Midwest Showdown: Saturday Standouts
The 2020 Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown continued on from Community First Champion Fieldhouse on Saturday. Here’s a look at the top individual performances from the action on day two… C.J. Campbell C.J. Campbell 6'7" | SF New Richmond | 2022…
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Continue ReadingThe 2020 Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown continued on from Community First Champion Fieldhouse on Saturday. Here’s a look at the top individual performances from the action on day two…
C.J. Campbell C.J. Campbell 6'7" | SF New Richmond | 2022 State WI – 2022 – W – Wisconsin Playmakers
A rising prospect in the 2022 class, Campbell does a lot of things very well. The New Richmond star has very good positional size (6-5). He’s a bouncy athlete in transition that threw it down on multiple occasions. Campbell is also a natural scorer that can attack and pull-up off the bounce or get all the way to the rack. He displayed a very nice spin and score mentality around the rim. In the open floor, Campbell also dishes the ball at a high level. Using no-looks or one-touch passes, Campbell had some beautiful dimes in transition that sparked his team.
Noah Feddersen Noah Feddersen 6'9" | PF Menomonie | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PF – Wisconsin Playmakers
Like this young big a lot. Feddersen is a lanky, but athletic forward who runs the floor very well. Off the rebound, Feddersen busts his butt down the court and racks up easy transition buckets. Feddersen gets off the ground very quickly and has soft hands, which allows him to finish at top end speed. Also liked his passing ability from the high post. Feddersen can put it on the deck a little bit and shovel passes inside for easy buckets. The Menomonie product also showed some advanced post work off the ball. He did a great job of pinning and sealing his man down low. Feddersen also makes post entry passes very easy with his ability to bend and willingness to use high hands and give his teammates an easy target.
James Graham James Graham 6'9" | SF Nicolet | 2021 #59 Nation WI – 2021 – SF – Wisconsin Playground Club
Not many guys can shoot themselves out of a slump like Graham. Usually when you miss a couple early, it affects players the rest of the game. That’s not the case with Graham, who shook off a slow start, never lost confidence, and finished with 24 points in a high-level showdown with South Dakota Attack. Once the 6-foot-9 wing got it going, it was all over for the opposition. Graham was draining pull-up threes with a hand in his face at a high rate. With his size and shooting touch, Graham can just size defenders up and go to work. When Graham is in that type of zone, all defenders can do is hope he misses.
Jayquan Hickles Jayquan Hickles 6'5" | PF Milwaukee King | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PF – Wisconsin Playground Club
Hickles isn’t one of the household names on this roster, but we went to work on Saturday. A post prospect with a nice blend of finesse and strength, Hickles has underrated footwork and touch around the rim. He’s also a big, strong body that can punish defenders and has the ability to score while going right through people. A high motor player, Hickles often has big spurts on the offensive glass. He takes prides in generating second chance opportunities and believes every rebound is his.
Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PG – JH1 Elite
Janowski has a very complete floor game and continues to show why he’s one of the best point guards in the state. The Pewaukee floor general has a terrific pull-up game and can knock down jumpers at a very high rate. A high-IQ player with a great feel, Janowski was outstanding on Saturday when dribbling into traffic. He’s got great control of the ball and can weave around defenders and buy time until a teammate comes open. It’s subtle, but Janowski is also adept at moving defenders with his eyes or dribbling into a position where he’ll force the help to come, only to kick to an open shooter.
Zac Johnson Zac Johnson 6'3" | SG River Falls | 2021 State WI – 2021 – SG – Wisconsin Playmakers
There were a handful of shots Johnson would probably like to get back, but he still scored at a good pace during Saturday night’s win over Minnesota Select. Defenders find out really quick that they can’t not put a hand up. In fact, a defender gave Johnson space on the opening play and he buried a triple. A sharpshooter with in-the-gym range, Johnson continues to improve his on-the-ball skills and overall athleticism. When the River Falls star can make defenders guess what’s coming, Johnson becomes extremely difficult to guard.
Matt Imig Matt Imig 6'0" | CG Aswaubenon | 2022 State WI – 2022 – G – JH1 Elite
Liked the way Imig shot the ball Saturday morning. The Ashwaubenon product is comfortable off the catch or off the dribble. He displayed
strong shot mechanics and moves very well without the ball. A player that’s never stagnant, Imig is tough for defenders to track. The 5-foot-11 combo guard can also push the pace in transition and generate offense that way. Defensively, Imig’s anticipation and hands stood out as well. Imig played with good energy on that end of the floor and his active hands were able to cause some havoc throughout Saturday’s win over Minnesota Select.
A.J. Lieuwen – 2023 – G – Team 1848
Lieuwen is a natural playmaker that makes others around him better. Liked the way he was pushing the ball up the floor with the pass, not the dribble. The Bay Port native is an unselfish, instinctive prospect that makes sound basketball decisions. Lieuwen also did some nice things in the open floor. He got coast-to-coast and has some deceptive athleticism to hang and finish. When he gets to the rim, Lieuwen is a confident finisher with touch that can use one hand to shield off defenders.
Kamari Mcgee Kamari Mcgee 6'0" | PG Racine St. Catherine's | 2021 State WI – 2021 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
This is the type of point guard any coach would love to have. Whenever McGee is on the floor, you know he’s going to contribute in some form or another. The Racine St. Catherine’s product is just so unique for a point guard. He attacks the offensive glass and isn’t afraid to challenge bigs for rebounds. An outstanding on-ball defender, McGee will pick pockets all game long. When you need him to score, McGee is a bulldog who can put his head down and bully his way to the rim. Never concerned with how many shots he’s getting, McGee wants to get his teammates involved and is noticeably thrilled when they have success.
Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI – 2022 – W – Team 1848
Having his coming out party on the Prep Hoops Circuit, Pawlikowski could be a reason why Kimberly reloads next season and doesn’t rebuild. The biggest reason for Pawlikowski’s success is that he just plays harder than everyone else. Sometimes you can’t control whether or not shots are falling — which they did for him on Saturday — but you can control energy and effort. Pawlikowski racks up effort and hustle plays throughout the game. His switch is always on. A two-way standout, Palikowski gets after people on both ends. He’ll make you work for everything defensively and constantly attack the rim. When his outside shot is falling, it becomes a world of problems for the opposition. Also an athletic, three-sport standout, there’s a lot to like about this sleeper.
Parker Prahl Parker Prahl 6'4" | SG Iola Scandanavia | 2022 State WI – 2022 – SG – Wisconsin Blizzard
Prahl had a well-rounded scoring effort in a win on Saturday. The junior guard shot it well from deep, got into the paint, and finished over bigs. Prahl is a good set shooter. He’s got a bit of a long stroke, but has been known to absolutely catch fire from beyond the arc. Prahl also rebounds well for a guard. At 6-foot-4, Prahl does a good job of clearing people out and knows his job isn’t done until he or one of his teammates secures possession.
Greyson Pritzl Greyson Pritzl 6'3" | SG West Allis Central | 2022 State WI – 2022 – SG – Wisconsin Rap
Pritzl had 29 points in a Saturday morning win. One of the bigger sleepers in the state right now, Pritzl is a knockdown shooter that plays with an edge. He was a kid that needed some maturing last year, but seems to have learned how to channel his energy and passion for the game in a more positive manner. Also a tough and scrappy prospect, Pritzl plays a physical brand of defense and likes to rattle his opponent.
Ryan Sweeney – 2022 – PG – Team 1848
Sweeney had himself a game in a win over the Iowa Mavericks. The Green Bay East guard is yet another potential hidden gem playing for Team 1848. Sweeney has nice positional size at 6-foot-2, but is also a really sneaky athlete who pushes the pace in transition and has some above the rim ability. Sweeney has shown some excellent toughness around the rim, going through people rather than trying to around. A high motor guard, Sweeney loves to get up and down the floor. He’s a pesky defender that doesn’t let opponents cross halfcourt easily. One of those kids you hate playing against, but love playing with.
Casey Verhagen Casey Verhagen 6'0" | PG Sheboygan Area Lutheran | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
You can tell Verhagen is a coach’s kid. He’s very in-tune with what the opposition is doing and always seems to be a step ahead. Verhagen has terrific anticipation defensively. He plays the passing lanes so well and then it’s off to the races. As a floor general, Verhagen has some of the best drive and dish ability in the state. The Sheboygan Lutheran standout sees the help-side rotations of the defense, even when he’s trying to dribble through traffic, and often makes great decisions with the basketball.