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<p>We have 2 more installments of the Way Too Early Team Rankings, as we will start the season in a little over a month. Teams are getting great runs in the Fall, and some are in leagues, and others are scheduling scrimmages. Either way, we are starting to see what teams have improved, what teams look like they will make a splash, and what teams are on the outside looking in. </p>
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<p><strong>#1 Lone Peak Knights (Region 3)</strong></p>
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<p>Lone Peak has remained in the top spot all offseason and for good reason. The Knights have been a powerhouse for the past few years, and they look to do it again, returning almost everyone from their championship team from last season. Most importantly, they return one of the top players in the state from last season in [player_tooltip player_id='796745' first='Kennedy' last='Woolston'].</p>
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<p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796745' first='Kennedy' last='Woolston'] || 5'11 CG || 2026 </p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='804252' first='Madeline' last='Pope'] || 5'10 CG || 2028 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='873282' first='Charli' last='Warner'] || 5'8 PG || 2028 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='875181' first='Huni' last='Folau'] || 5'6 PG || 2028 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='673099' first='Tatiana' last='Harness'] || 5'7 PG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='849040' first='Lave' last='Holdcraft'] || 5'10 F || 2026 ||</p>
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<p><strong>Top New Comers </strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='952625' first='Peyton' last='Warner'] || 5'8 PG || 2029 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='873278' first='Jordan' last='Moeaki'] || 5'8 PG || 2029 ||</p>
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<p><strong>Outlook </strong></p>
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<p>As you can see, the Knight return a lot of talent and add more along the way. They have all been used to running in the same system for a long time now, and they have proven to be ready to play and take on anyone. With Lone Peak, you can't pay attention to their record, and you just need to know that they can beat anyone at any time. </p>
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<p><strong>#2 Westlake Thunder (Region 2)</strong></p>
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<p>Westlake is another team that almost brings back everyone, and having seen them play a few times this off-season, they have a rotation as deep as 10 players that they can turn to for defense or offense. They return a key lead guard in [player_tooltip player_id='796479' first='Avery' last='Thompson'], and she will be the most important player on the floor. </p>
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<p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796479' first='Avery' last='Thompson'] || 5'7 PG || 2027 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='861992' first='Ella' last='Seymore'] || 5'11 W || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1248783' first='Keira' last='Hester'] || 5'10 SG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='829862' first='Isley' last='Sauvao'] || 5'9 F || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796486' first='Mia' last='Foster'] || 5'9 SG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p><strong>New Comers</strong></p>
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<p>McCoy Larsen || 5'7 SG || 2027 ||</p>
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<p><strong>Outlook</strong></p>
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<p>Westlake brings back a lot of experience and has some seniors who can play and are ready to take the next step in that program. Last season, they won a few tough games, and this year, you can expect them to be more seasoned and sharper than they were last year. [player_tooltip player_id='861992' first='Ella' last='Seymore'] is going to be a huge part of their success as she is a tough cover with her height and scoring ability. On the other hand, she defends almost every position very well. They will be playing in a very tough region, but they will be the favorite coming out of Region 2. </p>
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<p><strong>#3 Cedar Valley Aviators (Region 2)</strong></p>
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<p>The Aviators are new to 6A, but they will not sneak up on anyone because everyone knows they have talent. They bring back 2 dynamic players who can score in many ways in [player_tooltip player_id='796815' first='Hadley' last='Whiting'] and [player_tooltip player_id='796818' first='Ellie' last='Larson']. This duo is not all they bring back.</p>
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<p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='827410' first='Savannah' last='Klodt'] || 5'6 PG || 2027 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796815' first='Hadley' last='Whiting'] || 5'11 SF || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796818' first='Ellie' last='Larson'] || 5'11 SF || 2026 ||</p>
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<p><strong>New Comers</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1239464' first='Sadie' last='Johnson'] || 5'6 PG || 2029 ||</p>
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<p><strong>Outlook</strong></p>
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<p>Do not be surprised by this team; they have a lot of talent, and they play well with each other. If you speed them up, that could be trouble, as they love to get up and down the floor. If you slow them down, they run good sets and misdirections that will get their players good matchups and easy looks. Their backcourt could be among the best as they have a scoring punch and speed. </p>
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<p><strong>#4 Copper Hills Grizzlies (Region 2)</strong></p>
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<p>Copper Hills will have a lot of size to throw at you. They will have 2 6'0 and up players that are strong and both play well inside. They will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='1206007' first='Abby' last='Bush'], though a sharp-shooting wing with positional height. </p>
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<p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1206007' first='Abby' last='Bush'] || 6'1 SG || 2027 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796851' first='Sela' last='Ama'] || 5'8 CG || 2027 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='922382' first='Ella' last='Creer'] || 6'1 W || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>Ellise Southworth || 5'7 G || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>Addie Guymon || 5'5 PG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p><strong>New Comers</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='1248994' first='Makayla' last='Staker'] || 6'4 C || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>Rylee Greenwood || 6'1 F || 2027 ||</p>
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<p>Outlook </p>
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<p>They will be playing a tough brand of basketball, and this season, you will see them slow things down and wear the team out in the half-court. With a few bigger players, they could use that to their benefit. [player_tooltip player_id='922382' first='Ella' last='Creer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1206007' first='Abby' last='Bush'] will be their go-to players inside and outside. Copper Hills will be tough.</p>
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<p>#5 Syracuse Titans (Region 1)</p>
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<p>Syracuse returns two players who could make the biggest difference for them this coming season. One plays in the perimeter and shoots the ball very well, as seen in [player_tooltip player_id='796823' first='Maylee' last='Anderson'], and the other plays inside but has touch in the perimeter, as seen in Rachael McBride. </p>
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<p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='903189' first='Rachel' last='McBride'] || 6'4 C || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='796823' first='Maylee' last='Anderson'] || 5'6 PG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='866704' first='Olivia' last='Sorensen'] || 6'0 PF || 2026 ||</p>
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<p>Karsyn Vissor || 5'9 CG || 2026 ||</p>
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<p><strong>Outlook</strong></p>
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<p>Syracuse has a player who can make a big difference because of her height in McBride, and her shot-blocking ability just changes the tone of any game. Syracuse also has a new incoming freshman who will have size and potential, too. If Syracuse can work that zone like they have in the past and mix things in here and there, you can expect a lot of teams to get frustrated, as they will have a tough time scoring the ball. Syracuse is going to be tough. </p>
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We have 2 more installments of the Way Too Early Team Rankings, as we will start the season in a little over a month. Teams are getting great runs in the Fall, and some are in leagues, and others are scheduling scrimmages. Either way, we are starting to see what teams have improved, what teams look like they will make a splash, and what teams are on the outside looking in.
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