Players Who Could Surprise You This Season
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Every year, kids will graduate and move on, and others will step up and become more prominent players at their schools. I want to highlight some kids who could become household names in the state after earning a more significant…
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Continue ReadingEvery year, kids will graduate and move on, and others will step up and become more prominent players at their schools. I want to highlight some kids who could become household names in the state after earning a more significant role this coming season.
Samantha Davis Samantha Davis 5'10" | SF Aquinas | 2026 State WI
When things have gotten tough at Aquinas, they’ve had a Donarski to lean on for at least half a decade. Now Lexi and Macy are in college, that attention goes towards Samantha Davis Samantha Davis 5'10" | SF Aquinas | 2026 State WI . She played a disruptor role for the Blugolds last season and was a significant contributor to a team that went to a state title game. The biggest question now will be how well Davis handles being the outlet for her teammates to make a play. I thought she was better offensively last summer than the summer going into her first season at Aquinas, and for better or worse, the Blugolds have set a high standard for themselves. She has the talent to be a premier offensive player for Aquinas, and now we get to watch her grow into that role and reach another level.
Ellie Buss Ellie Buss 5'6" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI
I’ve talked before about the abundance of guard talent in the class of 2023 at Neenah last season, and that likely played a role in keeping Buss from those minutes last season, but that roadblock isn’t there this season. Over the summer, there aren’t many kids who can shoot like Buss. She stretches the defense beyond the three-point line, and the ability to punish defenses for overhelping on kids like Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI or Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI when they attack the basket creates a choice for teams. Let Ziebell and Klesmit drive to the basket one-on-one or help off one of the most dangerous shooters in the Fox Valley.
Isabelle Freisleben Isabelle Freisleben 5'11" | PF New Berlin West | 2025 State WI
I talked about McRae earlier, and Friesleben is another kid who may see an uptick in production at New Berlin West. Freisleben is a four who can play as a five and score inside and out. She played one-dimensional because the Vikings already had a dominant post presence. This year, there’s a good chance she can play mismatches more so than she has in the past. She can physically battle down in the post and shoot over smaller kids who guard her on switches on the perimeter. Her versatility will be more evident this season.
I’ve talked about the guards at Kettle Moraine and how they’ll have to step up, but the frontcourt will have to do the same. They lost a duo who led the Lasers to back-to-back state titles but have back a few kids who could make them more competitive than people may think. Lodes will arguably be the most athletic kid in the Classic Eight, and with her 5-11 size, she’ll be an option to defend some of the top players in the conference. Outside of her defense, she probably has more to her offensive game than she’s shown over the past year. She has a good shooting touch, has a high release on her shots, and gets downhill. Don’t be surprised if she breaks out this season.