona's backcourt because they have some of the best guards in the state. A few kids will be on the bench next season because it's hard to take Stremlow and Briggs out in significant games. However, Jensen is the name I find to be the most intriguing in terms of the Wildcats' other guards. The one loss in that backcourt last season is Megan Murphy, who's now at Stevens Point, and the most logical like-for-like replacement is Jensen. Her ability to space the floor and knock down shots fits more with what they looked for in that spot than what the other guards bring to the table. That said, the caveat that there's a new staff, albeit with a former assistant at the top, could look for something different in that spot. Regardless, Jensen will likely have a role to play for the Wildcats this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338941' first='Tess' last='Wiczek']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Wiczek's first two seasons, other kids who've been the ones looking score. Whether it was Mya Moore, Tori Kostuck, or Kailey Wozniak, Pius had other kids with a scorer mindset. It still might be with Acompanado to an extent. However, after talking with Wiczek a few times this past summer, she seemed to want to take that role as a kid who looks for her shot more than she has in the past, and she can be an effective scorer. For Pius to mount a semblance of a challenge to Pewaukee this season, Wiczek must take a jump she's capable of. In all fairness, it may still not be enough to unseat Pewaukee, but the one person who could give them fits is Wiczek.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->