Underclassmen Who Should Be on Your Radar

Over the last couple of weeks, a few underclassmen have really stood out to me with their performances on the court. This group consists of two ranked sophomores and three unranked freshmen, under-the-radar players who I believe should be closely followed. Let's take a closer look at the players who need to be talked about.    [player_tooltip player_id='914978' first='Alexis' last='Accuardi'] is a seriously impressive sophomore. She dominates the middle and low blocks by reading the defense, finding open spaces, and moving off-the -ball when her teammates drive toward the basket. She has a nice shot and she is consistent and reliable from mid-range. She also has excellent hands, can catch the ball in traffic, and is incredibly patient when handling the ball. Accuardi has good court vision and delivers precise passes from the high post. Standing at 6'1", she has active feet and moves quickly on defense which causes issues for opponents, especially with her long wingspan. She is active on both ends of the floor and it shows in her stats. Accuardi averages 10.1 points per game with an impressive field goal shooting percentage of 55%, along with 7.6 rebounds for DeForest.      Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='889649' first='Natalie' last='Mauk'] has a reliable shot from 3-point range as she's shooting 34% on the season so far. She is scrappy and a tenacious defender with quick, active feet. She always gets herself in the right spot and sprints into position for help defense. Although she hasn't tapped into her full potential yet, she's shown glimpses of a quick first step where she rips by defenders and finishes at the basket. Her ability to maneuver through traffic in the paint is impressive, especially at her age. Natalie averages 4.5 points per game for Plymouth with a game-high of 9 points.      [player_tooltip player_id='889178' first='Tia' last='Anderson'] is a notable freshman averaging 5.8 points per game and leading her team with 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She shoots an impressive 50% from three on 50 attempts. Her shot form is solid and consistent every time she shoots. Tia is a phenomenal passer, making crisp, precise passes that lead her teammates perfectly. She has great hands, anticipates well and racks up steals with her knack for anticipation.      [player_tooltip player_id='992496' first='Jadyn' last='Mataczynski'], a freshman from Hudson, shows poise beyond her years. She can handle the ball well and brings it up the court on occasion. She manages ball pressure easily using ball fakes to create passing lanes. Mataczynski can hit the three with beautiful form. Defensively, she moves her feet well and plays aggressively. She's long, has great hands and is always active which leads to her picking up tips and steals. Her quick first step and smart decision-making when driving to the lane make her a key contributor. In Hudson's last game against Stevens Point, Mataczynski put up 13 points, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 from the field, helping secure the win.     Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='814306' first='Devin' last='Larson'] is a versatile scorer with a smooth stroke, and she consistently hits shots from both mid-range and beyond the arc. She leads Hudson with 10.4 points per game and shoots 37% from three-point range. Larson is a smart, disciplined player who takes care of the basketball and makes sound decisions on the court. Her ability to penetrate the paint not only creates scoring opportunities for herself but also opens up the defense, allowing her to deliver precise passes to her teammates. She is a standout playmaker and she showcased her all-around skills in Hudson's recent win over Stevens Point, contributing 13 points and 8 assists to secure the victory.

Over the last couple of weeks, a few underclassmen have really stood out to me with their performances on the court. This group consists of two ranked sophomores and three unranked freshmen, under-the-radar players who I believe should be closely followed. Let's take a closer look at the players who need to be talked about.