Under-the-Radar Guards to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the new season officially begins, this being the first day of practices around the state, I want to talk about some under-the-radar kids to watch this season. Plenty of kids can play better than expected and take their teams further than anyone thinks, and here are some players I think can do that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209589' first='Mataya' last='Machovec Fernandez']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63695168441c7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["209589"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If I had to explain what a floor general was with kids in Wisconsin, Fernandez would be the best example I could give. She does an excellent job of reading the game and staying two steps ahead of the defense. I like how well she balances her ability to create for others with her ability to score. There are a handful of occasions where her scoring was the difference between her team winning and losing games this summer. Edgewood made a sectional final last season. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a run at another one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209604' first='Ellie' last='Demet']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6369516e441c8","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["209604"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you like tough shot makers, Demet is the under-the-radar kid you're looking for this season. She's a guard who battled around the basket, was the bottom of Watertown's 1-3-1 zone, and made that role hers last season with her help-side defense and rebounding. She'll make tough shots on the offensive end with a defender all over her, and she has an arsenal of moves she's comfortable getting to, and I'll be curious to see that Gosling team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209909' first='Samantha' last='Schmitt']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63695176441c9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["209909"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've always loved how Schmitt has organized her teams as a lead guard in high school ball and AAU. This year, she'll have to be more assertive in her offensive game and look to score a little more. Her shot has improved over the last year, and I think it looks ready for the high school season. She'll be a challenging kid to defend if her jumper stands the test of a high school season, and if it does, she could lead this team to the second week of the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='432707' first='Elizabeth' last='Poller']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6369517f441ca","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["432707"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13873392/6254f8ce1600451108696b5d" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13873392/6254f8ce1600451108696b5d">Elizabeth's Junior Season Highlights</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The thing about Poller that stands out the most is her confidence. Whenever she touches the ball, her teammates have their eyes on her and stay ready for the ball. They know that she sees them and isn't bashful about firing a pass to them the second that the passing lane opens up, and most of the time, Poller will create them herself. You can tell that her teammates respond to her brand of leadership, that only amplifies now that she's a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->