The Mount Horeb guard is a skilled ball handler at her best in a primary ball-handler role. Mester can handle the ball under pressure and creates open looks for herself and her teammates off the dribble. She isn’t the most physically imposing player on the floor, but she doesn’t back down from anyone she lines up against. Some coaches will look past her because she doesn’t fit the mold of most guards at the next level, but she can make plays at the collegiate level. I’ll be interested to see which coaches have interest in her over the next year.

The Mount Horeb product was a threat from all areas of the floor. She handles the ball well, creates for teammates, and is always a danger from beyond the arc. Give her any space, and she’ll shoot with confidence. What stands out most is her activity without the ball. Lauren is constantly cutting, relocating, and finding open space. Her shooting ability is elite and ranks among the best I’ve seen this spring.

I did not get the opportunity to watch Lauren much during The Expo, but I was impressed by what I did see. She is a solid ballhandler who showed the ability to not only get to the basket but also to knock down threes. She also flashed some solid passes including a nice assist off an out-of-bounds play that turned heads.

Smaller guards must be better than anyone to be competitive, and Mester is a talented kid. Her creativity sets her apart as a newcomer. She handles the ball at a high level, has a quick first step, and can make shots off the dribble.

Among 2028 guards, Mester is among the most entertaining. She has the ball on a string and utilizes a quick first step. The Mount Horeb native isn’t among the most physically imposing defenders, but her willingness to dig and make plays is second to none. Mester plays with no fear and will stick her nose in to make plays on the ball no matter what. Offensively, she excels in pick and rolls as the ball handler because she can create off the dribble, make quick reads, and knock down shots if the defense goes under the screen. Her size will concern people at the next level, but she can play at a high level.