Lauren Ladd Lauren Ladd 5'5" Aki Kurose Middle School | 2029 WA is a strong point guard who brings quickness, athleticism and toughness to both ends of the floor. She has the speed and explosiveness to get downhill and attack the rim, and she does a good job finishing once she gets there. What also stands out is her willingness to contribute in areas that can sometimes be missing from young guards. Lauren rebounds well, competes defensively and brings a physicality that allows her to impact the game beyond scoring and ball-handling.

Lauren continues to make strides with her basketball IQ and is becoming more consistent at recognizing opportunities to create for her teammates. She pushes the ball in transition and attacks the rim before the defense can get set. She also puts in the work on her offensive game, particularly her mid-range jumper. When she gets past her defender, she does a nice job pulling up for a controlled shot rather than always forcing her way into traffic. Her combination of athleticism, defensive toughness, developing court vision and growing scoring arsenal makes Lauren an intriguing young point guard to watch.