10 Players Who Improved the Most During the Travel Season
The 10 players we saw who improved the most throughout the course of the spring and summer travel periods…
Malcolm Reed (Barneveld/Wisconsin Swing)
When the spring began, Reed looked like a player trying to fit in with a new team. By the time the summer ended, he was the straw that stirred the drink. Now a clear Division 2 prospect, Reed is still an intriguing 6-foot-4 guard/wing, but he’s developed a killer instinct offensively. Reed can still be a pass-first facilitating guard, but the Barneveld standout now plays with a different sense of urgency and is comfortable putting a team on his back. If his jumper develops, look for Reed’s stock to continue to rise.
Levi Borchert (Kimberly/Wisconsin Blizzard)
A skilled, versatile forward, Borchert had some impressive stretches of basketball in July. The Blizzard could dump the ball down on the block and let Borchert go to work. The 6-foot-5 forward can also take bigs out to the perimeter and take them off the bounce. Borchert can also handle the ball in transition and finish on the fast break.
Huberto Platz (Marquette University/Ray Allen Select)
By the end of the summer, Platz really became a valuable weapon for Ray Allen Select. Not one of the headline names on the squad, Platz often changed games with his 3-point shooting ability. A sniper who can quickly set his feet and let it fly, Platz had many games in which he knocked in 4-5 triples.
Amani Glosson (Milwaukee Academy of Science/Milwaukee Spartans-Rebels)
An explosive athlete that’s improving his skill set, Glosson is becoming more of a consistent basketball player. It’s tough for him to always show his stuff in the high school season as Glosson plays with two top 20 prospects in the state of Wisconsin, but in a different environment, Glosson showed he can stand on his own as a prospect. An above the rim and threat and standout defender, Glosson has some Division 1 measurables. If he can develop some of the finer points of his game, specifically, fundamental offense, Glosson can really take off as a prospect.
Carson Arenz (Onalaska/Playground Warriors)
Towards the end of the summer, Arenz seemed to find himself. A stretch forward who’s always been a finesse player on the AAU circuit, Arenz found some toughness in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-5 junior was very scrappy and racked up hustle plays. That ignited his offense as Arenz began playing with a much better motor around the rim.
Maxwell Glass (Kenosha Bradford/World Hoops Elite)
A big body who can shoot the 3, Glass had some big scoring performances in July. Glass was very consistent from downtown in the NY2LA Summer Jam. Also a pesky defender, Glass can rack up steals and blocks at a surprising rate. Glass plays with terrific anticipation and makes sure he doesn’t leave the ground until the shooter does, timing shots very well.
Justin Greenlee (Brown Deer/Young Legends)
Usually the smallest player on the floor, Greenlee doesn’t physically strike fear into his opponent. In July, Greenlee seemed to figure out how to adapt. Greenlee can get into the paint and uses excellent touch to adjust around shot blockers. The 5-foot-8 point guard can break people down off the bounce and thrive in high percentage areas. He certainly needs to add weight and explosiveness to help him further compensate for his height limitations, but Greenlee is on the right track.
Kobe Johnson (Nicolet/Phenom University)
When the spring kicked off, Johnson was a little over his head playing alongside and against some of the better plays in the Midwest. At first, he came off the bench and received spot minutes. By the end of the summer, Johnson was a starter and one of the more valuable players for Phenom University. An excellent defender with great hands, Johnson can lock people down on the perimeter and play the passing lanes off the ball. Offensively, his isolation scoring made vast leaps. Johnson has always been a strong passer with excellent vision and can thread the needle in traffic.
Ben Probst (Madison LaFollette/Wisconsin Swing)
Probst has sneaky play making ability. He wasn’t necessarily a guy the Swing drew up plays for, but you definitely don’t mind when the ball gets in his possession during a key moment. Probst may not wow you in any particular area, but he does everything well. Probst shoots it well from deep, can make some terrific extra passes, rebounds well for his size, and defends on and off the ball and a solid level. An all-around player, Probst will be one of those guys that always seems to fly under the radar.
Jimmy Gillespie (Holmen/Wisconsin Playmakers)
Known as a 3-point threat, Gillespie has improved inside the arc. Able to run through multiple screens and work off the ball, Gillespie is a nice catch and shoot guard that’s more comfortable from 17-18 feet. Gillespie also might be developing some versatility. We saw him take guys in the post a bit and score going away from the basket. A 6-foot-1 guard who can light it up from 3-point range, Gillespie could take his game to another level as a senior if he develops into a three-level scorer.