Taking Stock of the Class of 2028 (Part 1)

Brady Peterson December 10, 2024 @ 09:48 AM

We're inching closer to ending the first 30 days of the season. In honor of that, we're taking stock of how the class of 2028 began their high school careers around the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='885270' first='Aubri' last='Elmore']   Lake Country Lutheran has allowed Elmore to feel things out early in her first season for the Lightning. She hasn't needed to be a high-usage lead guard and has done a solid job playing off some of the kids the Lightning have had for a few seasons. Elmore has made some perimeter shots and shown intriguing flashes with the ball in her hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='931583' first='Brooklyn' last='Luehring']   Every guard that enters the KML campus seems to fit their basketball team to a tee. Luehring, the younger sister of Makenzie, has come into her own lately. After her sister sustained an injury against Pius, Brooklyn stepped up significantly. The lefty has averaged 12 points in the games since the injury and had a breakout against SPASH. Once her sister returns, I expect Makenzie to take her role back. Brooklyn may step back, but she proved she can hand at this level in five or six games.   [player_tooltip player_id='992499' first='Josie' last='Christian']   Few kids have assumed as high a usage rate as Christian, but she's done well with it. Not many kids in the state could shoot over 50% in a game where their team wins while shooting the ball 28 times, but Christian can. To show how much effort she's putting in, she's averaging over nine rebounds, including the game Christian scored 36 points when she grabbed 22 rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='874384' first='Keira' last='Van Wie']   Van Wie's versatility, especially on the defensive end, is exceptional. She's a solid athlete at 5'11 and has foot speed, allowing her to switch on ball screens and coral quicker guards on the perimeter. However, she also has the instincts and reaction time to alter shots around the rim. She may not have a massive role on the offensive end this season, but I won't be surprised if she's on the floor to close games out.   [player_tooltip player_id='992501' first='Kinslee' last='Nelson']   I never watched Nelson closely until Oshkosh West played KM at their event right after Thanksgiving, and I was more than impressed. She was a significant reason the Wildcats pulled back into that game after being down around 20 at halftime. Her athleticism and energy sparked the Wildcat defense. Her and-one over the top of another excellent athlete was eye-popping. She could be a standout for the Wildcats.   [player_tooltip player_id='880796' first='Kinsley' last='Ketterhagen']   The latest Ketterhagen is more than one of the premier prospects in Wisconsin or the Midwest but is one of the top kids nationally. It feels like the game comes easy to her, and her debut saw her score 26 points against a Laconia that changed their defensive game plan because of her. That's not normal for a 14-year-old. She's a kid to watch if you can make the trip to an Oostburg game.   [player_tooltip player_id='992508' first='Macy' last='Stremlow']   I'm sure the rest of the Big Eight loved seeing another Stremlow with the No. 1 on their jersey on their roster this season. All jokes aside, Macy has had a solid start to her first season as she heads into a prominent Big Eight clash with Vel Phillips Memorial on Thursday. Macy has excellent hands and can make challenging catches in traffic or earn steals. I'm a massive fan of what she could be, and she's done well in her time as a Wildcat thus far.   [player_tooltip player_id='888330' first='McKinley' last='Russell']   The Shullsburg native is a fun player to watch. The 5'11 lefty handles the ball for the Miners and is a legitimate threat off the dribble. She's shown she can turn the corner and get to the basket whenever. Russell also has solid footwork around the rim that helps her create space, even when she picks her dribble up. Due to her length and high release on her shot, few kids will ever get a real contest on any of her shots.

We're inching closer to ending the first 30 days of the season. In honor of that, we're taking stock of how the class of 2028 began their high school careers around the state.