8 Break-Out Underclassmen From the 2024 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One thing I enjoy is learning about players who have had break-out seasons. Take a look at several whose play not only impacted their team's competitiveness but will also impact their advancement up the class rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='688279' first='Makenna' last='Balzer'], 5'8", CG, Wichita Trinity Academy, 2025 - Balzer made a big jump from September to December and I anticipate her climb will continue when the March class update is released. She has a great frame and good wingspan but what I like most his her footwork. She defends solidly on the wing and inside with good positioning and balance. Balzer has a strong motor that takes advantage of her speed, quickness and athleticism. A legitimate scoring threat at all three levels who finishes on both sides of the basket with speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='822628' first='Tenly' last='Bunck'], 5'6", CG, Washburn Rural, 2025 - Bunck was a terrific role player throughout the season doing a lot of the things that do not show up in the box score. Her handles have steadily improved to where she successfully creates off the dribble and weaves through traffic in transition. Her defense has been key to the Junior Blues' march to their 6A second place finish in the 6A state tournament. As she gets stronger and grows her perimeter shooting abilities she could develop into one of the top all-around guards in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='675832' first='Anna' last='Duncan'], 5'11", SF, Valley Center, 2026 - Duncan had a terrific summer that saw her entire game mature. She emerged as the most diversely skilled Viking on the floor during the high school season. She rebounds it, runs the floor well, uses her wingspan to alter and block shots. What I enjoy watching is her interior passing. Defensively she can be found working on the perimeter most of the time but also does a good job of fronting or denying passes to opponent's post players insde. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='634243' first='Arika' last='Feldman'], 6'0", SF, Little River, 2026 - After averaging 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds as a freshman Feldman turned a terrific summer of play into a starting role that she performed very well in. For the 1A Div I runner-ups she racked up 14.1 points (31% three point percentage with 38 made, 71% from the line), 6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals. The lengthy forward shoots it with good bounce and range and runs lanes well in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='766559' first='Katelyn' last='Menghini'], 5'11", SF, St. James Academy, 2026 - Tall, long-limbed and active Menghini showed a very diverse game throughout the season. She handles well in the half court and in transition with quickness. Menghini is also score it out of the block game, is a three point threat, and scores it well with runners and other short- to mid-range shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='675831' first='Taylin' last='Tabor'], 5'5", CG, Andover Central, 2025 - While Tabor has been attracting offers for her softball play her game on the court could attract attention soon. Her defense first caught my attention more than a year ago but her speed and perimeter abilities have really strengthened. One game I saw she poured in 5 three point shots. That is one thing but how she did is another. Lots of players shoot well off the catch. Tabor is one that can bury them pulling up in transition. Other things, she jumps to the ball well rebounding and uses a variety of shots off the slash inside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349460' first='Skylar' last='Seals'], 5'5", SG, Maize South, 2026 - Seals is a player that caught my eye a couple years ago in a JV game. She was the kind of player that was just buried in the depth chart behind a pile of talented, older guards. I have long thought her to be tough minded and quick with solid handles. At the 5A state tournament this season she was a major player in the Mavericks ended St. Thomas Aquinas' string of state championships in the quarterfinal round by exploding for 24 points by shooting 5/7 from three, 7/7 from the line and picking up a couple steals. Watch out next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544036' first='Addisen' last='Wills'], 5'5", PG, Halstead, 2026 - Wills was a big part of the rotation that ran teams ragged with the Dragons' full court game. Yes she is fast with the ball, has good vision to pass in transition and on broken plays and gets into the lane well. What I really liked when I caught her against Haven was that she was the Dragons' best defender and directs traffic well leading the team in the half court. A terrific middle distance runner Wills also does not fatigue easily.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->