Wisconsin Week In Review: Week 11
The cancellations in Wisconsin continued, this time with the extreme cold temperatures shutting down schools for half the week. Those cold temperatures didn’t stop players from catching fire on the court however, as high school basketball in Wisconsin witnessed some…
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Continue ReadingThe cancellations in Wisconsin continued, this time with the extreme cold temperatures shutting down schools for half the week. Those cold temperatures didn’t stop players from catching fire on the court however, as high school basketball in Wisconsin witnessed some big time performances across the state. Prep Hoops details some of those top individual and team performers from the past week.
Players of the Week
Marquise Milton (5’11 2019 PG, Racine Horlick)- Marquise Milton gets buckets. It’s been known through Racine for the past few seasons, and last week Marquise made his presence felt throughout the state with a jaw dropping 53 points against a quality Division 1 opponent in rivals Racine Case. Though short in stature, that doesn’t stop Marquise from getting into the lane and finishing with his shiftiness through the paint. He can also knock down shots from distance and that was evident as he knocked down 7 shots from beyond the arc on his career night. With his ability to get in the paint comes plenty of opportunities at the free throw line, and he made the most of those chances by knocking down 18 of his 23 attempts from the charity stripe. He is one of the most under-the-radar scorers in the state, with 1,773 career points, and could very well near the 2,000 career marker depending on how far Horlick can advance in the playoffs.
Carter Gilmore (6’7 2020 W, Arrowhead)- Carter is one of the most versatile players in the state, and though he is not most well known for his scoring ability, he delivered a couple of solid nights last week to lead Arrowhead against some quality opponents. He delivered 22 points in a win over Oconomowoc, knocking down 10 field goals including 2 from beyond the arc. He then scored 15 points against a loaded Waukesha West squad. The 6’7 prospect can play a little bit of the 1-4, with solid play-making ability and handles to run the show, while also getting in the paint and scoring or being effective on the glass. This versatility has made him a priority to a handful of Division One schools, and if he continues to prove himself as a dominant scorer as he has as of late, his stock could continue to rise.
Jalen Johnson (6’9 2020 G/F, Nicolet)- Speaking of versatile players, Jalen Johnson is as versatile as they come, and is widely considered to be one of the best college prospects ever to play in the state of Wisconsin. At 6’9 with fluid athleticism, Jalen can, and does, play every position on the floor. Most known for his play-making ability, Johnson can take over scoring the ball as he proved last week by scoring a season high 37 points in a win over West Bend West. He can dominate in every area on the floor, using his athleticism to elevate and finish above the rim with flair, and also has range to knock down three point shots. Jalen is a constant triple-double threat because he can do everything on the floor while making it look effortless. His growth both physically and skillfully has put him in the argument as the best player in the country, and has helped Nicolet become one of the best teams in the whole country.
Max Klesmit (6’3 2020 G, Neenah)- Talk about a run of good form for Max Klesmit, who over this past week broke the Neenah school scoring record with 41 points against Kaukauna. That record came after scoring 34 points in his previous game (also scored 33 points the night before this was published). Max is a dominant three point shooter who shoots in volume and can catch fire at times. He knocked down 9 of 17 attempts from distance against Kaukauna, possessing the green light to let it fly whenever he gets into space. At 6’3 he has the length necessary to get shots up over defenders, and utilizes screens well to get into space to shoot. He continues to have a big junior year averaging 23.3 ppg while shooting over 50% from the field, and has Neenah at 11-6.
Ryan Waddell (6’1 2019 G, Homestead)- Homestead is sitting at 13-3 on the year, and a big part of that success has been the all-around play of their returning all-conference performer in Ryan Waddell. He continues to wear out the nets with his shooting, while getting his teammates involved on offense and scrapping for rebounds on both ends. Last week in a win over West Bend East he delivered an efficient 26 points on 10-16 shooting, making the most of his opportunities on offense. He also found success setting up his teammates, dishing out 7 assists using his shiftiness to draw in help defenders and quickly kicking the ball out to the open man. Add in 4 rebounds, and Waddell had himself a big night in the win. He can knock down open threes with ease, and has great body control to finish through contact around the rim, and is a player that gives 100% effort on both ends of the floor.
Team of the Week
Racine Park- Racine Park came into the season with high expectations, but suffered some early losses setting them back a bit in the state rankings. This past week something clicked as they dominated in two wins over Division One teams on back to back nights. On Friday they defeated Kenosha Tremper 89-67 with a dominant offensive performance that saw four players score in double figures. Larry Canady paved the way behind 25 points and 5 assists, while Nobal Days finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Richie Warren continued to be effective on both ends as he had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The very next night they took on a young Milwaukee Vincent team, and handled them easily to win 84-56. Larry Canady continued his dominance with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Zyiere Carey provided a spark on offense with 16 points. Park has a strong senior core filled with height, skill, athleticism, and a competitive spirit that has allowed them to maintain a 10-3 record at this point of the season. They’ll look to continue their strong run of play and advance deep into the playoffs.
Statement Win of the Week
DeForest takes down Marquette 51-50- This past weekend DeForest faced off against a Marquette squad that was fresh off a big win against Germantown, and had been competing with some of the state’s best in conference play. DeForest didn’t let that stand in their way, as the came out firing with a big first half, and were able to hold onto their lead as time expired. Their defensive efforts limited Marquette to just 20 points in the first half, and a couple of players stepped up big on offense to extend their lead. Trey Schroeder led the team with 17 points, drawing contact in the paint and knocking down 9 of 10 free throws. Jack Bogan added 16 points in the win. This win will be a big resume builder for DeForest who will look to get a high seed in their Division 2 sectional seeding.
Sleeper of the Week
Zion Turner (5’10 2019 PG, D.C. Everest)- Zion has been delivering a big season for D.C. Everest, and that production continued into last week. Zion delivered a dominant all-around performance against Stevens Point, finishing with 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. He is a lightning quick lead guard that uses his physical tools to attack the basket. His quick first step allows him to accelerate past his defender outside, and generate help defenders which allows him to dish to a teammate down low for an easy basket. When that help doesn’t come, he is more than capable of finishing inside which has allowed him to average around 22 ppg this season as a senior. He doesn’t get a lot of media attention playing in the Wisconsin Valley conference, but his scoring outputs are starting to make him a more well known prospect state-wide.
Freshman of the Week
Andrew Alia (6’2 2022 G, Kenosha St. Joseph)- Kenosha St. Joe’s is going through a rebuilding phase in the always loaded Metro Classic Conference, but their future looks bright, starting five freshmen including Andrew Alia. Alia hasn’t been ducking any of the competition coming his way this year, and that didn’t change last week as he scored 25 points against one of the state’s most dominant teams in the past decade, Dominican. He shot an efficient 7-13 from the field, knocking down a trio of three pointers. Andrew also added in 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, proving himself as a two-way guard. His crafty play from the perimeter allows him to create open looks for himself, that he has been knocking down with efficiency all season long, having a productive freshman season, averaging 16.7 ppg. Andrew is ranked among the state’s best freshmen, and productivity wise he has been one of the best this year.
Other Storylines
Chris Bready (6’4 2019 W, Waukesha West)- Scored 29 points in a win over Arrowhead.