2025s To Keep Tabs On

Brady Peterson April 28, 2024 @ 08:40 PM

As the 2025s garner more looks from schools at all levels, I want to talk about some kids I feel could be valuable to teams at the next level that haven't found a home at the next level yet.   [player_tooltip player_id='448249' first='Isabelle' last='Freisleben']   It's been a wild ride for Freisleben. She's a multi-sport kid on a competitive New Berlin West team her first two years as a Viking and had some solid showings in AAU. As far as I know, she won't play this summer. She may fly under the radar and become a valuable piece early at the next level. It may be "out of sight, out of mind" this summer as other 2025s attempt to garner interest in their final AAU run. The Viking is a 5-11 wing/post that you can run plays for her to catch and shoot, play in the low or mid-post, and pass at the level of a lead guard. I'm unsure if she wants to play basketball at the next level, but it'd be worth a try for smaller schools at the collegiate level.   [player_tooltip player_id='448303' first='Grace' last='Zortman']   Over the past three seasons, I've become a massive fan of what Zortman does on both ends of the floor. The Homestead junior is a player you rarely see standing still. Zortman plays with an urgency that's hard to take your eyes off. Whenever teams take a second off, Zortman always takes advantage. That could be a missed box out, lackadaisical dribble, or an off-ball defender she catches ball watching. Zortman is quick and has solid reaction time to things happening around her. Zortman may not shoot it much, but when she does, it looks solid and looks like something that could be useful at the next level. From what I've heard, her time in AAU this summer may be limited due to track, but if she wants to pursue basketball, she should have plenty of suitors.   [player_tooltip player_id='448256' first='Emily' last='Vogel']   Vogel is a tall guard at around 5-10, and she uses that to her advantage. She has an effortless jumper that she can shoot over most guards who come out and try to contest, and she has the size to power her way downhill and finish at the rim. I've always been impressed with how comfortable Vogel is finishing with her left hand in traffic and through contact. Vogel has always been a kid who doesn't necessarily blow by kids but can get to a defender's hip and go wherever she wants. She plays uniquely for a guard and has found a way to utilize her skill set and translate it into helping her team win games.   [player_tooltip player_id='767283' first='Brooklyn' last='Birt']   One day, two years ago, when Menomonie made a trip up to Rice Lake, I had no idea who Birt was, but in that win in Rice Lake, she made it well known who she was. She finished that game with 19 points and five rebounds for the Mustangs in a hard-fought 50-44 win over the Warriors, and ever since then, Birt's made winning plays for the Mustangs whenever I've watched them on stream. Selfishly, I hope Birt ends up in the WIAC so I can see her play for four more years. She'll be a successful kid at the next level.

As the 2025s garner more looks from schools at all levels, I want to talk about some kids I feel could be valuable to teams at the next level that haven't found a home at the next level yet.