10 Prospects Off to Surprising Starts
10 college prospects who have turned our heads and surprised us at the start of the 2019-20 season… Nate Abel – 2021 – PG – Beaver Dam Playing with a senior-laden team as a sophomore, Abel didn’t always come on…
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Continue Reading10 college prospects who have turned our heads and surprised us at the start of the 2019-20 season…
Nate Abel – 2021 – PG – Beaver Dam
Playing with a senior-laden team as a sophomore, Abel didn’t always come on too strong. That hasn’t been the case this season as he’s taken over as the unquestioned leader for this Beaver Dam squad. Abel is putting up big numbers thus far, averaging 23.1 points ppg while shooting an even 50.0 percent from downtown.
Hayden Doyle – 2021 – G – Brookfield East
Doyle showed some flashes in the summer, but probably no one predicted these types of numbers. Known more as a gritty, blue collar guard with a defensive mentality, Doyle is leading the Spartans at 22.3 ppg this season. The junior guard even even had a 42-point effort against Milwaukee Vincent and has scored 20 or more points in four of six games. Doyle currently holds Division 2 offers from Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan.
Grant Flory – 2021 – F – Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln
Coming off injury, Flory is making up for lost time. A skilled, versatile forward, Flory is averaging 22.6 points per game this season. The junior forward is shooting 55.0 percent from the field and has also knocked down 13 triples in seven games. He also has two 30-point efforts in 2019-20, includinig a 39-point performance against Stevens Point.
Aiden Flynn – 2020 – F – Marquette
Flynn had a really good summer and has elevated his play even more. The 6-foot-5 lefty is a terrific slasher who plays strong around the rim and is more athletic than he gets credit for. As a senior, Flynn is posting 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. If Flynn falls to the Division 3 level, he’s gonna be a heckuva steal.
Ryan Genrich – 2020 – G – Mukwonago
A solid two-way player, Genrich is averaging 21.2 points per game this season and has knocked down 21 3-pointers in six games. Genrich, who’s also a standout football player, has scored 20 or more points in four of six of those outings with a season-low of 18. The senior guard currently holds a couple of NAIA offers.
Jordan Johnson – 2021 – G – Elkhorn
This is one of the real sleepers in the state right now and Division 2 programs are going to want to get in here before the feeding frenzy takes place this spring/summer. An electric athlete who’s very dangerous with the ball in his hands, Johnson is posting 23.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Johnson has made 23 triples in seven games as well.
Jalen Keago – 2021 – SF – Oshkosh North
A breakout performer at the Prep Hoops Top250 Showcase, Keago is playing the best ball of his life right now. The senior wing leads Oshkosh North at 21.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. A smooth and lengthy athlete, Keago has a ton of upside for a Division 3, potentially Division 2 programs. Just coming into his own right now, Keago averaged roughly six points per game last season.
Maximus Nelson – 2022 – F – Appleton North
Nelson is a Division 1 prospect, but his rise this season is still turning heads. The sweet-shooting forward is putting up 23.5 points per game, roughly 13 more ppg higher than last season. The 6-foot-8 forward is an excellent 3-point shooter, especially in the pick n’ pop game. Now starting to develop the ability to face-up and attack, Nelson has a chance to be a mismatch nightmare.
Preston Ruedinger – 2021 – PG – Lourdes Academy
When you begin to break down Ruedinger as a prospect, scoring isn’t one of the first couple of things you start with. That hasn’t been the case this season. The junior guard is one of the top scorers in the state right now, putting up 26.5 ppg for Lourdes Academy. A skilled, high-IQ floor general who can also run a team Ruedinger is the straw that stirs the drink. A year after reaching the Division 4 state title game, Ruedinger has Lourdes sitting at 5-0 this season.
Casey Verhagen – 2022 – PG – Sheboygan Lutheran
A tremendous facilitator and lead guard, Verhagen was going to have to take on more of a scoring role if Sheboygan Lutheran was going to remain a top contender in Division 5. Not only has he done that, Verhagen has also managed to balance his playmaking at a high level. The sophomore guard is having a great season, averaging 21.6 points and 6.9 assists per game. Verhagen is doing it all right now, also adding 4.5 rebounds and more than two steals per game. At 8-1, it would be far from a surprise to see Verhagen and the Crusaders back at the Kohl Center in March.