Hard Work Live Day 2 Standouts
STOUGHTON — Day two of the Prep Hoops Circuit Hard Work Live carried on from the Madison area on Saturday. Who stood out in front of a slew of college coaches with the spring evaluation period now winding down?
Andrew Chambers – 2019 – F – North Florida Hurricanes
The North Florida Hurricanes had a rough outing against South Dakota Attack, but Chambers showed some flashes. A strong, athletic forward, Chambers did some nice things at the rim, slashing from the high post and getting to the bucket. The unsigned senior is listed at 6-foot-4, but plays bigger than his size. He doesn’t always get a ton of touches, but Chambers doesn’t take his foot off the gas pedal and always keeps a high motor.
Ryan Clafin – 2020 – F – Wisconsin Crusaders
Clafin does a little bit of everything on the floor. The 6-foot-6 forward showed great hands, catching passes in traffic and finishing through swipes across his arm, often when no whistle was blown. Clafin plays on a team with a plethora of shooters, so when he doesn’t possess the basketball, he’s working to gain position under the rim and seek offensive rebound opportunities. Clafin is an intriguing offensive weapon as well. He can handle the ball and is effective as a slasher from the high post. Clafin just always seemed to be in the right place at the right time during a win over the Ohio Celtics.
Caleb Delzell – 2020 – F – Iowa Mavericks
A prospect with a big upside, Delzell is one of the most intriguing talents in the 17U division. The 6-foot-8 forward has a sweet shooting stroke from 3-point range and a soft touch around the rim. Delzell is a quality floor spacer that can sit in the corners and burn defenders who get caught helping out on dribble drives. Delzell can put the ball on the deck a little, but is more effective as a sharpshooter right now. He’s got the length and athleticism to develop the other parts of his game, which could make him a big steal for a college program.
Keaton Ferris – 2020 – G – Wisconsin Crusaders
Ferris set the tone with a couple of deep triples to open the game in a win over the Ohio Celtics. The Kaukauna guard connected on four 3-pointers, which accounted for all of his team-high 12 points. Ferris made a name for himself as a sniper, but continues to be underrated as a facilitator. Ferris has terrific floor vision and anticipation with the basketball, seeing things before they happen. The 5-foot-11 guard can also thread the needle in traffic and deliver some beautiful passes that are extremely difficult. Ferris would later lead the Crusaders to a comeback effort against ET21 Buckeyes, hitting some huge shots down the stretch.
Caleb Fuller – 2020 – SG – Wisconsin Blizzard
Fuller scored and rebounded well against Minnesota Select Saturday night. The junior wing has good size at 6-foot-3 and rebounds the ball well for a perimeter-oriented player. Fuller gets on the offensive glass and uses his length to keep plays alive. Fuller also shot the ball well from the perimeter. Fuller has a lengthy stroke, but his size allows him to see over the top and not be fazed by defenders crowding him.
Mason Martinson – 2021 – F – Wisconsin Academy Blue
Coming off their state title run, New Glarus has had a few players perform well this weekend. Martinson was no exception on Saturday, despite a rough loss to Minnesota Fury. A strong and physical prospect, Martinson is a high energy player that’s constantly working on both ends. On the glass, he thinks every rebound belongs to him. Known more for his interior play, Martinson did knock down some open shots on Saturday. Expected to be a key player for the Knights next season, Martinson will help New Glarus reload for another run in Division 4.
Andrew Morgan – 2021 – F/C – Minnesota Heat
Morgan might have had the performance of the day. Posting 28 points in a win, the sophomore big man was dominant on both ends of the floor. Morgan just whooped people 1-on-1 on the block. When help came, Morgan had the vision and patience to suck defenders in and kick out to open shooters. Just everywhere on the floor, Morgan scored in transition, blocked shots, and controlled the glass. Morgan didn’t always finish from in close, but he never gives up on the play and often stayed with it for putback opportunities. A big sleeper, Morgan has hadn’t any recruiting attention yet, but is a definite Division 1 talent.
Matthew Mors – 2021 – F – South Dakota Attack
As per usual, Mors was dominant in a 17U win over Team RWA. The sophomore forward posted 19 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists as the game was over by the midway point of the first half. He’s not getting five-star buzz in 2021, but right now, Mors could without a doubt hold his own against the top players in the country. A physically advanced prospect who’s been playing varsity ball since seventh grade, Mors is a man among boys — even while playing up an age group. An extremely efficient scorer, Mors puts up big numbers on few shot attempts and impacts the game in just about every way possible. It’s easy to see why high major schools across the country are recruiting the 6-foot-7 combo forward.
Jacob Newhouse – 2020 – PF – Wisconsin Crusaders
Newhouse is going to catch some Division 2 looks this spring and summer. The Kaukauna standout is intriguing given his budding skillset and high upside. Still raw as a player, Newhouse can affect the game in a variety of ways. The 6-foot-7 junior is quite athletic and blocks/alters a lot of shots and can finish above the rim in traffic. Newhouse can also hit shots from the perimeter on occasion and even scored in the paint while falling away from the rim.
Alex Vankalsbeek – 2020 – PF – South Dakota Attack
Mors is far from the only strong prospect on this South Dakota Attack squad. During a win over Team RWA Vankalsbeek certainly made some noise of his own. The 6-foot-6 forward is a strong and skilled post presence. He’s comfortable with his back to the basket and can score with either hand. Vankalsbeek is also able to step away from the rim and shoot the ball. He’s a big body, but Vankalsbeek likes to get out and run in transition too and finished off a couple of impressive dunks on the break.
Zach Wenthe – 2021 – PF – Minnesota Fury
Minnesota Fury took care of Wisconsin Academy Saturday afternoon. Wenthe set the tone with his physicality in the paint. A strong, imposing forward, Wenthe muscles people under the rim where he can score easily or get in rebounding position. On the block, Wenthe finished well with his left hand, quickly spinning off his right shoulder.