Forwards I’ve Liked This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we're looking at some talented forwards and what they bring to the table. There isn't an astronomical amount of size all around the state, but there are fours and fives that can help college programs at the next level. Let's talk about a few of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448246' first='Addison' last='Baumgart']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the loss of her fellow front-court mate at Kaukauna, Baumgart will have to do more if the Galloping Ghosts want to get to where they could be in the Resch Center this March. Baumgart is a skilled 6-foot forward that does excellent work on the interior and can step out and knock down jumpers on the perimeter. She isn't new to playing big minutes for Kaukauna, but if the Galloping Ghosts rebound after their loss to Fond du Lac, Baumgart will be a significant reason why they continue on this winning path.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209881' first='Ellie' last='McDermid']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You won't find many more athletic kids at 6-foot-2 than McDermid. What I like most about McDermid is that she plays hard whether her teams are up by 30 or down by 30. By doing that alone, she makes plays that most kids, even with her size, can't make. She limits the shots opponents take around the rim and doesn't often find herself in foul trouble. We may not see her very best until she's in college because she's continuously improving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='444780' first='Lucy' last='Leininger']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching Leininger play on the defensive end is one of the most surreal experiences you can have. There isn't anyone better at making plays on the ball while defending all five positions on the floor, but we knew that. This season, especially against Verona, Leininger showed she's more than simply a defender. In that game, she had 22 points and made two of her four 3-point attempts. Her defense will be what coaches fall in love with, but her improvement on the offensive end shows her work ethic. She's a different player from a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338950' first='Lillian' last='Merow']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Port Washington's sophomore forward has some of the best footwork in the 2025 class. When she gets a deep catch, there isn't much that teams can do about it. The North Shore Conference doesn't have much size, so when she touches the ball, she gets swarmed and still manages to find ways to be productive. I love how relentless she is when she finds space to operate in, and even though the Pirates aren't one of the best teams in the area, Merow is always engaged and encourages her teammates, which shows her character.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->