What Kids Could Take Another Step Forward This Season?

High school athletics are cyclical. Every year, we see new names step to the forefront. Kids get to high school or take another step in their production. We have a rough idea of which kids could be prominent figures early, but sometimes, we have breakouts like Alayna West and Sydney Cherney in the 2022-23 season, where they took off. Today, we'll look at returners who could become prominent figures in their area or around the state.    A few things have changed since Arrowhead lifted the gold ball last March. Two starters graduated, and one is likely out until the AAU season with a knee injury. There was already going to be significant turnover in their rotation, but it's even more than expected. If I were to guess, Zehner was bound for a prominent role for the Warhawks, but now she's even more necessary for their rotation. Her first step and vision will relieve pressure from the other talented guards in the Warhwaks' building, and Zehner may make some significant plays down the stretch.   <a href="https://x.com/ZehnerSidney/status/1848176869046136951">Sidney's Fall League Highlights</a>     Not having pain on the court will make a difference for Phillips. In Waunakee's fall league, Phillips looked more comfortable moving laterally and athletic than I've ever seen her look. She has plenty of confidence to let it rip from beyond the three-point line and should get some open looks with the backcourt the Warriors have. However, her activity was at a different level than in the past, likely because she's playing without pain, and I'm eager to see what that looks like this season.      A breakout season for Lemorande is a year overdue. She was poised for a breakout following an excellent summer a few years ago and was one of the best off-the-ball players I've seen in Wisconsin. Lemorande utilizes off-ball screens better than anyone. The Bay Port native's ability to rise over defenders and knock down shots off the catch means you pay special attention to her, or she'll hurt defenses in volume. She got more comfortable as the AAU season went on, and her confidence seemed to return as the summer went on. She's been ready to get on the floor for Bay Port for a while. Lemorande may force some stuff early, but she wants to compete.      Nobody raised my eyebrows more in showcase season than [player_tooltip player_id='1039230' first='Brinna' last='Paulson']. I thought her shot looked much more crisp than the last few years, and she seemed more confident when she had some space to shoot the ball. Playing with [player_tooltip player_id='1039229' first='Awut' last='Alic'] will mean she finds open shots on the perimeter, and if she starts making shots in bunches, North could continue their rise up the FVA standings. Paulson may be the barometer of how well the Spartans play this season, and I'll have a close eye on how she's playing this season.

High school athletics are cyclical. Every year, we see new names step to the forefront. Kids get to high school or take another step in their production. We have a rough idea of which kids could be prominent figures early, but sometimes, we have breakouts like Alayna West and Sydney Cherney in the 2022-23 season, where they took off. Today, we'll look at returners who could become prominent figures in their area or around the state.