State Leaders Back For More – Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is always a lot of turn-over season to season due to graduation, the transfer portal, and everything in-between.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this piece we discuss five players that were State leaders in different statistical categories throughout the 2024-2025 high school season in one way or another.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883552"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab42296fb52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='883552' first='Braylyn' last='Birmingham'] went 160 of 204 from the free throw stripe as a Freshman with her Norwalk program and she is ready to run that back once again this upcoming Winter. Birmingham is a D1 level prospect, that has had college interest from a couple of seasons at this point. She is a CG that can move between the 1, 2, or 3, always making a play depending on what is needed out of her at any given moment. This is a hooper that will have a chance to go down in the State Record books before her high school career comes to an end. The 160 number from a year ago was the most made free throw attempts from anyone out of the State of Iowa in the 2024-2025 season. Not to mention everything else she did out on the hardwood while competing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["833961"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab42296fbb5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the state's premier shooters off the wing position is [player_tooltip player_id='833961' first='Vivian' last='Cook'] out of Montezuma from the 2027 Class. Cook made her made last Winter as a Sophomore when she converted 81 three point attempts from distance. Montezuma is one of those programs that usually takes care of business so that they possess a few prospects like this is not surprising. Now she just needs to build on what she put in place a year ago. Something that should be fairly easy if she has been putting in the work this off-season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["582811"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab42296fc0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I would love to see [player_tooltip player_id='582811' first='Ava' last='Fischer'] return this Winter with the same level of confidence she competed with throughout the 2024-2025 high school season. Fischer, a 5'9 CG, is coming off of a very efficient season on both sides of the basketball. She converted most of her offensive attempts at a high rate, she went 92% from the charity stripe (47/51) on the year, and she racked up the tips, deflections, and steals on defense. If Humboldt is going to make some more noise this Winter, Fischer will be looked upon as a big piece to their puzzle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1262585"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab42296fc57"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1262585' first='Taylor' last='Evans'] is a mistmach nightmare at 6'3 and that is a major reason as to why Evans recorded 138 blocks during her freshman campaign last Winter. I'll state that once again for the record. 138 blocks in 22 games, coming out to 6.27 BPG, giving Evans the #1 overall ranking in the Blocks category from recent history. If Prince of Peace can help Evans this time around, she might even average more over the next 2-3 years. With having a 6'3 Post comes a lot of responsibility. Prince of Peace didn't put together the season they would have ideally wanted to during their 2024-2025 journey but that's nothing to dwell on. It's a new year and they are onto bigger and better things moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1194333"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab42296fc9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1194333' first='Addy' last='Oetker'] of DSM - Christian will lace up for her senior season as one of the best on-ball defenders that the State of Iowa possesses. Oetker is a college level PG at 5'6 with a quick handle, fast feet, natural instincts, and active hands. All things that lead her to cause a lot of chaos on the defensive side of the ball. Oetker will be looked upon to lead with the rock on offense as well though so I'm excited to see what she ends up putting together as a whole to cap of her last Winter of high school ball. Oetker doesn't have a ton of collegiate interest yet but it'll come over the next few months. Just wait and see. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->