Preview: Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals 17U
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Breaking down the field at the Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals from a Wisconsin lens… TITLE FAVORITES Wisconsin Crusaders This team is deep and have been playing together for such a long time that it’s hard to throw them…
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Continue ReadingBreaking down the field at the Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals from a Wisconsin lens…
TITLE FAVORITES
This team is deep and have been playing together for such a long time that it’s hard to throw them out of a rhythm. Since adding Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI to the roster, it’s been a near seamless transition and made the Crusaders even better. Along with Nate Gapinski, Josiah Butler Josiah Butler 6'3" | CG Fox Valley Lutheran | 2022 State WI , Zach Steigenberger Zach Steigenberger 6'0" | CG Appleton East | 2022 State WI , Jack Jorgensen Jack Jorgensen 6'2" | SG Depere | 2022 State WI , Carter Thomas Carter Thomas 6'5" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI , and Tyler Borowski Tyler Borowski 6'2" | PG Appleton East | 2022 State WI , the Crusaders have the depth and talent to not only be the last Wisconsin team remaining, but win the whole thing.
Team 1848
Interested to see how this team comes back after a long week in Vegas where they seemed to run out of gas and had to battle hard for 36 minutes to grind out a few wins too. Ryan Sweeney Ryan Sweeney 6'2" | CG Gb East | 2022 State WI is playing at a high level and he’s getting some good support from Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell 6'1" | CG Notre Dame | 2022 State WI , Eli Schmidt Eli Schmidt 6'5" | SF Neenah | 2022 State WI , and Cade Feldhausen Cade Feldhausen 6'7" | PF Sandalwood | 2022 State WI among others. This group is very connected and plays so well together. Might not have the most talent on paper, but there isn’t one team in this field that Team 1848 can’t beat.
DARK HORSE
Wisconsin Blizzard
This team has a lot of different parts and can create matchup problems with their size and versatility from numerous spots. Kade Van Asten Kade Van Asten 6'4" | SF Little Chute | 2022 State WI , J.J. Paider J.J. Paider 6'7" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI , Jeb Nytes Jeb Nytes 6'9" | PF Plymouth | 2022 State WI , and Brock Donaldson Brock Donaldson 6'3" | SF Appleton North | 2022 State WI are all difficult matchups for a variety of reasons. With Nate Streveler Nate Streveler 6'4" | SG Stevens Point - SPASH | 2022 State WI back in the fold, the SPASH star gives the Blizzard two go-to scoring options along with Parker Prahl Parker Prahl 6'4" | SG Iola Scandanavia | 2022 State WI , who’s had a big AAU season.
SURPRISE TEAMS
When you’ve got Luke Bara Luke Bara 6'1" | CG Muskego | 2021 State WI , I think you have a chance in any game. The former Muskego star is at the controls for this ABC Young Lions squad and is certainly capable of putting the team on his back and delivering huge scoring and assist numbers. As we saw a few weeks ago in Appleton, this team perhaps plays harder than anybody. If Grant Martin Grant Martin 6'0" | CG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI , Caleb Kozinski, and Dylan Hibicke can hit shots, make plays, and take the load off Bara, the ABC Young Lions can go far in this tournament.
Wisconsin Playground Club PH
PGC should be riding high after a title win at the Las Vegas Classic. Not a team with a lot of size, but they play to their strengths. Behind the likes of Daniel Robinson Daniel Robinson 6'2" | CG Waukesha South | 2023 State WI , Marshawn Robinson Marshawn Robinson 6'3" | SG Waukesha South | 2022 State WI , Asanjai Hunter Asanjai Hunter 5'10" | PG The Prairie School | 2022 State WI , and Quentin Bolton Quentin Bolton 6'5" | SF Shoreland Lutheran | 2021 State WI , PGC can flat out score in flurries and turn up the pressure defensively. They also started to get some big contributions from others as well, which could catch opponents by surprise this weekend.
Others to Watch: Wisconsin Academy Hibner, DF Elite, Gallo Sports Center, Chapman Basketball Academy, Wisconsin Starz, Wisconsin Blizzard Ivory