Guards to Know in the 2025-26 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today is Labor Day, and most schools in Wisconsin will resume tomorrow. With the first practices of the 2025-26 championship season just over two months away, excitement is building. Soon, I'll begin sharing preview articles for programs where I've attended open gyms. For now, though, I'd like to highlight a few players I'm eager to watch this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874385' first='Alayna' last='Lemorande']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising sophomore at Bay Port has missed her first season due to a second knee injury. However, there is a need in the Pirates' backcourt for a guard who can make plays with the ball in her hands. Lemorande has shown she can do that when I've seen her play, and she could impress in her first full season if she remains healthy, which we all hope she will. There is a world where she impresses and helps her Bay Port unit reach heights people don't expect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1265496' first='Sophie' last='Hook']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Croix Central native has been a part of the Panthers' growth over the past few seasons. Hook has been a reliable source of offense and a consistent perimeter shooter in her time at St. Croix Central. She has also handled the ball well and played through pressure when teams try to force mistakes out of her. Hook is a player who is under the radar because of where she's from, but local programs should take a look at her if they have the time this coming winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876098' first='Jaedyn' last='Zdroik']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stevens Point area native is a player who has dominated the small-school level in her first two high school seasons at Pacelli. There is no official state record for it in Wisconsin, but I'd imagine that Zdroik leads the state in triple-doubles in her first two seasons of high school season. Her ability to contribute in every way on both ends of the floor makes her a player who controls every game she plays in at the D5 level. Having her on the roster means that the Cardinals will be among the top contenders to win a state title this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874379' first='Aubree' last='Fischer']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The De Pere native excelled with the [program_tooltip program_id='712778' first='Purple' last='Aces'] P24 group this past summer. I've heard positive things about her development. She plays with a group that is more than the sum of its parts, and her taking another step would only elevate the Red Birds. Among all the returning players in the FRCC this coming season, Fischer is the one I'm most intrigued by this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->