2025 Player Rankings Update: Varsity Difference Makers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article we highlight five prospect from the State of Nebraska that put together memorable High School seasons this past Winter. Each player is someone who displayed their abilities every given evening, trying to help out their teammates in anyway possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["766848"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='766848' first='Lainey' last='Portwine'] put together a Junior Season that she can be proud of at York High School but she isn't going to be satisfied. Portwine is a Combo Guard, who makes good choices with the basketball in her possession. She works hard on both sides of the ball, while being someone who can make things happen whenever her team's offense might happen to break-down. Portwine isn't going to kill you by scoring the ball but moreso by doing everything else. She does have the ability to make her own moves and create but a majority of the time, she is a great hustle player. She does the dirty work that others don't want to do and she never asks for a thank you or appreciation. Instead, she just puts her head down and she keeps on working. I'm interested in how she is going to do this AAU season with her CCS program. If she does what she does best, the sky is the limit. Every team needs hustle players, who makes things happen and in this case, Portwine could be that player in more ways than one.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["873181"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"When a prospect is consistent, it stands out to everyone watching. Someone who was consistent this entire Winter is [player_tooltip player_id='873181' first='Sonora' last='De Fini'] or Gretna East High School. De Fini is relentless on the boards. She moves well for her size and she is someone that smaller Guards don't want to have to face whenever they get inside the paint. This winter De Fini was everything for her team. When she would have a good game, they would have a good game. If she didn't have the best night, you could tell by a number of reasons but basically because her team was losing was the best indicator. I haven't had a chance to see De Fini compete live this past 6 months but I'm excited for what her future may hold. She plays with an edge on every possession and she works really hard on both sides of the floor. This Winter she was her team's heart and soul in more ways than one. If she works hard in the offseason, while expanding her game out to the perimeter a little bit more, she is going to be making some more waves before you know it.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["766585"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"When I first had the opportunity to watch [player_tooltip player_id='766585' first='JJ' last='Black'] compete as a Freshman, she impressed me with what she brought to the floor. In each contest, she was a constant for her team in more ways than one. Her game would be described as aggressive but intelligent. She understands her size and spacing a good majority of the time and she knows how to use those two things to her advantage. On any given night, Black can come out of nowhere and be the difference maker within their contest. Her ability to Rebound, Score, and Defend inside the paint is second to none for her size and she knows that. This past season Black was her team's main source inside the lane. She did everything she could to help her team succeed each night and she always left it all on the floor. I'm curious what she is going to do for AAU season as I'm not sure if she plays but if she does, I'm sure she could bring some positives to whatever team she is lacing up with. She was a big part of her programs success this Winter and I don't expect that to change moving into the 2024-2025 Season in the near future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["247163"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='777585' first='Jade' last='Lewis'] is a competitor and one of my favorite players out of this 2025 Class because of her demeanor on the hardwood. Lewis isn't going to kill you with flashy moves or a tricky take, instead she is going to hold her own and dominate by keeping it simple. She understands her ability and her role within her teams to a T, while always being one of the first on the floor for a loose ball. That is a big reason for her success and why she does so well during each contest she participates in. If you ask any coach that has seen Lewis play, they will tell you same thing. I'm not exactly sure what it is but her game speaks for itself. She makes things happen and in the end, she is willing to do whatever it takes for her team to be successful. She was a big reason for her team's State Title this past month and I don't expect that to change moving forward. She is going to be a heck of a competitor at this level and the collegiate level one day if she chooses to go that route. That's for sure.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["336039"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I would consider [player_tooltip player_id='336039' first='Armanii' last='Brazile'] of Millard North is a u0022glueu0022 type prospect. She isn't the type that is going to jump off the page for scoring 40 points but more-so, she will grab you attention by putting up 10 Points, 7 Rebounds, and 5 Assists. All while posting some other positive stats whenever she takes the floor. In a program like Millard North, it can be tough to see the floor and it can be even tougher to make a difference once you do see the floor so that Brazile makes her presence known on every given night, speaks volumes to what she could accomplish. I think that she is a multiple sport athlete, that thrives on several different sporting floors but if she stays locked in, I know of a coach or two that would love to have her on their collegiate squad. She does too many good and unselfish things to be passed up so I wouldn't be surprised if her interest over these next few months, starts to gain some serious momentum.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa183ac8c91"} /-->