UW-Platteville Team Camp Preview
This coming weekend, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host their annual team camp. A number of teams from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois will make their way to the Division III national powerhouse to compete, and below are some things that…
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Continue ReadingThis coming weekend, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host their annual team camp. A number of teams from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois will make their way to the Division III national powerhouse to compete, and below are some things that I’ll be looking for from the Iowa representation. Each team will play three pool games, with the winner of each pool advancing into bracket play on Saturday afternoon.
Dubuque Senior: Six of the Rams’ top seven scorers from last year’s surprising state tournament team are back, headlined by scoring guard Carter Stevens and big man Noah Carter. Nick Timmerman has had a nice spring for the Iowa Barnstormers, and if guys like Matt Hendricks, Louis Psihoyos and Justin Blackman can make the next step in their progression, this team will be a serious contender in Class 4A. We know that Stevens and Carter are very good and provide the Rams with some versatility. What we’re looking at this weekend is how the other rotation players fit in and produce. Their pool play matchup against Rock Island may be the best game of the weekend.
Pool play schedule: Fri. vs. Platteville (WI) at 7:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Rock Island (IL) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Mt. Horeb (WI) at 2:00 p.m.
Ranked players: SG Carter Stevens (No. 16 in 2018), PG Justin Blackman (No. 58 in 2018), G Louis Psihoyos (No. 108 in 2017), F Noah Carter (No. 11 in 2019), SF Nick Timmerman (No. 20 in 2019)
Davenport West: The Falcons return an intriguing inside-out duo in diminutive point guard Kenny Clay and 6’8″ center Brett Erwin, a pair of talented 2018s. Clay was West’s leading scorer last season, averaging 13.5 points. He’s a quick guard who is at his best when attacking the defense and getting into the lane. Brett Erwin is a big body who runs the floor well and has steadily developed as an athlete and post player. His continued development will be key for the Falcons next season. There isn’t much experience back outside of those two, however, so we’ll be looking to find some extra pieces for the Falcons’ rotation.
Pool play schedule: Fri. vs. Prairie du Chein (WI) at 7:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Eau Claire North (WI) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Whitnall (WI) at 2:00 p.m.
Ranked players: PG Kenny Clay (No. 47 in 2018), C Brett Erwin (No. 110 in 2018)
Davenport North: The Wildcats return an electric scoring guard in V.J. Wilmington, a small playmaker who averaged 13.5 points a game last season. His blend of speed, strength and ball handling abilities make him a tough guard to keep out of the paint. They’ll be mixing in an intriguing wing in Atticus Taylor, an athletic slasher with good length, and they’ve got some size in the paint in Jared Beck. They went just 7-15 last year, but Wilmington has the ability to help them improve on that record, despite losing a number of players from last year’s squad. We’ll be looking to see which role players step up and provide additional scoring pop for Wilmington.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Dubuque Wahlert at 9:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Waterloo (WI) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Viroqua (WI) at 1:00 p.m.
Ranked players: PG V.J. Wilmington (No. 34 in 2018)
Dubuque Wahlert: After losing essentially their entire rotation from last year’s 3A runner-up, the Golden Eagles will be in complete rebuilding mode this year and have a slew of players that we’ll be interested in seeing. Alex Timp is the leading returning scorer, having scored just 10 points last year. A talented junior class will be asked to shoulder a heavy load for Wahlert, headlined by Peter Timmerman, a skilled wing with good size. There are a lot of question marks on the roster for the Golden Eagles, and we’ll be looking to see which players step up and become names known around the MVC.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Davenport North at 9:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Viroqua (WI) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Waterloo (WI) at 1:00 p.m.
Ranked players: SF Peter Timmerman (No. 77 in 2018)
Dubuque Hempstead: This may be the team I’m most interested in seeing this weekend. My colleague T.J. Rushing really liked what he saw out of 2018 SF Keith Johnson in the spring, a player I’ve yet to see. The Mustangs are led by Johnson and the Duax duo, Connor and Lucas. Guards Marshon Crowder and Tyler Cooksley, and forward Trevor Sindberg, are also back. In all, eight of the nine players who scored for Hempstead last season return, meaning they should be a candidate to take a substantial step forward from last year’s 10-14 mark, in which they nearly made a run to the state tournament, falling in the substate final to Dubuque Senior. I wasn’t able to see this group play last season, and I’m looking forward to getting a look at this group that should have great chemistry.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Oregon (WI) at 9:00 a.m., Sat. vs. River Valley (WI) at 11:00 a.m., Sat vs. Beloit Turner (WI) at 1:00 p.m.
Ranked players: G Connor Duax (No. 84 in 2017), SF Keith Johnson (No. 19 in 2018), PG Lucas Duax (No. 52 in 2018)
West Delaware: The Hawks only lose a total of 14 points from last year’s 16-7 team, and should factor into the group of teams that will challenge Cedar Rapids Xavier for the 3A crown. Derek Krogmann is one of the best sophomores-to-be in the state, and has had a big spring with the Iowa Barnstormers. He pairs with John Nagel to form a formidable tandem on the interior. The backcourt of Ryan Trainer and Tyler Kelley isn’t going to overwhelm many, but they’re solid and take care of the ball. We know about that quarter, as well as shooting guard Kyle Wright, a sharpshooter who does most of his damage from the arc. We’re looking to see how last year’s role players have evolved – guys like Marshall McCarty, Troy Monaghan and Jarod Harris could be the difference makers for this group come next March. If they’ve got their whole team in Platteville for the weekend, they’ll be one of the top teams in the event.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Barneveld (WI) at 9:00 a.m., Sat vs. Quest Charter Academy (IL) at 11:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Pecatonica (IL) at 2:00 p.m.
Ranked players: PF John Nagel (No. 55 in 2017), PG Ryan Trainer (No. 113 in 2017), SG Tyler Kelley (No. 78 in 2018), PF Derek Krogmann (No. 6 in 2019)
Central DeWitt: The Sabers will be turning their team over to a pair of guards who scored around eight points a game last season, Matt Burke and Nick Wilken. This group went just 4-18 last year but has a bit of talent coming back with that duo and forward Ryan Ketelsen, who shot an astounding 69% last season. We’re looking forward to seeing what that trio of players is all about and have a chance to compare them to a fellow WaMaC team, West Delaware.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. MFL-Mar-Mac at 9:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Lancaster (WI) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Royall (WI) at 2:00 p.m.
MFL-Mar-Mac: A historically strong 2A program, MFL-Mar-Mac returns all but 27 points from a team that went 16-7 a year ago. The Bulldogs are led by a trio of high-scoring guards in Mason Hertrampf, Ty Hefner and Tristen Kautman. Each is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor, and this team should look to run more than they did a year ago. Cade Kuenster anchors the paint for this group after shooting 64.6% and averaging just under 14 points a game. This is a team that should contend in 2A, and one that I’m looking forward to seeing.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Central DeWitt at 9:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Royall (WI) at 12:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Lancaster (WI) at 2:00 p.m.
Ranked players: G Tristen Kautman (No. 73 in 2017), PG Mason Hertrampf (No. 103 in 2018)
Easton Valley: A traditionally strong 1A program, the River Hawks lose their top three scorers from a 20-3 team. The cupboard isn’t bare, however, with 2017 guard Dustin Lippens and 2018 forwards Logan Miller and Cam Wilhelm ready to take over the reigns. This is a program that generally plays very strong defense, and we’ll be interested to see how the new leaders perform in larger roles.
Pool play schedule: Fri. vs. Potosi (WI) at 8:00 p.m., Sat. vs. Maquoketa Valley at 8:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Oelwein at 11:00 a.m.
Maquoketa Valley: The top three scorers return from a team that went just 4-18 last year, led by guard Brock Hillers. The Wildcats’ group will be looking to build on a few nice things they did last year and look to become more competitive this coming season. Hillers, Jake Bonert and Kyle Wilson should help there.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Easton Valley at 8:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Oelwein at 10:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Potosi (WI) at 11:00 a.m.
Oelwein: This group went just 3-20 last season, and loses a number of seniors. Sophomore-to-be guards Dom Robertson (8.1 points per game) and Dillon Arndt (3.6) scored 30% of the team’s points last year and will be asked to be the primary scorers this year. The Huskies have lots of work to do, but that duo at least gives them a pair to build around.
Pool play schedule: Sat. vs. Potosi (WI) at 8:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Maquoketa Valley at 10:00 a.m., Sat. vs. Easton Valley at 11:00 a.m.
Ranked players: G Dom Robertson (No. 48 in 2019)