Freshman Edition: New Kids on the Court

A very talented group of 2028 players have made an exciting impact on the varsity court this season. I had the opportunity to watch a few players who truly stood out to me. They will be exciting to watch this season and throughout their high school careers.    [player_tooltip player_id='888387' first='Lana' last='Mannetter'] has an excellent three-point shooting ability and consistently shoots at a high percentage. She has a very quick release and impressive shooting range which she showcased during her first week on the varsity team at the Beaver Dam Classic. In a game against Columbus, she made four three-pointers contributing to a 29-point performance. Mannetter also handles the ball well and can bring it up the court on a fast-break with speed. She excels at finishing through contact and utilizes it to her advantage. She also demonstrated the ability to score with both hands. Lana is skilled at maneuvering through defenders near the rim and has a very high basketball IQ which is evident in her decision-making on the court. She has stood out as a freshman and really impressed me with her natural transition to the varsity game.      [player_tooltip player_id='874388' first='Ari' last='Reetz'] plays aggressively on defense. She hustles for loose balls and makes a significant impact by creating second-chance opportunities. She has an impressive left-handed shooting stroke and is a major threat from beyond the arc as demonstrated by her five three-pointers in her varsity debut which contributed to her total of 19 points in that game. She also handles the ball well and makes smart moves by utilizing speed changes. I'm looking forward to seeing how she plays the remainder of the season as defenses zoom in on her as a shooting threat. She is definitely impressive as a freshman on the varsity stage.      [player_tooltip player_id='1173652' first='Lillee' last='Jackson'] demonstrates strength with the ball and takes excellent care of it. She shows great patience in the post and when opportunities to score arise she showcases impressive moves. Her explosive drive to the basket allows her to navigate around defenders effectively. Defensively, she moves her feet well and is a significant presence in the paint creating challenges for her opponents. She handles the ball well at her size, confidently bringing it up the court after a rebound until she finds a suitable outlet pass. Additionally, her impact on the boards is noteworthy. In her last game against Oostburg, she recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds proving her undeniable contribution to the team.       Brooklyn is a scrappy, highly active player who reminds me a lot of her sister in that respect. She is constantly involved in the plays, crashing the boards for rebounds and diving for loose balls. One aspect I appreciate is that Luehring takes high-percentage shots demonstrating a level of maturity and basketball IQ that is impressive for a freshman. If she misses a shot, she proactively pursues her own offensive rebounds showcasing her tenacity which I admire. She has a nice left-handed shot and is definitely capable of hitting threes. This was evident in her game against Stevens Point where she shot 3 for 5 from beyond the arc contributing to her 18-point game. Additionally, she is an exceptional defender consistently boxing out on every shot which enhances her fundamentally sound game. I'm excited to follow her throughout her high school career.      [player_tooltip player_id='1134483' first='Gwenn' last='Elliott'] has an impressive skill set on the basketball court. She can shoot from the perimeter and is particularly talented at driving to the rim. With a quick first step, she can easily get past defenders. Her long frame and wide wingspan work to her advantage on both offense and defense. Elliott is also a smart and tough defender demonstrating good footwork and challenging on the perimeter. She showcases a strong competitive mentality in games, involving herself in every play and striving for every opportunity. In her varsity debut, she scored 27 points in a victory against Michicot. In her first game, she also tallied an impressive 15 rebounds, a testament to her activity off the ball. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Elliott develops over the course of four years. She has some serious potential!

A very talented group of 2028 players have made an exciting impact on the varsity court this season. I had the opportunity to watch a few players who truly stood out to me. They will be exciting to watch this season and throughout their high school careers.