Under Armour/UA Rise Finals Day 3 Standouts
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EMERSON, Ga. — Standouts from day three of the Under Armour and UA Rise finals… Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club Davis came out and dominated from the opening tip. Scoring a team-high 23 points,…
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Continue ReadingEMERSON, Ga. — Standouts from day three of the Under Armour and UA Rise finals…
Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Davis came out and dominated from the opening tip. Scoring a team-high 23 points, Davis led Wisconsin PGC into the 17U semifinals. The Wisconsin commit got pretty much whatever he wanted offensively. The 6-foot-4 guard was extremely aggressive, going to the basket at every opportunity. A terrific high motor slasher, Davis challenges defenders to match his intensity. On the other end, he also made numerous hustle plays that resulted in turnovers.
Frankie Fidler – 2021 – W – Team Factory
A sleeper who could definitely play his way to the Division 1 level, Fidler has a ton of promise. The 6-foot-6 wing is a deadly 3-point shooter who can simply face-up and fire off shots without much space to work with. He’s also a little bouncy and has an intriguing frame that can support a lot more muscle without sacrificing athleticism. A smooth and crafty scorer, Fidler is a difficult matchup given his size and ability to score from the perimeter and attack the rack.
Jackson Grant – 2021 – C – Washington Supreme
There’s a lot to like about this emerging big man. While he’s already a top 100 recruit by some outlets, Grant still has a long ways to go in his development. However, what he’s flashing is quite special. At 6-foot-10, Grant has some silky moves down on the block. In fact, Grant gave a high major power forward a nice shimmy in the post and knocked down a fade away jumper from about 12 feet. Grant moves really well for his size and is a dangerous pick n’ pop threat from 3-point range. Defensively, Grant has an advanced understanding of how to block shots without fouling. He does a great job of staying vertical and keep his hands straight up, making it near impossible for guards and wings to score over him.
Connor Kochera – 2020 – G – Fundamental U
Kockera had a solid outing to help Fundamental U reach the UA Rise 17U semifinals. A prospect that rarely makes a bad decision on the floor, Kochera feels like a coach’s dream and someone who could thrive at the mid-major level, in addition to being an excellent locker room presence. Able to play on and off the ball, Kochera masters the offensive scheme of his team. He does a great job of reading defenders, surveying the entire floor, and either getting his guys great looks or creating one for himself. While he is somewhat of a floor general, Kochera can also catch and shoot at a high level, often seen running of screens, setting his feet, and letting it fly. A big stock booster this summer, Kochera is now up to offers from William & Mary, Penn, South Dakota, Dartmouth, Illinois State, Furman, Siena, Wofford, Brown, Cleveland State, Western Illinois, and Lafayette.
Gabe Madsen – 2020 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club
After Wisconsin PGC defeated D.C. United in the 17U quarterfinals, Madsen landed scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Xavier. The sniper hit three consecutive triples in the third quarter, sparking a huge run for PGC who would hang on for the victory. Chipping with 16 points, Madsen had his most efficient performance of the week. In fact, by deferring on a handful of shots he normally takes, it freed him up for some open looks and drives in the second half once the defense’s attention started to shift elsewhere. While he is one of the nation’s most dangerous sharpshooters, Madsen continues to show he’s more than just a perimeter threat. Madsen has worked hard on his body and athleticism and is without a doubt an above the rim threat.
Mason Madsen – 2020 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Madsen probably had his best outing of the week in a win over D.C. Premier. Helping PGC reach the 17U semifinals, Madsen hit some momentum-changing shots in the second half. However, Madsen’s impact went far beyond just putting the ball in the basket. While he is a score-first guard, Madsen’s ability to play under control in traffic and create for others lifted and elevated his teammates. Keying a big third quarter surge, Madsen’s unselfishness was a big reason why PGC is still standing.
Darius Miles – 2020 – SF – D.C. Premier
Despite a loss to Wisconsin PGC in the quarterfinals, Miles was giving defenders the business. A plus-length small forward with a smooth shooting stroke, Miles was pulling up from all over the floor and knocking down shots. When Miles gets to his left hand, he was extremely difficult to stop. At 6-foot-7, defenders struggle to get Miles out of his comfort zone and effect his shot. Miles went for north of 30 points in Saturday night’s loss.
Max Murrell – 2020 – PF – Team Factory
You can see why high majors are intrigued by Murrell. A 6-foot-9 forward with some terrific length and bounce, Murrell had some dominant stretches in a win over Cascadia Saturday morning. Murrell explodes quickly around the rim, recording some impressive dunks and blocks. While he’s very thin physically, Murrell has a lot of upside offensively. He’ll show some flashes as a slasher from the high post and is able to shoot the ball from 3-point range with some consistency. He may need some time to develop at the high major level, but Murrell’s upside could be worth the wait.
Ryan Myers – 2020 – SG – New Heights
In front of a ton of mid-major coaches, Myers definitely caught their attention during a loss to Wisconsin PGC. Myers hit shot after shot to not only keep his team within striking distance, but give them a late lead at the end. The lefty roamed the wings and the corners and just remained active off the ball until it came his way. Meyers is undersized as a shooting guard, but gets great elevation on his shot, allowing him to still rise and fire over the outstretched hands of defenders.
Max Nelson – 2022 – PF – Wisconsin Playground Club
Thought Nelson was much more physical in the post than he had been earlier this summer. The Appleton North standout registered a team-high 14 points to help lift Wisconsin Playground Club into the Elite Eight of the 15U championship bracket. Nelson worked hard in the post to establish good position and then was able to power through contact for some strong finishes inside. Known more as a stretch forward, it was good to see Nelson play out of his element a bit and showcase a different side of his game.
Jacob Ognacevic – 2020 – PF – Wisconsin Playground Club
Ognacevic gave PGC a big lift in their final pool game of the week, a win over New Heights which secured a berth in the quarterfinals. With his teammates going cold from the outside, Ognacevic was able to generate some easy buckets going towards the rim. The 6-foot-8 forward slashed to the basket nicely and took advantage of mismatch opportunities on the perimeter. He also got PGC going early in the game by knocking down two 3-pointers fresh off the bench. The Sheboygan Lutheran product has quietly had a very good weekend and was a big part of PGC’s run in Georgia.