Season Preview: Freshman To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the high school basketball season just around the corner, Prep Hoops Wisconsin lists a handful of freshman that you should have on your radar!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561939' first='Ethan' last='Joling'] -- Hortonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think that Joling is a prospect that is going to impress in the Fox Valley Association for years to come. The Hortonville wing stands at 6-foot-4 and pairs his size with some skill. Around the hoop, the freshman does a really nice job of using his size to finish over smaller defenders. If he can continue to round out his skills, Joling is going to be very difficult to guard. Joling is also a great passer for his position. Keep an eye on this prospect moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561953' first='Thian' last='Riak'] -- Madison Lafollette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the recent Prep Hoops Freshman Showcase, Riak was a prospect that really caught my eye. The 6-foot-4 small forward is extremely skilled on both ends of the court. With the ball in his hands, he uses his high-IQ and quick first step to find success. The SF is very good at slashing to the rim and then dumping it off to an open teammate. Riak is also a standout defender. He has quick hands and feet, which he uses to pick the pockets of opposing players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561941' first='Jayden' last='Paul'] -- Big Foot</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paul is a point guard to know. The Big Foot prospect is set up to impress for many years to come. Even though he is just a freshman, Paul's game is similar to one you would see in a much older player. He is a very good ballhandler and passer. I love how he is able to break down the defense with his dribble and then locate an open teammate. Paul is the type of player that makes everyone around him much better. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'] -- Wisconsin Lutheran </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the 2025 rankings are released, I wouldn't be surprised if Zens is around the top of the list. The Wisconsin Lutheran prospect plays with a top AAU squad and certainly has some impressive skills. The 6-foot-5 forward has some intriguing tools as a scorer. He is able to use his size to overpower opponents in the paint or step outside and knockdown jumpers. Zens is really fun to watch and I don't think it will be too long until he is a well-known name. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'] -- Mount Horeb</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manchester is going to make some waves in a couple of years. The point guard is one of the more skilled prospects in Wisconsin's 2026 class. Many players spend years practicing skills that seem to come naturally to Manchester. He can handle the ball well, is a high-level passer, talented as a slasher, and promising as a shooter. I am really excited for Manchester's future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561954' first='Steven' last='Wright'] -- Shorewood High School </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright may be small, but the Shorewood High School standout can ball. He is very quick and a real handful for opposing defenders. Wright does a really good job of using his speed to his advantage. The point guard is very good at slashing to the rim and scoring in isolation. He is also a tremendous passer who can always find an open teammate. Look out for Wright in the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->