Other Week One Standouts
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After week one of the basketball season, I want to talk about some kids who’ve come out of the gates strong. Ella Sweeney Ella Sweeney 5'8" | PG Appleton East | 2027 State WI Of all the newcomers that have…
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Continue ReadingAfter week one of the basketball season, I want to talk about some kids who’ve come out of the gates strong.
Ella Sweeney Ella Sweeney 5'8" | PG Appleton East | 2027 State WI
Of all the newcomers that have played thus far, Sweeney has looked the most comfortable in her minutes. Granted, you could argue the competition level has been low compared to others, but this kid can flat-out play. Yet another member of the notable Wisconsin Flight Elite 2027s who played up in EYBL last summer. Sweeney has hit the ground running. She’s been awesome using screens and reacting to how defenses want to play her, and she hasn’t been shy about punishing defenders who’ve gone under ball screens. She’ll pull it back and let it go from a few feet behind the line, and they’ve been falling. I’ve also loved how normally she’s used her off-hand when the situation calls for it. I won’t compare how good she is to how good Sammi Beyer was for Appleton East, but they have similar qualities and tendencies. They’re smooth operators with the ball in their hands, not afraid to shoot from range, will attack the right shoulder and finish with their left, and both are very smart with the ball in their hands. I’ve loved watching Appleton East games.
Valerie Richardson Valerie Richardson 5'8" | PG Madison East | 2025 WI
There have been a few big games from kids in the Madison area, and Richardson had one of her own. Richardson scored 34 against Eastside rivals Madison La Follette. Richardson’s a dangerous lead guard who excelled at the Wisconsin Elite Camp this past summer in her 1v1 drills. She reads her defender well and understands space and where her defender wants her to go. She’ll cause issues defensively against most teams in the Big Eight. Richardson will probably have a few more games like that this season.
Ava R Hanson
Oshkosh North had a better season than many expected last season, and that was partially down to how well Hanson played on the perimeter. Yes, Mallory Ott was a significant part of their success, but having the continuity of Hanson in the backcourt for one more season can help continue the positive momentum within the Spartan program. Hanson has been among the most effective passers in the state in the early going, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she continued that into FVA play, which would likely mean winning a handful of games in conference again.
Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI
As good as Neenah has been the past few seasons, they haven’t had a kid who can create shots for themselves and others alongside Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI , like Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI . Her ability to make things happen with the ball in her hands will lessen the workload that Ziebell will carry, which will be positive at the end of the season in games where Neenah may need big baskets down the stretch. The value that a healthy season from Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI may bring could be the difference between going to state or coming up short again. That’s how highly I think of Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI .