Sunday’s Top 250 Expo was teeming with frontcourt talent. See which forwards and centers were able to stand out from the rest during six scrimmages. Jacksun Hamilton 6’5 / F La Crosse Logan Jacksun Hamilton has been labeled…
Sunday’s Top 250 Expo was teeming with frontcourt talent. See which forwards and centers were able to stand out from the rest during six scrimmages.
Jacksun Hamilton has been labeled as an under-the-radar prospect since spring. With yet another stellar performance at Sunday’s Expo, Hamilton should no longer be considered an underrated player. He can do it all on the court. The forward has shown promise as a rebounder, defender, and slasher. Hamilton’s big spring and summer with La Crosse Elevate opened the eyes of college coaches. Now, he will be looking to impress as a senior at La Crosse Logan.
Randolph is another prospect who benefited from a big summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Randolph did many positive things during the summer AAU session with Wisconsin Surge. On offense and defense, the small forward takes care of his business in the paint. He can finish at the rim and block shots on the other end. As a player, Randolph is still very much a work in progress.
While he does need to improve in some areas, Randolph’s stock is trending in the right direction.
Adam Larson has the potential to be a very special prospect. He has length and skill, which has become a rare and valuable combination. Larson can block your shot on one end and then drain a three-pointer on the other. The forward’s versatility is what makes him so attractive.
He will need to add some weight to his wiry frame if he wants to play at the D1 level, but Larson already has the necessary talent.
Jake Martin, like Adam Larson, is still developing. However, when Martin steps on the court, he is an immediate threat due to his size. The Whitewater center is a legit 6-foot-11, if not taller. Because of this size, whenever he gets close to the basket, he can be very tough to slow down. If he can polish his footwork a little bit more, he will be a prospect to keep an eye on in the coming years
At this point, it is hard to find something that Cade Meyer doesn’t do well. Meyer can overpower defenders in the paint and make shots from the outside. The 6-foot-7 forward was the biggest riser in the 2021 class because of his phenomenal summer with Wisconsin Playground Club.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. has a chokehold on the top spot in the 2021 class, but Meyer has certainly done enough to hold steady at number two.
Sunday was my first time seeing Leon Bond play a full game. He did not disappoint. Bond played like one of the best sophomores in the state.
The forward was unstoppable when attacking the rim. He pushed the ball in transition and finished at the cup on multiple occasions. Bond was also one of the more entertaining prospects to watch on Sunday. His highlight plays included multiple monster dunks and blocks.
Jovanovich did some things to boost his stock with Wisconsin Playground Club over the spring and summer. He backed up his great AAU season with a strong performance at Sunday’s Top 250 Expo. The Whitnall forward is a proficient driver when he has the ball in his hands. Jovanovich — who is left-hand dominate — can finish at angles that defenders don’t expect him to be able to.
If his improvements continue to be exponential, Jovanovich will become one of the best forwards in Wisconsin’s 2022 class.
Gus Yalden 6’7/ PF Xavier
Gus Yalden is the projected top player in Wisconsin’s 2023 class for a good reason. The 6-foot-7 forward has extraordinarily good handles for his age and size. Yalden can grab a rebound and then take it to the other end for a layup, which is not something that most power forwards can do. Yalden also has a smooth and effective jumper. When he is left open, Yalden can make defenses pay.
There is still so much time for the Xavier forward to improve, but things are already looking good for the freshman.