Most Outstanding Prospects: Midwest Players Classic
LA CROSSE — Breaking down the best individual performances from the 2019 Midwest Players Classic… Carson Arenz – 2020 – F – Onalaska We know Onalaska is a solid program, but the Hilltoppers have a tough draw year in and…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLA CROSSE — Breaking down the best individual performances from the 2019 Midwest Players Classic…
Carson Arenz – 2020 – F – Onalaska
We know Onalaska is a solid program, but the Hilltoppers have a tough draw year in and year out, just trying to get out regional play. Arenz has and needs to continue to elevate his play if Onalaska is going to cut into that gap between them and La Crosse Central. Arenz has the potential to be a mismatch problem. The 6-foot-4 forward is a little undersized, but does the things below the rim enough to give him an edge. He’s got great feet off the bounce and in the post and can get bigger defenders off-balance. Arenz has always been a strong 3-point shooter and forces bigs to play away from the rim. Arenz led the way with 16 points in Saturday’s blowout win over Oconomowoc.
Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – La Crosse Central
It was mind-blowing last year and it’s still mind-blowing now. The fact that Davis only has one power-six scholarship offer is borderline criminal. Davis didn’t have the best finish, but clearly held his own against one of the Midwest’s best teams and showed he can score against size, length, and athleticism. Davis scored a team-high 21 points in a loss to Minnehaha Academy, a good showing for Central despite the defeat.
The 6-foot-4 junior continues to get more explosive as a slasher. He’s terrific at catching around 15 feet from the rim, ripping, and attacking the basket. Always playing harder than anyone else on the floor, Davis has a blue collar DNA and the want-to to be a lockdown defender. He’s starting to grab more power-five looks with Michigan, Virginia, Nebraska, and Iowa recently coming in, but Wisconsin remains the only major conference offer here.
Ace Evans – 2019 – G – Martin Luther
Evans was the difference maker for Martin Luther in their win over Minneapolis North. Down the stretch, the game was in Evans’ hands and the senior guard delivered. With his team struggling from the outside, Evans got the Spartans offense going to the rim. He finished off some athletic drives in traffic and really put a ton of pressure on North all game long, getting his left hand and forcing defenders to either foul or give him a straight-line drive. Evans also dished the ball at a high level. North had to throw bodies at him and Evans made the opposition pay with some beautiful dimes. Evans finished with 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals in the win.
Keaton Ferris – 2020 – G – Kaukauna
Ferris was excellent as a scorer and facilitator in Kaukauna’s win over La Crosse Logan. The junior guard makes the defense pick their poison at times. A deadly sharpshooter with deep range, Ferris makes defenders guard him well out past the perimeter. After hitting a couple triples, Ferris uses his speed to get by defenders and probe in the paint, where he’s a strong passer. Ferris made great decisions all day, especially in traffic, drawing defenders and burning the opposition with back door passes. He finished with 16 points and a handful of assists in Saturday’s win.
Delaware Hale – 2020 – PF – Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie got a big upset win over De La Salle (MN) on Saturday. Hale was at the forefront, scoring a team-high 22 points. An athletic, high-upside big man, Hale has been showing more consistent flashes this season. He’s so much more comfortable with the ball in his hands and as a creator. Hale will step out and shoot the ball a bit, but his bread and butter is catching at the high post and slashing towards the basket. Hale
also runs the floor really well for a big man and is always good for a couple of transition buckets or following up on missed layups on the break.
Joey Immekus – 2020 – SG – Martin Luther
We’ve now seen Immekus play extremely well in two games for Martin Luther. When teams game plan against the Spartans, they’re worried about Ace Evans, Trequan Carrington, and Xzavier Jones. When you put a sharpshooter around that type of talent, it creates a ton of problems for defenses. Once again, Immekus delivered a handful of back-breaking 3-pointers, contributing 19 points in Saturday’s win. Immekus won’t wow you with athleticism, but is able to create space with one of the best pump-fakes in the state and constantly gets defenders to leave their feet.
Logan Jedwabny – 2020 – SG – Kaukauna
Really like the strides this kid has made as a junior. Jedwabny looks so confident as a shooter and seems to have really settled into his role of being a spot-up shooter for this Kaukauna team. Jedwabny caught fire on Saturday, scoring 28 points while making eight of his 10 3-point field goal attempts. Jedwabny does a great job of sprinting to open spots on the floor in transition, setting his feet, and letting it go with an effortless release before the defense can get a good contest.
Calvin Mavin – 2019 – G – La Crosse Logan
Mavin had a tough 15 points in a loss to Kaukauna. The senior guard had to work really hard for his points as well. Against Kaukauna’s zone, Mavin did a great job of penetrating gaps and either taking tough mid-range jumpers or kicking to shooters in the corner. He also had an acrobatic 360 layup that got the crowd excited.
Brandon Merfeld – 2019 – G – Aquinas
Liked how Merfeld created for himself and others in a loss to La Crescent (MN). Merfeld has good speed on the ball and is tough in traffic. Merfeld mixed it up offensively, scoring from all over the floor en route to a game-high 24 points. Aquinas was out-matched athletically, but Merfeld helped keep the Bluegolds in the game for most of the way.
Liam Stumpf – 2021 – G – Mineral Point
With Brayden Dailey not in action, Mineral Point needed other sources of offense. Stumpf rose to the ocassion, scoring a team-high 20 points in a loss to Caledonia. Stumpf was aggressive from the get-go and took a lot of pressure off Isaac Lindsey, who didn’t feel like he had to force and do it all offensively. Stumpf gave the Pointers a great lift and although they ran out of steam about midway through the second half, the game was much closer than the 85-57 scoreline.
NOTES
– Isaac Lindsey had 19 points for Mineral Point in their loss to Caledonia.
– Terrance Thompson had a quiet, but productive day for La Crosse Central. The junior power forward rebounded the ball at a very level against Minnehaha Academy, who features a strong front line of two Division 1 prospects.
– Sun Prairie got 15 points each of Brock Voigt and Rajai Williams in their win over De La Salle.
– Trequan Carrington went for 32 points, going 15-of-16 from the free throw line for Martin Luther in their win over Minneapolis North. Carrington also had seven rebounds and five assists.
– Tyrell Stuttley continues to boost his stock. The junior forward had 13 points in a balanced scoring effort for Onalaska. A strong, athletic prospect that can play and defend a lot of positions, Stuttley is pushing for a top 30 spot in the next 2020 rankings. The Hilltoppers also got 16 points from Gavin McGrath.
RESULTS
Martin Luther 81 Minneapolis North 73
La Crescent (MN) 70 Aquinas 58
Kaukauna 75 Logan 62
Minnehaha Academy (MN) 59 La Crosse Central 55
Sun Prairie 72 De La Salle (MN) 61
Onalaska 56 Oconomowoc 34
Caledonia (MN) 85 Mineral Point 57