Familiar Faces Ready to Lead the WMC Lakes Division

The WMC Lakes Division featured a competitive race at the top of the standings last season, with Fremont and Ludington sharing the conference championship after both finishing with impressive 11-1 records. Manistee followed at 7-5, while Whitehall finished at 6-6. Orchard View and Montague each wrapped up conference play at 3-9, with Oakridge finishing at 1-11. As teams prepare for another season, there are plenty of familiar faces returning who will look to make their mark on the division. Fremont and Ludington will be looking to stay at the top, while the rest of the conference hopes to close the gap and make a push up the standings. With several experienced players returning and others ready to step into larger roles, the WMC Lakes Division should have plenty of talent worth watching this winter. Here are some of the returning players I'll be keeping an eye on this season.    Taylor returns for her senior season at Fremont after earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State honors as a junior, and the Saint Mary's College commit will once again be one of the top players to watch in the WMC Lakes Division. The 2027 guard brings an impressive all-around game that allows her to make a difference in nearly every aspect of the game. Offensively, Taylor is a versatile scoring threat who can create opportunities for herself while also doing an excellent job setting up her teammates. Her court vision and ability to make the right reads make her a valuable playmaker for the Packers. What really stands out about Taylor is her ability to impact the game beyond scoring. She is an outstanding rebounder from the guard position and uses her defensive instincts to create steals and disrupt opposing offenses. Taylor has been a major part of Fremont's success throughout her high school career, helping the Packers capture three straight conference championships. With her experience, leadership and ability to contribute in so many ways, I expect Taylor to play a huge role as Fremont looks to remain at the top of the WMC Lakes Division this winter.     Eloise returns for her junior season at Ludington after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore, and I expect her to be a major contributor for the Orioles once again this winter. The 2028 forward brings an impressive combination of length, athleticism and versatility that allows her to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Eloise runs the floor extremely well for her size, getting out in transition and putting herself in position to finish around the basket. She has good hands and does a nice job catching passes on the move, allowing her to finish without breaking stride. Eloise also has the ability to stretch the floor with her perimeter shooting, making her a scoring threat beyond the arc. Defensively, she uses her length and anticipation to disrupt passing lanes and create steals. She put together a strong showing at the PGH Michigan Expo, continuing to demonstrate why she is an intriguing prospect in the 2028 class. With Ludington coming off a share of the WMC Lakes Division championship, I expect Eloise to take on another important role as the Orioles look to remain among the conference's top teams.     Clare returns for her senior season at Whitehall after earning First Team All-Conference honors as a junior, and the Alma College commit will once again be a strong presence in the paint for the Vikings. The 2027 forward brings a combination of strength, physicality and effort that allows her to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Clare does a nice job establishing position around the basket, using her strength to create scoring opportunities and finish through contact. She is comfortable going up strong off two feet and has the ability to battle through defenders to get shots up around the rim. One of the things I really like about Clare's game is her willingness to do the work on the glass. She competes for rebounds on both ends, creating second-chance opportunities and turning offensive boards into putback baskets. Her physical presence and work ethic make her a valuable piece for Whitehall, and I expect her experience and leadership to be important as the Vikings look to build on last season's fourth-place finish in the WMC Lakes Division.     Claire returns for her junior season at Ludington after earning Honorable Mention All-Conference honors as a sophomore, and I expect her to continue making an impact for the Orioles this winter. The 2028 guard brings a nice combination of perimeter shooting, the ability to attack the basket and defensive toughness to the floor. Offensively, Claire can be a dangerous threat from beyond the arc, especially when she finds her rhythm and starts knocking down shots. Her ability to get hot from three-point range makes her someone opposing defenses cannot afford to leave open. She is also capable of getting downhill and putting pressure on defenders, giving her different ways to contribute offensively. On the defensive end, Claire brings toughness and a competitive mindset, making her a difficult matchup for opposing guards. With Ludington coming off a share of the WMC Lakes Division championship, I expect Claire to continue building on her sophomore season and play an important role as the Orioles look to defend their conference title.

The WMC Lakes Division featured a competitive race at the top of the standings last season, with Fremont and Ludington sharing the conference championship after both finishing with impressive 11-1 records. Manistee followed at 7-5, while Whitehall finished at 6-6. Orchard View and Montague each wrapped up conference play at 3-9, with Oakridge finishing at 1-11. As teams prepare for another season, there are plenty of familiar faces returning who will look to make their mark on the division. Fremont and Ludington will be looking to stay at the top, while the rest of the conference hopes to close the gap and make a push up the standings. With several experienced players returning and others ready to step into larger roles, the WMC Lakes Division should have plenty of talent worth watching this winter. Here are some of the returning players I'll be keeping an eye on this season.

Taylor DeKuiper

MI #89

CG/SF #18

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS CG/SF

CLASS 2027

View Player

Taylor DeKuiper

State: Michigan

School: Fremont

Club: MBA-UA Rise

Taylor returns for her senior season at Fremont after earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State honors as a junior, and the Saint Mary's College commit will once again be one of the top players to watch in the WMC Lakes Division. The 2027 guard brings an impressive all-around game that allows her to make a difference in nearly every aspect of the game. Offensively, Taylor is a versatile scoring threat who can create opportunities for herself while also doing an excellent job setting up her teammates. Her court vision and ability to make the right reads make her a valuable playmaker for the Packers. What really stands out about Taylor is her ability to impact the game beyond scoring. She is an outstanding rebounder from the guard position and uses her defensive instincts to create steals and disrupt opposing offenses. Taylor has been a major part of Fremont's success throughout her high school career, helping the Packers capture three straight conference championships. With her experience, leadership and ability to contribute in so many ways, I expect Taylor to play a huge role as Fremont looks to remain at the top of the WMC Lakes Division this winter.