Five Prospects Helping Their Varsity Teams Compete

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season we have seen several great prospects from across the state do their thing and put on for their Varsity programs while competing at a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five of those prospects - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502095"],"_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-6952abcd832a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='502095' first='Emily' last='Larsen'] is putting together a respectable Senior season before going off to UNI to compete with the Panthers in her near future. Larsen is that knock-down three point shooter with some unlimited range. Whenever she lets it go from deep, the shot looks picture perfect and it always looks like it's going to have a chance of going in the bucket. No matter the distance or defense. Larsen also has been playing well in the defensive department. She is guarding her own at a steady rate and I don't expect that to change anytime soon with her athletic ability and size at 5'11. Larsen might be called upon early with the Panthers to show what she can do. If she can play a mentally strong game, she should continue to thrive over her career but for now she will focus on finishing up her Senior Winter with a bang. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834859"],"_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-6952abcd83313"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We have heard the name [player_tooltip player_id='834859' first='Dannie' last='Stewert'] for a few years now out of Mount Ayr High School and we are hearing it more and more as we move into 2026. Stewart is the go-to assist leader for this crew. She makes plays and is always trying to be the one that sets up everyone else for success around on the offensive end. Stewert is doing her usual work to kick of this Winter as a distributor but she is also scoring herself at a thorough rate, which helps them become even more un-guardable as a whole. Mount Ayr is one of those programs that always seems to make a run come Playoff time so I would expect nothing less this tine around. Especially when players like Stewert are consistently producing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["795874"],"_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-6952abcd8335d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you were paying attention prior to coming into this Winter then you somewhat knew about [player_tooltip player_id='795874' first='LJ' last='Maehl'] of Fort Dodge High School. LJ is a NWMS WBB commit with some promising potential. Maehl stands at 6'0, she moves well between the blocks, while she is still learning to spread out her game to the outside. She stands out as a top rebounder on whatever team she competes with, showing her attitude and grit each contest. Fort Dodge is going to have some good games the rest of this Winter against some good competition and they will look at LJ to lead them in those moments. If they stick to their strategy and play inside-to-outside basketball, they should be just fine and LJ should continue to dominate her position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["886240"],"_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-6952abcd833a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the better players out of the 2029 Class throughout Iowa so far this season has been [player_tooltip player_id='886240' first='Kiersten' last='TeBockhorst'] of Independence. You might not see Independence compete all the time as they are a smaller program but I promise you, TeBockhorst is a difference maker and she would be in any other program across the state as well for the most part. She is a natural talent with a great head on her shoulders. She isn't the tallest or most athletic but she makes up for that with steady play on both offense and defense. The Top 25 Rankings for the 2029 Class drop tomorrow and I expect TeBockhorst to be somewhere included. I'm not sure exactly where yet but her production speaks volumes already and she is talented to the naked eye so it's only up from here as long as she keeps on working. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1219678"],"_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-6952abcd833e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Storm Lake has had a game-changed in [player_tooltip player_id='1219678' first='Grace' last='Kenkel'] at the PF position so far this Winter as we move into the New Year. Kenkel is one of the team's bigger and more opposing presences on the hardwood. She mainly works in the paint, controlling whatever she can when things get a little dicey. Overall she communicates well and she makes some eye-opening plays when she is in the zone. The communication part is what really stands out to me. When someone acts like that, they can usually compete at the next level with that confidence, it's just finding them the correct fit for both parties. Nevertheless, Storm Lake has some notable producers on roster so far this season. They just need to keep it up over the next three months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->