More Lesser-Known Players Turning Heads

Brady Peterson December 18, 2025 @ 03:02 PM

As the season rolls on, I'd like to continue highlighting some players from off the beaten path. There are hundreds of teams in the state, and plenty of players who deserve recognition for how the first month and some change have gone for them. Today, we'll look at eight players whom I'd like to discuss based on how they've played thus far.   Macy McKay   McKay is a physical interior player who can record a double-double anytime she steps on the floor. The Riverdale forward has a knack for putting herself in position to rebound on the offensive end of the floor and generate second-chance opportunities. She is a player that teams have to put at the top of their defensive scouting reports, and there is still a chance that her physical tools could nullify any plan useless after a few minutes of a game. She'll be a handful for defenses in Southwest Wisconsin in her senior season.   Natalie Schlueter   The Oconto forward has been the focal point for what the Blue Devils have done offensively, and has been a reliable offensive weapon in her senior campaign. Schlueter is also a player who has made an impact on the defensive end by getting her hands on the ball in various ways, from blocking shots, generating live-ball turnovers, and rebounding on the defensive end of the floor. She has been a player who has caught my attention this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='882565' first='Lexi' last='Gruman']   The Random Lake guard missed her sophomore season due to a knee injury, and I'm sure she'll continue to improve as the year continues. However, she has been an impactful player in her few games back from a serious knee injury. Gruman has been a consistent offensive threat and has led the Rams in scoring this season. The part of her game that I've always enjoyed watching is her defensive activity. She is a player who will force plenty of guards to have rough nights when she guards them, as long as she plays basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275677' first='Catherine' last='Williams']   The St. Croix Falls guard is a hard-nosed two-way player who will create her own luck anywhere she plays going forward. Williams is a player who reads the game well defensively and can generate live-ball turnovers by jumping passing lanes or earning on-ball steals. She has the lateral quickness to keep talented guards in front of her and find a role defensively. Her instincts defensively are as good as anyone's in her region of the state.

As the season rolls on, I'd like to continue highlighting some players from off the beaten path. There are hundreds of teams in the state, and plenty of players who deserve recognition for how the first month and some change have gone for them. Today, we'll look at eight players whom I'd like to discuss based on how they've played thus far.