The Players I Trust Most From What I Watched in 2025

When I look back on 2025, I think about the players who consistently caught my attention every time I watched, not because of point totals or rankings, but because of how they played the game. Scoring has never been the focus for me. I'm drawn to players who add to their games, who show growth, efficiency, confidence, and a feel for winning possessions. Players who show respect to the game, and players who hold their teammates accountable.   These evaluations come from spending real time watching across last year's AAU season, the 2024–2025 high school season, and the first half of the 2025–2026 season. Not one game, not one highlight, but repeated viewings that allow patterns to show. I'll be upfront about the bias. I gravitate toward players I genuinely enjoy watching and players I can clearly see impacting the next level, not just filling a roster spot.   If a college coach asked me who I trust most from what I watched in 2025, these are the players I would confidently point to below.    You're doing yourself a disservice if you haven't watched a full game of Paityn. Outside of her skill set as a true two-way combo guard, her approach to the game is a rarity in this state right now. She plays every possession with 100% energy and shows the on-court maturity of a high-level college player. As far as her basketball skills, offensively, there aren't many weaknesses. The handle is strong, the ability to score from all 3 levels plus the ISO ability is present, and her vision and playmaking are solid enough to get her 5+ assists on any given night. Defensively is where she truly moves the needle. No matter make or miss, she is waiting right under the rim for her assignment. An 84/94-foot pressure type of kid. She has the stamina to do it as well.   CEILING - Multiple Collegiate All-Conference Selections (D1)     The growth of Heinz has been amazing to see over the last year. She has always been an impactful piece for PND, but she truly has emerged as a piece that can change the entire outcome of a game. Scoring is one part that she has worked on.. her ability to score on her own in the low post area, as well as showing the confidence to take the extended mid range. She is a complete athlete, so scoring off a cut or a fast break comes with some ease due to her length and athleticism finish over the defense. Defensively, she can legitimately guard 1-4 and make the 5 hesitate. Her potential is crazy high.   CEILING: A key contributor on a highly competitive D1 Program/ Multiple Players of the week.     The aggression Danyella plays with is a rarity in Illinois right now, and you can tell by the way she competes that she truly loves the game of basketball. Every year she has added to her game, whether it's handling the ball under pressure or improving her efficiency with FGAs, and regardless of the area, she continues to expand her skill set with very few offensive weaknesses. At both the high school and AAU levels, Danyella shows her ability to dominate while also having the awareness to slow the game down, play within a role, or take things into her own hands when needed. The true needle mover, in my opinion, is her commitment to Illinois State, a decision that reinforces basketball as a clear priority. Even with multiple options, she chose a program where she can develop and play immediately while still having the grace to grow through the natural learning curve of her freshman year, which will be fun to watch.   CEILING: Multiple Collegiate All-Conference Selections, Freshman Of The Year, Multiple Freshman Of The Week/Months Selections, Recordbook Holder, Watchlist for Every Individual Mid-Major Award (D1)     Brooklyn is easily one of the best projected players in this state, regardless of the class. The frame alone has pushed her up into conversations with mid major to high major college coaches. She is a player who will be the focal point for her HS program for the rest of her career. Her offensive skillset is heavily based on her having the ball in her hand, however, what she does without the ball will be intriguing for colleges. She's quick when it comes to cutting, she can catch and shoot.. and her frame allows her to set strong screens to get people open with ease.   CEILING - Multiple Collegiate All-Conference Selections (D1)     The interesting thing about Sakalas is that she has had the best overall basketball situation for growth and development, for both her AAU and high school situations. From an AAU standpoint, Stella was not the main focus, but her role as a complementary piece was more than impactful. It showed coaches that she can play a similar role if she ended up at a high major, and what her beig the focal point for Naz over the past couple of seasons has shown her ability to be the go-to player on the court. In both situations and currently.. Stella has shown how she can be dominant in both roles. This is what translates to college.   CEILING: Multiple Freshman Of The Week (Big 12), Possible All-Conference Selections

When I look back on 2025, I think about the players who consistently caught my attention every time I watched, not because of point totals or rankings, but because of how they played the game. Scoring has never been the focus for me. I'm drawn to players who add to their games, who show growth, efficiency, confidence, and a feel for winning possessions. Players who show respect to the game, and players who hold their teammates accountable.