2027 Breakout Candidates for the 2026-2027 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the June "scholastic live period" is over, I wanted to circle back and consider who could be the breakout candidates for the 2026-2027 high school season. There is no exact, singular qualification for these, other than I am looking at prospects who (a) played regular Varsity minutes in 2025-2026 but I feel like this coming year they could step into a key role and significantly increase their statistics, or (b) maybe they are getting their first major minutes of Varsity action, or (c) maybe they are in a new location and will have a bigger opportunity to affect each game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932688"],"_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-6a43f08d2c861"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jadyn is in a situation of opportunity, and I feel like she could really stand out as a Senior. Last year, she played a nice role for the Highlanders, but she also played behind talented graduates like <strong>Brinley Clark</strong> and <strong>Elise Coleman</strong>, plus 6-2 classmate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932692' first='Riley' last='Roberts']</strong>. But I think Jadyn has the tools to be a difference-maker this time around. She is strong, she's a nice all-around athlete, she plays with a motor, plus she is versatile. She is willing to go inside and use her physicality to her advantage, often finishing with nice post moves. At the same time, she is a threat to shoot it from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751062"],"_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-6a43f08d2c8eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grace is one of those kids you root for, before she has dealt with her share of injuries throughout her career. After missing her entire Sophomore year due to a knee injury, she returned last season and started strong. After just a handful of games played, however, she again missed the rest of the season. She was probably around 75%-80% early in the Spring, but I would expect for her to come back in 2026-2027 on a mission. She is extremely long, versatile, and skilled. She can shoot it from outside, slice to the basket, plus she can handle it and create offense for teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834938"],"_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-6a43f08d2c942"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katie is not a big grassroots participant, but she has been a strong member of the Musketeers' State Championship team (<em>from this past February</em>). Katie was their third leading scorer at 8.4 points per game, plus she knocked down 45 3-pointers. She is long, fluid/smooth, and versatile skillfully. With three starters graduating, including their top two scorers, I feel like the 2026-2027 season will be Katie's opportunity to step into a leadership role and potentially break out as a scorer and all-around contributor. She'll have guards around her, so if they can get her looks, she could be a 15+ ppg scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751091"],"_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-6a43f08d2c99e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Laney has never been on the big shoe company teams, but she has played grassroots ball, and she seems to love to play. She has grown probably three inches throughout high school, she is extremely long, fluidly athletic, and versatile skillfully. At the same time, she has been pretty steady for the Norse, averaging 9.0 points as a Sophomore and 8.0 points as a Junior. This coming year, however, could be her breakout season. With her adding a little strength, I think she'll be on attack more and get to the free throw line, plus she can shoot it outside. She still has a high ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756239"],"_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-6a43f08d2ca13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of kids you want to root for, Riley put together two strong years for Franklin Central, and she was primed for a bigger Junior season. But she injured her knee early in the year, and she is still working her way back. She has always been a selfless passer, registering 270 assists through 53 games already. She is poised at the point, strong with the ball, and feisty defensively. She has never forced shots, but she can shoot it a little outside, she's a solid free throw shooter, and she can create off the dribble. But she is the ideal lead guard because truly knows how to run a team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->