Class of 2022 Rankings Update: Superlatives
A closer look at the updated class of 2022 rankings by taking a look at some of the toughest questions we had to answer… Toughest decision in the rankings I had the hardest time trying to separate players ranked No.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA closer look at the updated class of 2022 rankings by taking a look at some of the toughest questions we had to answer…
Toughest decision in the rankings
I had the hardest time trying to separate players ranked No. 10-18 in the rankings and it felt like I was often splitting hairs.
Between Donovan Short Donovan Short 6'9" | PF Denmark | 2022 State WI , Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI , Luke Haertle Luke Haertle 6'2" | SG Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State WI , Andrew Alia Andrew Alia 6'2" | SG Kenosha St. Joseph | 2022 State WI , Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI , Jack Campion Jack Campion 5'10" | PG Milton | 2022 State WI , Casey Verhagen Casey Verhagen 6'0" | PG Sheboygan Area Lutheran | 2022 State WI , Andrew Rohde Andrew Rohde 6'6" | SG Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI , and Christopher Morgan Christopher Morgan 6'1" | PG Kaukauna | 2022 State WI , I feel like you could order these in a lot of different ways.
Short and Jedkins got the nod this time. Both have very intriguing size and move well for their frames and have more Division 1 upside. However, when you get to the bottom of that list with Rohde and Morgan, you could make good arguments for them as well.
LOOK: Updated 2022 Player Rankings
Player I fear I’m most wrong about
I know I have him at No. 5, but I’m going to go with Steven Clay Steven Clay 6'5" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #193 Nation WI .
The Menomonee Falls product is coming off a huge junior season. This is the type of prospect I think has No. 1 potential and still a ton of upside left. The 6-foot-5 wing has very long arms and a sweet shooting stroke. He reminds me some of former Michigan star Charles Matthews.
Was very close to bumping him to the fourth spot, but want to see how his raw frame develops and if he starts to impact the game in other ways than scoring. Still, there’s no question that when the ball is in his hands, Clay is maybe the most lethal scorer in this class.
Others: Andrew Rohde Andrew Rohde 6'6" | SG Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI , Jack Campion Jack Campion 5'10" | PG Milton | 2022 State WI , Learic Davis Learic Davis 6'7" | SF Milwaukee Bradley Tech | 2022 State WI , Maximus Nelson Maximus Nelson 6'7" | PF Appleton North | 2022 State #236 Nation WI , Casey Verhagen Casey Verhagen 6'0" | PG Sheboygan Area Lutheran | 2022 State WI , Najashi Tolefree Najashi Tolefree 6'6" | SF West Allis Central | 2022 State WI
Biggest Sleeper
A player outside the top 25 who I think could end up being way better than where we’ve placed him — Juok Riak Juok Riak 6'5" | PF Madison Lafollette | 2022 State WI .
As a sophomore, Riak didn’t play a huge role for Madison La Follette. The Lancers had a lot of seniors and were at their best with smaller lineups who could pick up for 94 feet and play organized chaos. However, Riak is super intriguing as a long, 6-foot-7 forward.
Want to see his progress this summer and watch his development closely as this is one of the bigger upsides in the entire 2021 class.
Others: Andrew Keller Andrew Keller 6'5" | PF Waunakee | 2022 State WI , Kenny Garth Kenny Garth 6'2" | CG Westosha Central | 2022 State WI , Marshaun Harriel Marshaun Harriel 5'11" | PG Janesville Craig | 2022 WI , Parker Thompson Parker Thompson 6'5" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2022 State WI
Biggest Potential D1 Steal
Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI was two different players last season. There was the player before the injury and after.
Before the setback, Janowski was averaging 15.6 points per game, including a 33-point effort against Menomonee Falls and 20 versus East Troy. An electric ball handler with blow-by ability, Janowski has some of the best speed and handles on the ball in the state. We’ve already seen him go toe-to-toe with some of the top guard prospects in his class and Janowski has often matched or out-played them.
Needs to speed up his release and consistency on his jumper, but I think this is a prospect who could definitely play his way to the D1 level and if he falls to a D2, they should be thrilled.
Others: Danilo Jovanovich Danilo Jovanovich 6'6" | PF Whitnall | 2022 State WI , Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI , Andrew Alia Andrew Alia 6'2" | SG Kenosha St. Joseph | 2022 State WI , Marshawn Robinson Marshawn Robinson 6'3" | SG Waukesha South | 2022 State WI , Learic Davis Learic Davis 6'7" | SF Milwaukee Bradley Tech | 2022 State WI
Biggest Potential D2 Steal
Luke Haertle Luke Haertle 6'2" | SG Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State WI produces like a Division 1 prospect on the AAU circuit. This is a prospect, if he had the measurables, D1 programs would be lining up for him. In fact, we’ve heard from one power-five program that loves watching him play and I would think, would love to get him as a walk-on.
A stock, 6-foot-1 shooting guard, Haertle is as blue collar as it gets in this class. He’s a bring your hard hat and lunch pail to work type kid who will do anything to get the win. A strong and versatile guard, Haertle loves to bully people in the post and score through the chest of defenders.
Haertle also has the clutch gene, hitting a number of last-second shots last summer and you can’t forget about his miraculous play down the stretch in the football state title game.
Others: Casey Verhagen Casey Verhagen 6'0" | PG Sheboygan Area Lutheran | 2022 State WI , C.J. Campbell C.J. Campbell 6'7" | SF New Richmond | 2022 State WI , J.T. Seagreaves J.T. Seagreaves 6'6" | PF Monroe | 2022 State WI , Bradley Bell Bradley Bell 6'6" | PF Westosha Central | 2022 WI , Kade Van Asten Kade Van Asten 6'4" | SF Little Chute | 2022 State WI , Noah Feddersen Noah Feddersen 6'9" | PF Menomonie | 2022 State WI
Player I’m higher on than most
I have Carson Leuzinger Carson Leuzinger 6'0" | PG Hutchinson | 2022 State WI at No. 27 overall in this class. Yes, he’s a little undersized for a combo guard at 5-foot-11. Perhaps doesn’t have ideal athleticism and could be a defensive liability at the next level.
However, I see him as a guy who can be an instant offense in a lot of different systems. The lefty is a creative scorer with a lot of tools. He excels 1-on-1 in the open floor and can create rhythm looks off the bounce at a high rate. I also think he’s a better drive and dish guard than he gets credit for and I also like that he can play with a chip on his shoulder and seems to rise to the occasion in crunch time.
Others: Micah Causey Micah Causey 5'9" | PG St. Thomas More | 2022 WI , Chevalier Emery Jr Chevalier Emery Jr 6'1" | PG Neenah | 2022 State WI , Bradley Bell Bradley Bell 6'6" | PF Westosha Central | 2022 WI , Jayquan Hickles Jayquan Hickles 6'5" | PF Milwaukee King | 2022 State WI , Mekhi Shaw Mekhi Shaw 6'0" | PG Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI , Luke Fernholz Luke Fernholz 6'2" | SF Stoughton | 2022 State WI
Player I hope proves me right
I don’t think there’s a lot of love for Jack Rose Jack Rose 6'5" | SG Westosha Central | 2022 State #213 Nation WI as a top five prospect across the state. However, I know what I saw last summer and I’m going to stick by it.
Initially, I had Rose at No. 3, but thought Seth Trimble Seth Trimble 6'3" | PG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #50 Nation WI had a better sophomore season and has more high major qualities to him. Right now, Rose is lacking high major athleticism, but I think the rest is there.
One reason I have Rose at No. 4 is I trust him. He’s a deadly shooter from just about anywhere and can score against tough defense all day. But even if his shot isn’t falling, he brings it and it doesn’t affect the other parts of his game
For the full class of 2022 player rankings, click here