Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Wisconsin’s Top Returning Guards
In May, Michael Foster Jr. announced that he would be leaving Wisconsin to join national power — Hillcrest Prep. In July, Jamari Sibley released news about his transfer to Oak Hill Academy. Jalen Johnson saved his announcement for last. On August…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn May, Michael Foster Jr. announced that he would be leaving Wisconsin to join national power — Hillcrest Prep. In July, Jamari Sibley released news about his transfer to Oak Hill Academy. Jalen Johnson saved his announcement for last. On August 5th, Wisconsin high school basketball lost another five-star prospect as Johnson opted to suit up in IMG blue for his senior season. The transfers of Foster, Sibley, and Johnson significantly drained Wisconsin’s talent pool, but they didn’t dry it. The state still holds multiple elite-level prospects. Let’s take a look ahead to next year and list some of the top guards in the state.
Jonathan Davis- La Crosse Central- 2020
Now that Jalen Johnson has left Wisconsin, the Mr. Basketball conversation revolves around Johnny Davis. The La Crosse Central SG scored 23.1 points per game last year and committed to Greg Gard and UW in the summer. Davis may be one of the toughest players to guard in Wisconsin because he can score in multiple different ways. He is ruthless when attacking the rim, has a good looking mid-range jumper, and will throw down a dunk if given too much space. When you finally stop him on offense, he will probably block your shot on defense, too. Davis’ game simply has no holes; he has become one of the most well-rounded prospects in Wisconsin.
Dalton Banks- Eau Claire North- 2020
Banks played on a loaded D1 Minnesota 17U team this spring and summer. Because this squad was lined with high-major Division-One prospects, the Eau Claire North PG assumed the “glue guy” role. Banks played suffocating on-ball defense, dished the rock to his teammates, and scored when needed. “We have so many guys on this team that can make plays and that are so talented. For me, I just try and set everybody up a bit,” Banks told Ryan James during a tournament in Las Vegas.
Isacc Lindsey- Mineral Point- 2020
Isacc Lindsey has become one of — if not the best — pure scorers in Wisconsin. Lindsey is cut from the same cloth that Tyler Herro once was in high school. Both Herro and Lindsey heavily rely on their ability to score off the bounce. Herro is clearly the better overall prospect, but to compare the two players is not too outrageous.
Even when opposing defenses are geared to stop Lindsey, they can’t. The UNLV commit can deftly handle the ball and convert on shots regardless of how many outstretched arms are in his face.
Anthony Washington- Madison East- 2020
Because Washington didn’t have the benefit of playing on a shoe circuit team this past summer, he saw his stock take a slight dip. Despite slipping out of the top ten in Prep Hoops Wisconsin’s most recent update of the 2020 class rankings, The Madison East guard still is one of the state’s top playmakers. Washington has great court vision and can easily hit teammates for open buckets. He is also a phenomenal scorer. When attacking the rim, Washington immediately becomes a formidable opponent. The 6-foot-2 guard is quick, strong and creative when he is around the hoop. He has yet to receive any scholarship offers, but he has already proven himself as a D1 talent.
Max Klesmit- Neenah-2020
Klesmit became one of the top guards in the state after leading Neenah to Kohl Center during his magnificent junior season. Every time the guard steps on the court he seems to improve. Klesmit scored 24.3 points per game as a junior, but he will have to do even more if Neenah wants to compete for a Fox Valley Association title in the 2019-20 season.
Alex Huibregtse- Grafton-2020
During the summer, Huibregtse produced for Phenom University, earned two scholarship offers, and made it clear that he was one of the best guards in Wisconsin. The Grafton sniper suited up for one of the most talented teams in the country and cobbled together 7.3 points per game while making a team-high 44 percent of his three-point attempts. Huibregtse excels as a catch-and-shoot specialist, but he also has several attractive embellishments. The combo guard is an above average ball-handler, which allows him to score off the bounce. Possibly his most underrated skill is his passing ability. Huibregtse averaged 4.6 assists per game during his junior season.
JaeVeon Tolliver- Milwaukee Lutheran- 2020
He is ranked as the 27th best guard in the state, but in terms of pure skill, Tolliver matches right up with the cream of the crop in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Lutheran PG is one of the most underrated, yet alluring guards on this list. His quickness, ball-handling skills, and passing ability make him a tough draw for any defender.
Cameron Palesse- Waukesha West- 2021
Last year, on a Waukesha West team that was lined with talent, Cam Palesse was able to carve out a sizable role for himself. The combo guard scored 17.0 points, grabbed 5.8 rebounds, and dished out 4.5 assists per game as a sophomore.
Palesse’s offensive skill set is as good as it gets. The 6-foot-4 guard can effectively score at all three levels and makes his teammates better. Because he has shined during his high school and AAU career, Palesse has gained interest from a number of college programs. After the July evaluation period, the combo guard told Prep Hoops Wisconsin that Marquette, Western Kentucky, Portland, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, UNLV, TCU, and Davidson have all been showing interest in his services.
Tyrese Hunter- Racine St. Catherine’s- 2021
Tyrese Hunter is one of the best athletes in Wisconsin. He is just 6-foot tall but can glide through the air and throw down some incredible dunks. My personal favorites are his between-the-legs or “Eastbay” dunks. Videos of Hunter’s jaw-dropping jams are what could make him go viral on YouTube, but they are not what have earned him multiple Division One scholarship offers. What has made him so captivating to multiple college programs is his well-rounded skill set. Hunter has a polished jumper and is more than sufficient as a passer.
Ben Nau- Brookfield Central- 2021
Cole Nau was the undisputed leader of Brookfield Central during their championship run last year. In the 2019-20 season, Ben Nau will look to pick up where his older brother left off. As a sophomore, Nau scored 9.3 points and pulled down 3.5 rebounds per game. Ben — like Cole — tends to show up in big moments. In last year’s state championship game, Nau penciled in 17 points on 5-9 shooting to help lead the Lancers to their first-ever state championship. The duo of Ben Nau and David Joplin could help lead Central to the top of the GMC next season.
Kobe Johnson- Nicolet- 2021
Basketball success runs in the Johnson family. Rod Johnson, Kobe’s oldest brother, is about to be a junior at Chattanooga. Jalen Johnson is a nationally ranked recruit and will be heading to IMG Academy for his senior season. Both of Kobe’s parents — Roderick Sr. and Stacy Johnson — played college basketball. Kobe is still at a relatively nascent stage but is beginning to come into his own. He scored 10.3 points per game while starting for the Knights in their historic season 2018-19 season. Now he will take the reins for Nicolet next season.
JaKobe Thompson- Racine Case- 2021
Thompson is a tad undersized at 6-foot-1, but his size doesn’t hinder his effectiveness in the slightest. If anything, Thompson uses his size to his advantage. He is slippery and quick with the ball in his hands. The point guard can get to the rim in a hurry and finish around contact. Thompson led a talented Racine Case squad in scoring last year, putting up 19.3 points per contest.
Tanner Resch- Sussex Hamilton- 2021
Patrick Baldwin Jr. is the main attraction for Sussex Hamilton. Baldwin Jr.’s mere presence nearly guarantees that the bleachers for every Charger home game will be packed. Tanner Resch, however, has become a key piece for Hamilton in the past two years. Resch brings a competitive spirit to both ends of the court that often boosts his squad to wins when Baldwin Jr. is getting double-teamed and not getting the best scoring opportunities. When game planning for Sussex Hamilton, it would be in opposing team’s best interest not to neglect Resch.
Jack Rose- Westosha Central- 2022
Does Jack Rose have the highest ceiling in the guard talent pool for Wisconsin’s 2022 class? Probably not. But he may be the most complete guard at this point in time. Rose dominated during the summer while playing with Wisconsin Playground Club White 15U. The sophomore significantly boosted his stock and put together some noteworthy personal performances. One of the more impressive things about Rose’s game is his ability to score. The SG can fill it up from behind the arc, in the paint, or by shaking his defender and getting an open midrange look. He averaged just 7.2 points per game as a freshman, but will now be thrust into the spotlight after Jaeden Zackery’s graduation.
Seth Trimble- Menomonee Falls- 2022
Currently, Seth Trimble is the top pure point guard in Wisconsin’s 2022 class. Trimble is a great facilitator and can be a handful for defenders when attacking the rim. Although he is just 5-foot-11, he has surprising strength. Despite some nice personal achievements, Trimble’s freshman season was highlighted with a sub-par record of 6-17. If the Menomonee Falls is to dig their way out of the basement in the Greater Metro Conference, Trimble will need to continue to improve.
Armani Jones- Brown Deer- 2022
His size may turn some scouts off, but Armani Jones is hands-down one of the best guards in the state. Jones is a high volume scorer who is not afraid to launch from anywhere on the court. In mid-May, Jones told Prep Hoops Wisconsin that he was receiving interest from Grambling State, UW- Milwaukee, and Virginia. After playing for Phenom University, the list of interested programs has surely expanded.
Jones also recently announced that he would be transferring from M.A.S to Brown Deer for his sophomore campaign.
Christopher Morgan- Kaukauna- 2022
Besides Tre White, Christopher Morgan is the lone prospect in Wisconsin’s 2022 class who has a scholarship offer from a Division One program. In his sophomore season, Morgan should be a nice compliment to Keaton Ferris in the Ghost backcourt. The former Ashwaubenon star has a deep bag of dribbling tricks and is an excellent passer and shooter. Morgan could help Kaukauna get back to the Kohl Center after running into a Nicolet a year ago.
Luke Haertle- Lake County Lutheran- 2022
After making not one, but two buzzer-beaters this summer, I am convinced that Luke Haertle possesses a clutch gene that his peers simply don’t have. Whenever his team needed a big play, they turned to Haertle. Most times, he responded with a clutch bucket. He was named as a Prep Hoops Circuit All-American for his efforts this summer. Bottom line: Haertle is a tough guard who makes winning plays.
Jack Campion- Milton- 2022
Wisconsin Playground Club Black 15U may have been the most successful 15U team in Wisconsin during the 2019 AAU season. They finished third at the UAA finals in July after some really impressive tournaments. Jack Campion didn’t put up great scoring numbers, but he was arguably the MVP for his squad. Campion’s passing skills made all of his teammates so much better. The 5-foot-11 point guard can push the pace while being able to keep his head up and locate open teammates.