5A Northern Area Players Ready to Level-Up This Season

All across the state there are varsity-hopeful kids that are itching to find out if their hard work in the off-season will put them in a position to be a varsity contributor this year. Some of the below northern Colorado players swung varsity last year and played a rotational role, while others played junior varsity only. Check out these hoopers that could be ready to "level-up" this season!    [player_tooltip player_id='1212201' first='Gabby' last='Gates'] was a calming presence and solid contributor for the Windsor Wizards last season. As a sophomore, she was usually in the starting lineup and managed to tie for first place on the team in 3 point percentage, while also helping with ball handling duties. You will hear coaches say all the time, "there is no substitute for experience" and Gates has a nice skill set to go with her valuable experience the last two years. Gabby does a little of everything on the court - She is a quality ball handler that deals with pressure well, displays defensive leadership, and rebounds really well for a guard. With a little more vocal leadership and aggressiveness on the court this could be a breakout campaign for Gates.     [player_tooltip player_id='875028' first='Rebecca' last='Maes'] could be a major X-factor for Windsor this season. Coming off a major ACL injury a few years ago, this could finally be the season where it all comes together. Becca is a quality 3 point shooter that will help Windsor stretch the floor and create space around the rim for 1st team all-conference teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='353328' first='Reyleigh' last='Hess'] & super forwards [player_tooltip player_id='793089' first='Gracie' last='Worsley'] & [player_tooltip player_id='608631' first='Brooklyn' last='Jiricek']. Although slight in stature Becca is a legit competitor that is on the upswing in the Windsor program. I expect her to challenge for rotational minutes on a consistent basis.     After a solid junior season at Silver Creek, Bella is ready to level-up her production as a senior. She shoots very well off the catch, which compliments her effectiveness penetrating to the right. Bella also does a good job of reading defenses and consistently making correct decisions. She moves well without the ball, whether cutting or screening she makes herself difficult to defend. The best way to describe Bella's demeanor on the court is even-keeled - Never too high or too low. Defensively, Ayer displays quick hands which often results in steals at the point of attack.     Halle is a fascinating prospect with the potential to explode on the girls basketball scene over the next few years. Just a sophomore, Adams already has a state championship on her resume. Last season Halle showed great potential on JV and in the limited varsity minutes she earned in blowout wins for Roosevelt. 3 point shooting is much needed on every team, at every level, and this sharpshooter could be a certified zone buster this season for the Roughriders. At 5'8, Halle has an athletic frame with convincing speed to go with it. Don't be surprised to see Halle quickly be called up to the scorers table when defenses show zone.     Alex looks to play a massive role for this year's Mountain View squad. She returns for her senior year as the lone varsity rotational player from a squad that almost took down 5A, Final 4, Mead last season. After losing essentially all of their offensive and defensive contributions from graduated seniors the Lions will rely heavily on Alex's experience and leadership. Ellis's upside is huge, some coaches say she even has double-double potential with her scoring and rebounding. She shot a solid 35% from deep and finished with a respectable 129 total points last season. One variable to watch out for is health - Alex tore her ACL during her sophomore season and has had a few setbacks over the last few years. One thing is for sure, a healthy and motivated Alex Ellis gives the Lions their best chance to be competitive this season.

All across the state there are varsity-hopeful kids that are itching to find out if their hard work in the off-season will put them in a position to be a varsity contributor this year. Some of the below northern Colorado players swung varsity last year and played a rotational role, while others played junior varsity only. Check out these hoopers that could be ready to "level-up" this season!