The Film Room

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're taking a break from the sectional previews and highlighting some film sent in over the past few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888339' first='Charlee' last='Johnsen']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The youngest kid we'll discuss today is a 2030 guard who played up this past summer with a 2029, [player_tooltip player_id='888339' first='Charlee' last='Johnsen']. She can take defenders off the dribble and knock down perimeter shots. However, the aspects of her game I'm most impressed by are her off-ball movement and footwork. Watching her utilize off-ball screens to find space is something that high schoolers don't always know how to use. Johnsen is a young kid, but she has solid enough footwork to get her shot off as quickly as possible, which is impressive, considering we won't see her at the high school level for a few years. There's still plenty of room for her to grow, but she's in a good spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger Morgan sister is an excellent two-guard. She can knock down perimeter shots well beyond the three-point line, but her ability to use that gravity to do other things takes her to another level. I love how well she cuts and finds ways to finish around the rim. What she does opens up the floor for her teammates, and when kids help off her on drives, she can punish defenses by knocking down a high percentage of her three-pointers. She'll keep improving with time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338957' first='Marissa' last='Morgan']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I always say teams need scrappy guards to get the most out of their five-person lineups, and that's what [player_tooltip player_id='338957' first='Marissa' last='Morgan'] is at her core. She's an excellent athlete who can pressure the ball at the point of attack and disrupt the opposing guard's rhythm. I've loved watching her defend the past few seasons, and she's improved on the offensive end. She's become a solid finisher around the rim and gotten more confident finishing in traffic. Morgan will be a productive D3 kid that coaches will love having in their building.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751257' first='EllaMay' last='Cooper']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't believe anyone is as quick as Cooper is off the bounce. She took a massive step up in competition this summer, playing in EYBL for the first time. Cooper got knocked down by more physical kids but never stayed down. Her speed routinely got her open looks or forced other defenders to help so she could fire the ball to her open teammates. Cooper showed what the new Regis guard could do against some of the top players in the country. Once she gets more physical, we'll see her keep improving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='400915' first='Mikaia' last='Litza']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pressure doesn't exist in [player_tooltip player_id='400915' first='Mikaia' last='Litza']'s world. You could send doubles at her all you want, and she'll figure out ways to get around that every time without breaking a sweat. Litza has a calm but confident style of play that's fun to watch. She can get by anyone she wants off the dribble and score from all three levels. The Tosa East guard is one of the most press-resistant guards in Wisconsin, and she thrives in an AAU setting where teams press all the time. She never looks uncomfortable on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='974989' first='Laney' last='Sitek']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another product of the Kimberly youth program. Sitek made some plays this summer with [program_tooltip program_id='715882' first='Wisconsin' last='Flight Elite']. She has solid footwork around the basket and can create some space with her pivot steps. I didn't get to see her in Louisville. However, she was a productive offensive piece in Chicago. Due to all the talent at Kimberly, we'll see what her role looks like this season, but she's an intriguing piece of the puzzle in the long term for the Papermakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->