Top250 Expo: Upperclassmen Stock Boosters
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The Prep Hoops Top250 Expo was loaded with talent from across the state of Wisconsin. Which under the radar prospects emerged in Verona and boosted their stock going into the 2019-20 season? Brad Anderson – 2020 – PF –…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Top250 Expo was loaded with talent from across the state of Wisconsin. Which under the radar prospects emerged in Verona and boosted their stock going into the 2019-20 season?
Brad Anderson – 2020 – PF – Hortonville
The first thing that stands out about Anderson is his size and the way he moves. The 6-foot-8 senior has good post footwork and can get up and down the floor. Anderson has a solid drop step and spin move when he gets touches 1-on-1 on the block. Anderson doesn’t always need to be scoring to impact the game. He was effective throughout Sunday as a shot blocker/rim protector and did a nice job on the glass as well. Someone we didn’t know about coming in, Anderson will likely find his name in the next rankings.
Joseph Borcher – 2020 – PF – Kewaskum
A lot of upside here. Borcher is just beginning to scratch the surface and has potential as a late bloomer. The 6-foot-7 senior is pretty long and has decent athleticism. Like most late bloomers, Borcher’s skillset is what most college coaches are going to wait on and monitor. Borcher put up pretty good numbers as a junior, averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Another prospect that wasn’t ranked coming, Borcher put himself on our radar.
Eferin Burns – 2021- G – Dominican
Burns had some good moments on Sunday. The 5-foot-10 guard showed off some athletic drives to the rim and played the passing lanes well defensively. Burns is a little undersized, but has length and plays with good quickness. He’s also a long-strider in the open floor and covers ground quickly. A willing defender, Burns played excellent perimeter defense and even surprised with some shot blocking ability.
Logan Geissler – 2020 – PG – Bay Port
Geissler shot the ball at a high level throughout the day and got into some serious hot streaks. Kind of always thought of Geissler as a pass-first playmaker, but he showed he can carry an offense on Sunday. The Bay Port standout was very efficient from downtown, even when pulling up on the fast break. While his offense was the story in Verona, Geissler is still a true point guard that makes others around him better.
Maxwell Glass – 2020 – PF – Kenosha Bradford
You don’t see many 6-foot-3 forwards anymore, but Glass has still managed to carve out a role for himself. Glass is a big body who can step out and shoot the basketball. He also moves better up and down the floor than you’d think and can be a factor in transition.
Isaiah Hopf – 2021 – SG – Wisconsin Lutheran
Hopf wasn’t one of the main attractions for Wisconsin Lutheran last season, but he definitely grabbed some attention on Sunday. Hopf is an effective scorer from 8-10 feet. He did a great job of getting into high percentage areas, protecting the ball in traffic, and finishing shots amongst the trees.
Jalen Keago – 2021 – SF – Oshkosh North
Keago definitely ensured that he’ll be in the next class of 2021 rankings. A prospect that wasn’t well-known last year, Keago has the tools and upside to be a breakout performer in the Fox Valley Association. The 6-foot-4 junior is a smooth, athletic wing that can knife his way to the basket and finish above the rim. One of those guys that’s probably just scratching the surface, Keago can be a force on both ends of the floor with his physical measurables.
Adam Larson – 2021 – F – Fennimore
A lot of times, Larson is a human highlight. As a shot blocker, he has great timing and gets off the ground quickly. The 6-foot-8 forward is also a deadly 3-point shooter who can’t be left open. If he gets touches in the open floor, Larson can put defenders on a poster as well. That said, there’s a lot to like about this prospect, who’s still very raw physically, but has the skills a lot of college coaches desire.
Garrett Locy – 2020 – PG – New London
Locy is a speedy guard that makes good decisions with the basketball. Often these showcases can get really up and down in tempo with a lot of over-dribbling. That wasn’t the case for Locy, who pushed the ball up the floor, got possession for his playmakers, and put them in positions to be successful. When it was his time to score in the half court, Locy did a good job of moving without the ball and knocking down spot-up triples.
Jake Martin – 2021 – C – Whitewater
Martin was a force on the interior throughout the day. The 6-foot-11 center can own the paint and the offensive glass. He’s not overly athletic given his massive size, but Martin does a great job of keeping the ball high when he catches and not allowing guards to scrap — something that’s generally difficult for young bigs to learn. Also a standout football player, Martin can move his feet well in the paint and anticipates well as a weak-side shot blocker.
Zack Mashlan – 2020 – PG – Freedom
This is one of the better pure point guards in the state. Mashlan doesn’t always generate a lot of buzz for himself because he’s unselfish and doesn’t always look for his own offense, but he can definitely get it. A skilled floor general with good size (6-1), Mashlan makes winning plays and gives his team what they need. If I’m a Division 3 or NAIA program, Mashlan is high on my board. The Freedom standout showed he was a gamer, coming up big down the stretch in a few games for his team.
Mason Martinson – 2021 – SF – New Glarus
An energy player that brings it on both ends, Martinson made some momentum changing plays throughout the day. A gritty wing that’s an outstanding defender, Martinson has a good blend of length and strength. He had a couple of huge chase down blocks in transition as well as weak-side swats. Offenisvely, Martinson is a slasher. He can bully his way into the paint and is a strong finisher against contact.
Charles Masewicz – 2020 – F – La Crosse Central
Having been to a ton of La Crosse Central games over the past few years, I’ve known who Masewicz was, but never really evaluated him. While he might be the fifth option or so on the loaded Red Raiders squad this season, he’s someone to take seriously as a prospect. Masewicz gave consistently high energy all day long. Masewicz believes every rebound is his and goes after them relentlessly. He’s also a really good shot blocker and sent some attempts back with authority. He probably won’t put up big scoring numbers this season, but Masewicz knocked down some 3’s and slashed aggressively to the bucket a few times in Verona.
Tyron Melchert – 2020 – G – Green Bay Southwest
A new name on our radar, Melchert made some flashy plays in Verona. He’s only about 5-foot-11, but can get above the rim a little bit. Melchert had some impressive finishes in traffic, hanging and adjusting around shot blockers. Melchert also appeared to be a strong defender, capable of getting up in the shorts of the opposition and flustering them without committing fouls.
Jadon Melvin – 2021 – SF – Hartford
After a quiet spring and summer, Melvin reminded me about how good he is. The Hartford product is a three-level scorer that creates a lot of matchup problems. At 6-foot-3, Melvin can play on the block, shoot from the outside, take defenders off the dribble, and get to the hole, and has an advanced post-up game for his size. A prospect whose skillset allows him to simply take what the defense gives him, Melvin made a strong case to move back up the class of 2021 rankings.
Owen Meyer – 2021 – PG – Germantown
Meyer quietly had a good day. The Germantown point guard isn’t necessarily someone that draws a lot of attention, but showed when he wants to take over, he’s more than capable. A crafty guard that picks his spots well, Meyer is a very efficient scorer. He doesn’t settle and had some beautiful slices to the rim on Sunday. A prospect that plays the game the right way, Meyer is one of those guys teammates love playing with because he’s going to do the little things it takes to win before trying to get his own offense.
Jacob Newhouse – 2020 – PF – Kaukauna
Always been high on Newhouse as a prospect. The Kaukauna forward is quite different from a lot of post prospects. A lanky 6-foot-8, Newhouse has a sweet shooting touch from 3-point range. He’s also pretty bouncy and elevates towards the rim quickly. He’s not necessarily a guy that’s going to take people off the dribble a ton, but he can handle the ball and bring it up the floor. Newhouse still has plenty of upside remaining and has the makings of a potential go-to post player at the next level.
Ben Olson – 2020 – PF – Holmen
I like the way Olson approaches the game. If he scores 20 points or two points, his energy and mentality doesn’t change. Olson does the dirty work, scrapping for rebounds, getting on the floor for loose balls, setting the tone physically, etc. But he’s also more than just a glue guy. The 6-foot-6 forward turned some heads on Sunday with some impressive dunks, going right down main street with authority. Olson runs the floor really hard and is a transition threat as well.
Aiden Polzin – 2020 – SG – Clintonville
Saw Polzin start knocking down shots and he just didn’t stop. The Clintonville standout has a bit of an unorthodox release, but it’s very effective for him. One of those prospects that isn’t fazed by a hand in his face, Polzin doesn’t need a ton of room to feel comfortable. A prospect that will get hot and stay hot, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Polzin get in a zone and stay in it for a lengthy period of time.
James Randolph – 2020 – SF – Hartford
You can continue to see Randolph just chip away and slowly develop. The 6-foot-5 wing/forward has a big upside and is starting to come into his own late in his high school career. Randolph has intriguing size, length, athleticism, and versatility. I think the basketball IQ and feel for the game is there. It’s just a matter of reps and getting comfortable with what he’s doing on the floor. Randolph can still do a little bit of everything offensively — post up, slash from the high post, and shoot the ball some. Defensively, he’s also got the versatility to guard multiple positions.
Kaleb Wendler – 2020 – PG – Oshkosh North
A high-IQ, skilled point guard, Wendler is a nice drive-and-dish presence on the floor. Wendler plays with good pace and can push the tempo. He always seems to be moving fast, but is never in a hurry, and it led to some nice assist opportunities for him while facing some upper-level athletes. I liked Wendler’s ability to survey the entire floor and keep his head up on the dribble at all times.
KJ Williams – 2021 – PG – The Prairie School
A kid that came out of nowhere, Williams impressed with his offensive aggression. This 5-foot-8 guard is fearless and wants to take people 1-on-1. Williams is a flashy guard with great handles who can shake and bake his way into the paint for create space for a jumper off the bounce. Despite his size limitations, Williams wasn’t afraid to take the ball inside and score.
J.P. Wolterstorff – 2021 – SG – Eau Claire Regis
A prospect that caught us by surprise, Wolterstorff made some impressive plays on offense. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is a consistent spot-up shooter with a good-looking stroke. He’s a fluid athlete with the ball in his hands and can attack the basket. I liked the way he shielded himself while going to the rim and scoring while avoiding shot blockers.
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