2024 Rankings Update: Next Five

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today's update will be the final rankings update for the 2024 class before they graduate this Spring. As always, we'll start with the top ten, with two articles this morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209879' first='Trista' last='Fayta']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Personally, Fayta is my favorite player to watch in the 2024 class. Nothing she does is particularly flashy, but like her Notre Dame and [program_tooltip program_id='712778' first='Purple' last='Aces'] teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='209880' first='Gracie' last='Grzesk'], she goes out and wins games. She's one of the best passers in the state and is the kid her teammates look to to calm things down when things get rocky. Look no further than the games against Pewaukee last season, where they had her and didn't have her. Last season, with Fayta on the floor, the Tritons were a juggernaut and, at worst, a top-five in the Midwest. If the Tritons win an unprecedented fourth straight state title, it will be because Fayta is at her best when it matters most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":649248,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/Trista-Fayta-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-649248" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='266998' first='McKenna' last='Johnson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I debated if I'd keep Johnson on here because she's already enrolled at Minnesota, but I figured I would because she deserves one extra bit of recognition. Johnson was one of the best scorers in the state while at Wilmot and didn't get the recognition I felt she deserved from around the state in her three years at Wilmot, but she'll be a prominent piece for the Golden Gophers next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":719231,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/McKenna-Johnson-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-719231" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='388287' first='Alayna' last='West']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West played a support role in her sophomore season with a loaded senior class at La Follette, and West was unreal. She rebounded at a ridiculous rate that year and has continued to do so these past few seasons. She's one of the best athletes in the state, she's comfortable being a volume scorer, and she's an intense defender. She's been as crucial to her team as anyone else in the state. Her junior and senior seasons have been unbelievable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":637694,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Alayna-West1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-637694" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='266987' first='Shae' last='Kelley']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I haven't as much of a black hole for opposing offenses as [player_tooltip player_id='266987' first='Shae' last='Kelley']. No matter who she's played against or what defense she's playing in, she'll find her way to four or more steals. Her anticipation is elite, and sometimes, she's waiting for a guard to throw the ball right at her, and it works every time. Defensively, she can play anywhere and not look out of place. The question with her was always her offensive game, and she's answered those questions. As a non-primary option as a junior, she shot over 40% from three while finishing around the basket and with her floater. She's, by far, the best player still left in the 2024 class, and she'll be effective at the next level if she continues her basketball career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":653963,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/shae-kelley.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-653963" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209902' first='Kallie' last='Peppler']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A severe [player_tooltip player_id='209902' first='Kallie' last='Peppler'] knee injury may have prevented Hortonville from earning a gold ball last year. That's how important she is to the Polar Bears. Her ability to defend on the perimeter, use her length to bother elite wings, and scoring on the offensive end are indispensable for the Polar Bears. Although she missed her final run in AAU due to that injury, it was always clear that Peppler was one of the players in her class who affected winning the most because she does a little of everything. She'll join her sister in Milwaukee and play for the Panthers next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->