Early Season Observations: Under-the-Radar Prospects

Credit: Sean Donohue | Echo Images

Brady Peterson December 3, 2021 @ 12:48 PM

In these past few weeks, I attended around 20 games in person. Some of these players I have been impressed by haven’t had incredible numbers or just haven’t made any of the lists I’ve made. Today I want to mention a few of those players and talk about what they bring to the game. This kind of piece is something I plan on doing semi-regularly during the season. Kailey Wozniak Kailey Wozniak 5'9" | CG Pius XI Catholic | 2023 State WI -5’9 G/F-’23-Pius XI: Before I watched the first Pius XI game I attended, Wozniak impressed me before the game even tipped off. I watched Wozniak go around the world warming up, and she went all the way around. Wozniak went about 10 for 11 from behind the 3-point line. The left-handed wing is a bit of a curious case when you go by the numbers she put up because they don’t look like a lethal sharpshooter. But Wozniak isn’t necessarily even really a shooter. What Wozniak mainly does is attack defenses off the dribble. The junior has excellent touch around the rim and through traffic. Although I believe an elite-level shooter is within Wozniak’s capability, she has excelled attacking off the dribble against quality opponents. Madilyn Reott Madilyn Reott 5'7" Stoughton | 2024 WI -5’8 G-’23-Stoughton: Reott is a player I was fond of when she was at the PGH Top 250 event, so I’ve kept an eye on Stoughton this season, mainly via stream. Senior has shot the lights out this season, but Reott has excelled as well. What I was most impressed by in Reott’s game was her aggression. When I’ve seen Reott play, she has consistently been trying to get through the middle of 2-3 zones and looking for dump-off passes to players under the basket. Bella Oestricher-5’9 G-’23-Beaver Dam: Oestricher plays on a talented Beaver Dam team and can be kind of forgotten, mainly when they impose their will on the glass. Oestricher is the counterbalance to Wilke and Wittnebel. The left-handed sharpshooter is an elite floor spacer that defenses must account for, or she will kill teams 3-pointer after 3-pointer. Oestricher likely has more to offer, but playing on great teams comes with sacrifice. Oestricher is the best example of a high-level 3&D player I’ve seen, just based on her role with the team. McKenna Caroll-5’11 F-’24-Oregon: I don’t have much information on Carroll, but I was impressed by her play against Oconomowoc. Carroll was a versatile offensive wing/big that did more than shoot. The sophomore had a lot of juice off the dribble and offensively kept the Panthers in the game against the Raccoons when players went out due to foul trouble late in the first half. She may not be incredibly flashy, but sneakily Carroll can be efficient.