Wisconsin Natives to Watch at Summer Jam

Brady Peterson June 18, 2024 @ 06:24 PM

We will see when I head out to Minnesota this week, whether tomorrow or Thursday. However, the most fun June AAU event to cover is right around the corner. Last year, people seemed interested in some pieces I wrote on intriguing names to watch, so let's do that again.   [player_tooltip player_id='751252' first='Carrington' last='Balthasar']   In the 2027 class, Balthasar flew under the radar this season. Due to the amount of talented guards at Whitefish Bay, she played on JV her first year as a Blue Duke. However, she came into this AAU season playing high-level basketball. She looks explosive while attacking the basket, knocks down perimeter shots in bunches, and still has the vision to see everything around her to help make the right play. Players like Balthasar raise the ceiling of what her team could become.   [player_tooltip player_id='890999' first='Sophie' last='Busch']   The best version of Busch at the next level will be as a 3&D off-ball guard. She's athletic enough to hang with talented guards on the defensive end and will knock down catch-and-shoot three-pointers. As she gets used to her [program_tooltip program_id='713038' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'] teammates, that'll be a more natural role for her and could become one of the more prominent x-factors in the FVA this upcoming season. She may never be a player who lights up a box score, but Busch plays productive minutes and helps her team win games, which is the most important thing when it comes to playing at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='751268' first='Madeline' last='Volpe']   I believe any basketball nerd would appreciate what Volpe does. She's an undersized guard but makes everyone in the other jersey's lives miserable. Volpe's an excellent on-ball defender and takes advantage of anything her assignment does. I can only imagine how frustrating she is to play against because she's relentless and skilled enough to take advantage of any mistake you make on either end. The more people see her play, the more they'll like her as a player.   [player_tooltip player_id='1045830' first='Raya' last='Shaw']   The athleticism is there for Shaw to thrive at the next level. She can fly around the floor and create for others off the dribble. I love her level of engagement on the defensive end of the floor while guarding the ball or away from the ball. Her attention to detail on defense leads to scoring opportunities in transition, which add up over a season. She's quick enough to get downhill and score around the basket and a willing enough passer to know what's going around her and make the correct read when defenses collapse on her drives.

We will see when I head out to Minnesota this week, whether tomorrow or Thursday. However, the most fun June AAU event to cover is right around the corner. Last year, people seemed interested in some pieces I wrote on intriguing names to watch, so let's do that again.