Potential Breakouts This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We see some unsung heroes each season who help lead their teams further than people thought. Today, we'll highlight a few kids who fit that billing heading into 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='766621' first='Abby' last='Finger']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've talked a lot about the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='602353' first='Jordan' last='Fenske']-[player_tooltip player_id='533083' first='Taylor' last='Gifford']-[player_tooltip player_id='751242' first='Ava' last='Spratt'] and how good that group was for Waukesha West last season. However, [player_tooltip player_id='766621' first='Abby' last='Finger']'s development could be the difference between this team going to state or coming up just short in 2025. Finger is a solid shooter and has seen solid competition playing grassroots basketball with the [program_tooltip program_id='713045' first='Wisconsin' last='Lakers']. She hasn't been an integral part of the Wolverine rotation in her first two seasons as a Wolverine, but if she can find a way to break through, that could get the Wolverines to Green Bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='842229' first='Ella' last='Verbeten']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wrightstown guard's calling card has always been her defense. However, she turned a corner in the 23-24 season. She came into high school and had a high usage role the second she stepped on campus, and like most kids, there was inconsistency in her first season. That said, she turned a corner in her sophomore season. She shot much better in year two from the three-point and free-throw lines. Her ability to be a threat on the offensive end of the floor, with the defensive pressure she applies, makes her one of the more intriguing players in the NEC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='842265' first='Emerson' last='Drobac']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The multi-sport athlete can run forever, which translates to the basketball court. She's a hard-nosed defensive guard who can force mistakes out of opposing lead guards, and she's continued to improve her all-around offensive game. All Drobac's numbers went up in her sophomore season as she led the Demons to a regional title game last season. Kids like her, who play hard and want to get better at everything they do, get the most out of the situation around them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='842214' first='Maddie' last='Brown']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few players surprised me more last season than DSHA guard [player_tooltip player_id='842214' first='Maddie' last='Brown']. She had a role where she was one of the primary ball handlers at DSHA and may have even more responsibility with the ball this season. Brown handled ball pressure well and was better offensively than I thought. The Dashers played some of the better defensive units in the area, and Brown never looked lost on the floor. I'm eager to see where everything goes for Brown because doing what she does at 5'11 isn't something you find at every school or every conference. There is something there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->