Potential 2025-26 Breakout Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the AAU season is nearing an end, I want to highlight a few kids who could be breakout candidates in the 2025-26 season. There could be many reasons a player breaks out from injuries, increased opportunity, or any other reason you could imagine. Today, we'll look at a few players to know as the AAU season enters its final stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751263' first='Kennedi' last='Harden']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vel Phillips Memorial had a team with a talented post that did her best work around the basket. Next season, the Spartans could be a group that leans on their guards to create more off the dribble, and if that ends up being the case, Harden is a player who could explode in the Big Eight next season. She's as creative as anyone and played a role that she created off the dribble last season. In a world where the Spartans lean on her, she could have an excellent junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751276' first='Olivia' last='LaBlanc']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first two seasons for LaBlanc ended before they got going. Injuries have hampered what LaBlanc could have been in the past few seasons. I, thinking as positively as possible, believe the injury issues are behind her, and she can focus on doing what she wants to do. The Hudson native is a game-breaking talent who can score and create on the perimeter and has the size to excel around the basket. It may take a while for her to get her sea legs back under her, but there's plenty to like. Before she was injured last season, I thought she would lead her Raider team to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764914' first='Finley' last='Morgan']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Laconia guard hasn't been the focal point of what the Spartans have done on the offensive end. However, that will change in her junior season. Morgan will likely handle the ball more than she ever has in her first few seasons and will get to show what she can do with the ball in her hands. A new role could change the perspective people have of her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='877236' first='Asharia' last='Koch']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Beloit Memorial guard plays as hard as anyone in the state. She rebounded the ball well for a guard last season and will have an increased role in the 25-26 season. Koch will have the ball in her hands more than ever before and will make plays off the dribble. Her program is located on the South Central border, so some people may not get to see her play often, but they would love to watch her play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->