Checking in on the Class of 2027’s Guards
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I haven’t done one of these in a while, so we’re checking up on some of the newcomers around the state and checking on how their first season of high school ball has gone thus far. We’ll start with the…
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Continue ReadingI haven’t done one of these in a while, so we’re checking up on some of the newcomers around the state and checking on how their first season of high school ball has gone thus far. We’ll start with the wings and forwards and finish the day with the guards.
Kardyn Peppler Kardyn Peppler 5'7" | PG Hortonville | 2027 State WI
Watching Kardyn Peppler Kardyn Peppler 5'7" | PG Hortonville | 2027 State WI create is a thing of beauty. She’s quick, stoic, and doesn’t let anything get to her. Peppler’s the same kid at the start of the game as she is in crunch time, which is rare amongst high schoolers in general, let alone a freshman. Watching her play against Pewaukee and Providence Academy told me everything I needed to know about her, even though the Polar Bears lost both games. Her poise, finishing at weird angles, scoring when her team needed baskets, and creating for her teammates were all things that stood out. I’m unsure how much more you could ask from a lead guard, and she’ll improve these next three years.
Tessa Bryan Tessa Bryan 5'8" | PG Waunakee | 2027 State WI
Watching Bryan play is a rollercoaster. Sometimes, you’ll shake your head and wonder what she was thinking, but then you watch her make a play that maybe four other kids in the state can make. However, watching her make those plays, good and bad, makes you realize you must let her go and be herself, or you don’t get those elite plays that nobody else makes. She puts more pressure on defenses than anyone in her class. Sometimes, that leads to mistakes. Other times, it leads to open baskets of her or her teammate’s lives. More so than any other 2027, Bryan gets to be herself, and it’s a joy to watch. She’ll cause issues whatever the Badger Conference’s called over the next three seasons.
Anna Miller Anna Miller 5'8" | PG Edgewood | 2027 State WI
I’ve been a massive fan of Miller’s game for months, and she hasn’t given me any reason to change that thought. Whenever I’ve seen Edgewood play, the Crusaders’ offense looks significantly better whenever Miller is on the floor, which I didn’t expect to be as stark as it is with the guard talent they have, but she’s that good. She was the Crusaders’ best player when they nearly knocked off reigning D2 Sectional Champion McFarland at home. Miller did everything and made it look easy. She’s not flashy by any stretch of the imagination, but she makes plays and wants to win games.
From playing up on Playmakers/Thrive last summer, everything must look so slow to her because of how fast she played last summer. She seems to be a step ahead of everyone on the floor and has recorded her fair share of steals in the Xavier press, and once the Hawks get in transition, Krull looks at home. She’s used to flying all over the floor and making plays, and that’s what she’s done in her first month. Like most other newcomers every year, the offense hasn’t been where it could be, but the best players always find ways to make a difference, and that’s what the youngest Krull at Xavier has done. She’ll figure it out on the offensive end soon enough.
Whenever Cooper is on the floor, I expect her team to at least score 60. She’s too good of a creator to at least give her teammates enough open looks to score 35 by herself and with her passing. Cooper’s one of the quickest guards in the state and can create numerical advantages once the newcomer inevitably beats her initial defender off the dribble. Cooper is talented enough that she’ll likely see defenses try to limit her influence on games as the season goes on if it hasn’t already.