Players I Like Heading Into AAU

Brady Peterson April 2, 2024 @ 10:27 AM

Somehow, it's April, and for Wisconsin programs, the AAU season is tipping off as early as this weekend in Illinois and Michigan. Throughout this week, I'll be talking about players from every range of college-level talent that I find intriguing heading into this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='751285' first='Taressa' last='Hennes']   Whether people like it or not, elite all-around athletes will draw the eyes of next-level coaches first, and Hennes is among the top athletes in the state, even as a freshman. How she can bounce off the floor, slide her feet, and defend suggests that she could be among the most coveted players in her class. Since I first saw her at an AAU practice last August, I thought she had a chance to be an impactful player at Hartford. Hennes came into her own at the end of the year, but the trust they had in her to guard Ziebell off the bench showed a high level of trust her coaches had in her. Her offensive game has improved already, and she seems like a kid who enjoys the process. Her potential is as high as anyone else's in Wisconsin.   [player_tooltip player_id='338952' first='Karinna' last='Trotter']   The DSHA forward is among the most unique players to come out of Wisconsin since I've covered the state. Rarely have I seen players with the size and physicality to guard post players, handle the ball, and create off the dribble in short spurts. Whenever I see a kid play, I try to think about what coaches at the next level would ask them to do on the floor. That could be by being a ball-dominant guard, off-bal guard, wing, etc. In Trotter's case, I don't know. However, I see that as a positive. I believe she'll pick up a handful of offers this summer based on her size and skill combination that few others possess. Trotter may not be as flashy as other kids in 2025, but she has a set of tools that few others have.   [player_tooltip player_id='448246' first='Addison' last='Baumgart']   The Kaukauna wing is an interesting case of a wing with an aspect of her game that shines above the rest. The way that Baumgart can shoot the ball at 6-0 is unbelievable and will drum up plenty of interest at the scholarship level, and it already has. Baumgart's ability to punish defenses for allowing her space for any reason will be valuable to talented teams at the next level to give their guards and ball-dominant wings space to excel. I also feel like she's a bit of an underrated rebounder. She may not be as physical as other kids in her position, but she's willing to dig in and battle for boards on both ends of the floor whenever she's not shooting or guarding perimeter players. However, I suspect she'll keep shooting at an elite level this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='842211' first='Taelyn' last='Jirschele']   The shooting inconsistencies worked itself out for Jirschele, and as a sophomore already became one of the most prolific long-range shot makers in Wisconsin. She's an excellent athlete who can guard multiple guard spots because of how physical she is on the perimeter. However, she's an intriguing case simply because of her size. She's explosive enough to play D2 ball, in my opinion. However, she's about 5-6, and, usually, smaller guards don't get D2 looks immediately. In her case, I feel she's a kid who can unlock an offense at the next level and create good shots each time down the floor. Jirschele can turn the corner on her defender to get to the rim, kick it out to open shooters, power through contact, and knock down shots from the three-point line. Whoever ends up with Jirschele will get a kid who could lead a top-two or three offense in a conference, depending on who she's playing with. She's that explosive and that good of a shooter.

Somehow, it's April, and for Wisconsin programs, the AAU season is tipping off as early as this weekend in Illinois and Michigan. Throughout this week, I'll be talking about players from every range of college-level talent that I find intriguing heading into this summer.