Battle at the Lakes: Top Sleepers
10 sleepers from the state of Wisconsin that emerged in the 2018 Battle at the Lakes…
Ricky Canady – 2020 – G/F – Gallo Sports Center
Canady didn’t get much of a chance to shine on a talented Racine Park squad last season and 2018-19 could be a similar story as the Panthers return a lot, but this is a really nice player who when he gets the chance to unleash and be himself, can do some nice things. He plays 3-4 positions for Gallo Sports Center, including point forward. A strong, athletic wing, Canady has the handles to go coast-to-coast or break people down in the half court. He’s built like a football player and serves as a very imposing presence on both ends. The passing ability is what really sets Canady apart. When he gets into the paint, Canady can look off defenders and drop dimes at a high rate.
Trevon Chislom – 2019 – PF – Wisconsin Starz Elite
Undersized, but strong and athletic, Chislom can set a tone. Chislom is an imposing presence in the paint that rebounds and protects the rim well. He’s always looking to run the floor, with or without the basketball. Despite some turnovers, Chislom has the ability to handle it in transition and get coast-to-coast at times. Chislom is a high motor prospect that should be a valuable addition to a small school program at the next level.
Luke Haasl – 2019 – F/C – Wisconsin Crusaders
With a lot of big men you have to be patient, even when they get to college. Haasl shows some signs of potentially being a go-to post at the next level. He’s skilled enough on the block and is comfortable with his go-to post moves. Haasl seems to have the coordination and upside to really expand his skill set in the coming years. The Oshkosh West standout moves well for 6-foot-10 and can stretch the floor a bit. He’s a bit raw physically and will need to add weight, which should help his rebounding and shot blocking presence. Based on his size and upside, Haasl should be a nice Division 2 prospect that could develop into a really nice player at that level.
Donovan Ivory – 2019 – F – Wisconsin Blizzard Ivory
There were a lot of Division 2 and 3 programs on hand to watch Ivory last weekend. From a pure potential standpoint, it wouldn’t be a shock for Ivory to wind up as a scholarship player, but you have to feel like Division 3’s are praying he falls to their level. A 6-foot-4 combo forward who can handle the basketball like a guard, Ivory has some point forward potential. He’s also getting more comfortable with his 3-point and mid-range jumper, which if it becomes consistent, will quickly elevate his game to a whole other level. Right now, Ivory’s biggest value is as a junkyard dog. A kid that works the glass on both ends and isn’t afraid to do the dirty work, Ivory is quite the weapon in those low scoring, fistfight affairs. With Jordan McCabe, Eric Carl, and Dylan Kurey graduating, it could be Ivory’s time to shine next season for Kaukauna.
Jaden Kreklow – 2019 – PG – Wisconsin Academy
Forget his measurables, this kid is just a flat out ball player. Despite a loss to Young and Reckless on Saturday, Kreklow had the ball in just about every key moment and delivered until the opposition decided they could no longer afford to let him touch the basketball. A high-IQ floor general with good quickness and body control, Kreklow handled himself well against some tenacious, fast, and athletic backcourts who tried to rattle him. Kreklow’s poise and ability to rise up down the stretch is something you just can’t teach.
Reed Miller – 2019 – SF – Playground Warriors
Miller appears to be starting to realize his potential. The 6-foot-6 forward has always been a reliable 3-point shooter and somebody who can space the floor. Miller is now starting to be that mismatch problem who can take people off the bounce and use his length to finish around the basket. After averaging around 12 points and six rebounds per game for Marshfield last season, Miller will take his talents to Kimberly and play in the loaded Fox Valley Association.
Jackson Noll – 2020 – PG – Wisconsin Academy
Noll caught our eye on opening night with his deadly 3-point shooting. The sophomore guard hit seven 3-pointers in the first half alone, putting on a shooting clinic. The Cuba City standout goes about 5-foot-10, but with his unlimited range and quick trigger, it will probably be easy for a lot of schools in the future to overlook any question marks about his size. When the lefty gets going, he can put on a show. Comfortable taking shots early in possessions and when he’s hot, it seems to take a lot to cool him off.
Nick Otto – 2019 – G/F – Wisconsin Crusaders
Another one of those guys that played on talented, senior laden teams who could be ready to break out next season, Otto will be a strong piece to a Division 2 or Division 3 school. The 6-foot-4 junior is an exceptional catch and shoot wing. Taking a “hand down, man down” mentality, Otto is always ready to score. Surely a strong Division 3 prospect, Otto can play his way to a scholarship if he can improve his defensive lateral quickness and develops into more of a slasher.
Troy Reeves – 2019 – PG – Wisconsin Triple Threat
We’ve talked a lot about Reeves’ teammate, Donneil Gray, who also belongs on this list, but Reeves needs to get his due. Like Gray, Reeves is a terrific isolation scorer with takeover ability. He’s undersized, but has some explosive leaping ability and can finish at the rim in traffic. Reeves is different because of his ability to create for others. He is more of a shoot-first guard, but Reeves can be quite unselfish and loves to draw multiple defenders to the rim where he can dump the basketball off for easy buckets or find open shooters beyond the arc. First and foremost though, Reeves is a guy you want with the ball in his hands and then just get out of the way.
Prince Robinson – 2019 – SG – WSM 1848
A name that wasn’t on our radar going into the event, but is now, Robinson had a sensational effort on Sunday. The Green Bay West standout averaged about nine points per game as a junior, but appears to be working his tail off this off-season. In the two games we saw, Robinson caught fire and was putting on a show. Using his electric handles, Robinson was excellent in isolation settings, creating space and knocking down difficult, off-balance looks. A high volume scorer with take over capability, Robinson could be in store for a breakout senior season.