Top 7 X-Factors: 2019-20 Season

Collin Parker

October 14, 2019 @ 09:34 AM

Not many looked at Nicolet’s roster last season, saw Duke commit Jalen Johnson and high-major recruit Jamari Sibley, but heaped praise onto Sonny Phinisee, the unsung role piece. This season, let's change that. This piece will give the gritty, impactful players the ink they deserve as we highlight the seven best x-factors going into next season. Bryce Henderson - G - Neenah - 2020: Offensively, Henderson thrives off the ball, slicing into gaps and finding open looks in the high-post. But his niche is on defense, as he embodies the pesky defender profile. Henderson can trace ball-handlers 94-feet with his lateral quickness, and most importantly, he can shadow the other team’s best player for all 40 minutes, sending his value through the roof come the postseason. Eric Radisevic - F - Brookfield Central - 2020: To the surprise of many, Radisevic became a viable option this fall. The 6’7” center unveiled his prowess with his back to the basket, shimmying into open layups and dunking the ball around the rim. The nightmarish size mismatch received minimal court time last year, but with Central pursuing back-to-back titles, he could find enough minutes to field some college interest. Jonathan Rankins - G - Racine Case - 2020: Rankins fills out the scrappy guard complex often seen in winning rosters. He ripped away 1.4 steals a night during his junior season and provides the types of crafty plays on offense that sparks runs — wins, even. Logan Geissler - G - Bay Port - 2020: As Bay Port’s leading scorer and the reigning defensive player of the year in the Fox River Classic, Giessler warranted his ranking last year with a handful of the gritty, high IQ plays. He juiced his reputation even more this summer, playing at an elite level with Wisconsin Surge. Marcus Mbow - F - Wauwatosa East - 2021: Mbow is 285-pounds of muscle and athleticism. The sought-after offensive lineman brings to the court a physical element that, assuming there is only a small handful of three-star lineman to go around, is unique. His back-to-the-basket skillset and rebounding fueled momentum swings during his time on the Prep Hoops Circuit, which will be a key role for him this school season. J.T. Hoytink - G - Sussex Hamilton - 2020: As the point guard for Hamilton, Hoytink steers a ship of gold bars. With everything from division two potential to high-major prospects lining their starting core, he carries out the tall task of keeping everyone in line. For the guard, it boils down to the little things that make the rest of the team better, and after making his mark all over the stat sheet this summer, it is clear that the guard is capable of leading Hamilton next season. Casey Verhagen - G - Sheboygan Lutheran - 2022: Verhagen is a wildly talented second-fiddle to Jacob Ognacevic, who is likely the best division five talent since Sam Dekker. Verhagen’s three-level scoring ability will become crucial as Sheboygan Lutheran goes after a second consecutive state title. His elite skillset is especially evident when he runs the point. The guard dominated as a facilitator last season, leading all returning players in assists per game at 9.6 (keep in mind, he did that in his freshman season).