Young Talent, Big Potential!

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season approaches, it's the perfect time to discuss last year's freshman talent that you won't want to miss! Some players bring valuable state tournament experience into their second season, while others have patiently awaited their turn and are now expected to take on a larger role this year. Here are seven prospects that I believe we should keep an eye on this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='751259' first='Hayden' last='Lauer'] may not have received much attention during the 2023-2024 season, but I certainly noticed her as an emerging standout. Lauer is a remarkable defender, which is what initially caught my eye. She has a long wingspan and quick footwork, making it challenging for opposing players to get by her. Lauer is very unselfish offensively, however, when she does take the shot, she shoots at a high percentage. Kettle Moraine Lutheran reached the state semifinals last year, which I am certain will be a valuable experience for Lauer as a freshman. She appears poised to become an outstanding point guard for the team, demonstrating excellent ball-handling skills and a keen ability to read the floor, allowing her to effectively assist her teammates. With two of KML's guards graduating last year, I believe she will take on a significantly larger role this season.       First Team All-Conference selection, [player_tooltip player_id='751283' first='Rowan' last='Counsell'], possesses a high basketball IQ, excellent ball handling skills, and functions as a court commander. She plays in harmony both scoring and distributing the ball with her point guard mentality and ability to see the floor. She's able to effectively attack and draw the defense to dish out to her teammates, which is every coach's dream. Rowan averaged 17.4 PPG as a Freshman and shot 47% from the field. She is also a major threat beyond the arc shooting 41% from three-point range. I'm excited to see what the future holds for this young talent. I know it will be special!     [player_tooltip player_id='878990' first='Allie' last='VanVonderen'] had an impressive start to her high school career, averaging 9.7 points per game as a freshman in the North Eastern Conference. She has a strong perimeter attack, a beautiful shot, and solid accuracy from three-point range-when she's on, she's on! Allie also finishes well around the basket and has great touch around the rim, which can be unassuming given her size. She is a scrappy player, actively seeking opportunities off the ball, many times leading to steals and breakaways. She has continued to improve during the off-season with the [program_tooltip program_id='713038' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'], and I expect her to maintain this momentum into her sophomore year.       As a freshman, Nommensen was a major contributor to the Wisconsin Lutheran Girls Varsity team. She stands out for her solid fundamentals and versatility. Kaelyn averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 55% from the field. Standing at 5'11”, she has proven to excel in the post but is also a threat from the perimeter. Although she didn't take many three-point attempts last year, she had an impressive shooting percentage of 37%. With her shooting ability, she can easily beat defenders off the dribble with her quick first step, making her extremely difficult to guard. It will be exciting to watch her continue to develop into a star player this season in the competitive Woodland-West Conference.       [player_tooltip player_id='751291' first='Grace' last='Mitchell'] made her debut in the ECC conference during the 2023-2024 season with the Winneconne Huskies, and she has proven to be incredibly impressive. Standing at 5'10", Mitchell has demonstrated her skill in bringing the ball up the court after securing a rebound, effectively going coast to coast. Most noteworthy, Mitchell excels at driving to the hoop, skillfully navigating between defenders to get to the rim. Throughout the AAU season, she has also increasingly become a formidable threat from three-point range, making her a versatile player who is difficult to guard. As a Freshman, Mitchell averaged 13.4 points per game, with a standout performance of 27 points in a win against Waupaca. Defensively, she is a fierce competitor, earning a spot on the ECC All-Defensive Team. She averaged 6.6 rebounds per game last year, highlighting her active off-the-ball presence on both offense and defense. Without a doubt, Mitchell will be exciting to watch as she continues to develop, as her potential seems limitless.     [player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan'] is a player you definitely don't want to leave open on the perimeter! She has a beautiful shot with serious range. After making a strong debut in the North Shore Conference as a freshman, Morgan is set to return as a key player for Grafton High School. She is a high-IQ player who remains very active off the ball, constantly making cuts and searching for openings to get free on offense. Defensively, she consistently positions herself well and boxes out on every shot, a quality that any scout or coach would applaud. Morgan is also unafraid to attack the basket off the dribble. With her shooting range, I hope to see her take greater advantage of the challenges defenders face when trying to guard her this season. She will be exciting to watch!       [player_tooltip player_id='1039249' first='Leigha' last='Wardlow'] is entering her sophomore season with Saint Thomas More, and she is definitely a point guard to watch. Wardlow plays with a smooth and finesse style, showcasing natural point guard movements. Along with a high basketball IQ, she is a skilled ball handler and passer, which leads to numerous assists. Additionally, she is very effective at finishing at the rim with a nice touch around the basket. She occasionally uses a hop-step, floater, and euro-step when attacking the basket, making her play especially entertaining to watch. Quick and tenacious on defense, her skill set is well-rounded and impressive. Taking on the role of point guard and court leader on varsity as a freshman will undoubtedly give her a head start. I am very excited to see how her sophomore season unfolds!

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season approaches, it's the perfect time to discuss last year's freshman talent that you won't want to miss! Some players bring valuable state tournament experience into their second season, while others have patiently awaited their turn and are now expected to take on a larger role this year. Here are seven prospects that I believe we should keep an eye on this season.