#HardWorkSZN Kickoff: Sunday Standouts

APPLETON -- The 2020 Prep Hoops Hard Work Season Kickoff came to a close on Sunday, following three games for every team. Here’s a look at the top individual standouts from the action on day three...

Sam Bess Sam Bess 6'3" | SF Janesville Parker | 2023 WI - 2023 - G/W - Wisconsin Independent

Bess made our initial top 25 rankings for 2023 and I’m glad we included him. In a high-level contest against Wisconsin Playground Club, Bess held his own, finishing with a team-high 19 points. Bess shot the ball very well from the outside, hitting four triples in the first half alone,

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including a nice step back with a hand in his face. Bess also has a good-looking frame which allows him to slash and take on contact at the rim. A bigger body, Bess also has nimble feet in traffic.

Johnmark Borcher - 2020 - SG - Wisconsin Blizzard

An unsigned senior who looked really good on Sunday, Borcher really flew under the radar last season and the same can be said for his twin brother Josh, who’s very similar. A 6-foot-4 guard that plays an uptempo style and never takes his foot off the gas pedal, Borcher was very impressive in transition. Borcher isn’t overly skilled yet and can play out of control, but there’s a lot to like about his motor and physical attributes. There’s also a noticeable chip on his shoulder. If Borcher gets scored on, he takes it personally and wants to get the two points right back. This could be a big win for a junior college program that can elevate Borcher, round out his game, and turn him into a scholarship player elsewhere.

James Graham James Graham 6'9" | SF Nicolet | 2021 #59 Nation WI - 2021 - SF - Wisconsin Playground Club

Graham was up and down shooting the ball for most of the weekend, but when he finally got it going, it was a huge problem for the opposition. Unfortunately for Minnesota Select, they were the ones who paid the price on Sunday. Graham scored 22 of his team’s 55 points in the win. The 6-foot-9 small forward was getting pretty much any shot he wanted. At 6-foot-9 and the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter, Graham can always find a way to get a rhythm jumper, no matter how well he’s defended. He’ll take people into the post too and score fading away from the basketball. Very offensively gifted, Graham is a pure shooter with a perimeter skillset in a power forward’s body.

Cal Klesmit Cal Klesmit 6'2" | CG Neenah | 2023 State #235 Nation WI - 2023 - G - Wisconsin Blizzard

I don’t think Klesmit will fly under the radar once his sophomore season arrives. While he played JV mostly for Neenah, he would have been full-time on varsity at most programs. A smooth and skilled guard, Klesmit is a strong ball handler that can confuse defenders. He plays with them with his eyes, head fakes, and shoulders, getting them to lean one way before he makes his move to the bucket. While he’s a scorer, Klesmit has

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a similar feel to the game that this brother did. Klesmit doesn’t have tunnel vision and only sees the rim. He knows where the other nine players are as well and that allows him to make the right basketball play.

Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI - 2022 - SF - Team 1848

This kid opened my eyes on Sunday. In the last game of the day, Pawlikowski did some stuff that made me wonder why I haven’t heard of him yet. A skilled and athletic wing, Pawlikowski had a couple of moments where he brought the bench to its feet, including a steal in the open floor followed a dunk over the guy he pickpocketed. In the half court, Pawlikowski is an effective slasher. He’s got more of a football frame, but that is put to good use when he gets into the paint and looks to score. The Kimberly product plays both ends of the floor. He’s a gritty, tenacious kid who’s energy is infectious for the rest of his teammates.

Marshawn Robinson Marshawn Robinson 6'3" | SG Waukesha South | 2022 State WI - 2022 - SG - Milwaukee Sharks

Schools shouldn’t let this one fly under the radar. Robinson has a lot of the physical tools that colleges look for in a two-guard. He’s got a strong, athletic build, has blow-by ability on the ball, and plays above the rim. His perimeter skillset has only gotten better and better since he was a freshman and Robinson has some smooth go-to moves when the ball is in his hands. Also a standout defender, Robinson is fundamentally sound

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on the ball. A coach’s kid, Robinson is very unselfish as well. He doesn’t always take a lot of shots and despite being so athletically gifted, usually looks for his teammates before his own offense.

Demerius Shakur Demerius Shakur 6'2" | CG Martin Luther | 2023 State WI - 2023 - G - Wisconsin Playground Club

Shakur is a good two-way guard that plays both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-3 sophomore did a fantastic job of using his length to stick his hands in and knock the ball away. He’d quickly turn defense into offense as Shakur generated turnovers and ignited the fast break. Shakur has a ton of potential in the pick n’ roll. The Martin Luther standout generally makes good decisions with the ball, goes shoulder to shoulder with the screener, and forces the help defender to pick his poison. Shakur can either hit the jumper, get all the way to the basket, or kick it out to his big man for an open triple.

Alex Singleton Alex Singleton 6'4" | PF Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI - 2021 - F - ABC Young Lions

Singleton just gets the game of basketball. He’s a player who wants to win and knows what it takes. The adage goes ’be a star in your role.’ That pretty much defines Singleton. He’s not a guy that his teams will necessarily run offense for, because Singleton will find ways to produce. An athletic, high motor forward, Singleton had a terrific game to cap off the weekend. He was active under the rim, catching and finishing in traffic, slashing from the high post, attacking the offensive glass, and protecting the paint defensively. After jumping out to a big lead, the Young Lions had the wheels come off in the second half. It was Singleton who got things back on track with timely buckets, game-changing defensive plays, and contested rebounds.

Nate Streveler Nate Streveler 6'4" | SG Stevens Point - SPASH | 2022 State WI - 2022 - SG - Wisconsin Blizzard

Streveler had a big game to close out Sunday. A new addition to the 2022 rankings, Streveler backed it up with a strong scoring performance. Streveler showed a lot of the things I liked on his sophomore film. Streveler just has a knack for generating high percentage and rhythm shots. There’s not anything overly flashy to his game, but Streveler is effective because he can do different things. He’ll catch and shoot coming off screens, get to his right hand and pull-up off the bounce, and just work some easy garbage buckets as well. I like that he doesn’t settle or tries to be anything that he’s not. Streveler understands his strengths and plays to them.

Najashi Tolefree Najashi Tolefree 6'6" | SF West Allis Central | 2022 State WI - 2022 - F - Wisconsin Playmakers South

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There’s a lot to like about Tolefree. An active, physical, and relentless combo forward, Tolefree looked really good throughout the weekend. The West Allis Central product loves contact. He’ll take it at defenders and bully them until they stop it. What’s really exciting is his expanded perimeter and mid-range skillset. Tolefree is starting to shoot it better and create off the bounce a little bit. At the end of the day, the kid just plays extremely hard, especially on the offensive end. Despite his team’s loss, Tolefree wasn’t getting outworked.

Max Weisbrod Max Weisbrod 6'1" | CG Deforest | 2022 State WI - 2022 - G - Wisconsin Independent

Weisbrod is one of those prospects that puts the team ahead of his own interests. The DeForest guard is capable of getting his 20 points each game, but is wired to make the right basketball play. His instincts and feel for the game might be second to none in the 2022 class in Wisconsin. Weisbrod appears to have grown a bit and looks more athletic as well. Comfortable and off the ball, Weisbrod balances being a scorer and facilitator very well. Playing up in 17U, Weisbrod certainly didn’t look overwhelmed throughout the weekend.

Gus Yalden - 2023 - PF - Wisconsin Playground Club

If there’s a weakness in your defense, Yalden will find hit. Yalden was outstanding in a win over Wisconsin Independent. Whatever matchup the opposition tried to throw at him, Yalden was able to exploit it. The 6-foot-9 sophomore is maybe the most skilled post prospect on the block I’ve ever seen at his age. Yalden has just about every move at his disposal. He’s very fundamentally sound, but add his own sauce to it. Yalden knows how to spin off defenders and use their momentum against them, he can finish with either hand, and has extremely light feet for his size. Yalden could easily make his leaving down on the block, but he’s also an exceptional 3-point shooter and deadly in the pick n’ pop game. Yalden sets good, hard screens and allows the ball handler to turn the corner, forcing his man to help, which will leave him open on the perimeter.