Guards I Like Heading Into 2023-24
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We’re under a month away from the first games of the season tipping off in Wisconsin. Today, I want to highlight some guards and forwards who could be better than people may expect this season. We’ll start with guards and…
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Continue ReadingWe’re under a month away from the first games of the season tipping off in Wisconsin. Today, I want to highlight some guards and forwards who could be better than people may expect this season. We’ll start with guards and end with forwards.
Addison Miranda Addison Miranda 5'7" | SG Pius XI | 2025 State WI
I’ve talked about how Miranda could be the piece that makes or breaks Pius’ season with her shooting alone. The gravity she can provide creates space, which is as valuable as any trait any other player brings to the court in the Woodland. I expect her to move away from the ball as much as anyone in the state, and Miranda will probably get clean looks off that movement. However, with the attention she could demand from defenses if things go how I think they might, Pius could be a sneaky team to compete with some of the best in D2.
Ameerah Grant Ameerah Grant 5'5" | PG Brown Deer | 2025 State WI
Each year, there are kids from all around the country who break out and become high-level players, and people don’t recognize them because they aren’t from traditional powers or uber-competitive teams. In Grant’s case, I can’t call this season a breakout because of how well she played last season. The more I look back on last season, the more I believe Grant was among the best in Wisconsin. Her influence on games was undeniable, and she was effective while being the kid that teams keyed in on defensively. She has the speed, scoring, and engagement level every team needs, but people haven’t noticed because she plays at Brown Deer.
There isn’t much the Brookfield Central guard can’t do offensively. The talent is there, but inconsistency has been an issue over the past few seasons. Part of that is her maturing into her game, and the other part is Central not being as competitive as other GMC programs, so Jensen and her teammates try to get back into games, and it hasn’t gone well. However, I believe in Jensen’s ability to turn the corner and take that next step. The one thing you can’t knock is her confidence. No matter when I’ve seen her, she has the same mindset and plays the same way. She’s quick and crisp with the ball, gets to her shots, and can do some things off the bounce. As she gets older, I think some of the inconsistencies will faze themselves out, which could be this season. Some pieces at Central can help them be better than people think this season.
Hallie Koltz
The profile of the player that Koltz is will eventually drum up interest at the next level, and here’s why. The junior has solid size as a wing at 5-10, can shoot it at a high level, is an excellent lateral athlete, has plenty of length, and wants to improve. The Crusader has also been one of the more improved players in the class without most people, including myself, recognizing her for that. In all honesty, with the lack of stability in her first two seasons, the fact she’s where she is now is impressive in its own right. She seems to figure out how to help her team improve. There isn’t a team in the state that wouldn’t improve with the addition of Koltz, which says a lot about how I feel about her.