2021 Rankings: Biggest Risers
The updated class of 2021 rankings will be revealed this week. Here’s a look at 10 players who are primed to make the biggest jumps…
No. 14 Brock Heffner Brock Heffner 6'7" | PF Grafton | 2021 State WI – Forward – Wisconsin Playground Club/Grafton
Previous: 39
Heffner has a Division 1 offer from IUPUI. Division 2 programs Mary, Northern State, UW-Parkside, Fairmont State, Northwood, Winona State, and Northern Michigan are on board as well. The 6-foot-7 combo forward had a breakout summer. Heffner is an extremely strong post-up threat with a nice blend of strength and athleticism. Also a standout football player who can handle the ball and shoot it a bit from the perimeter, Heffner has a chance to really take off at the next level as he continues to expand his game away from the rim.
No. 20 Dylan Kuehl Dylan Kuehl 6'7" | PF Hustisford | 2021 State WI – Forward – Wisconsin Swing Bredesen/Hustisford
Previous: 41
Kuehl has emerged as one of the top Division 2 prospects in the state, if not the Midwest. While Minnesota-Moorehead and Northern Michigan are the lone offers at this time, Kuehl has proven his worth with a huge summer. While he’s a little undersized at 6-foot-5 and more of a ‘4’ than he is a ‘3’, Kuehl makes up for it with explosive athleticism and a blue collar work ethic. The Hustisford standout also handles the ball and shoots it at a high level. As of August, this might be the best-kept secret in the state as far as fans and even college programs are concerned.
No. 33 Jasin Sinani Jasin Sinani 6'3" | SG Oak Creek | 2021 State WI – Shooting Guard – Wisconsin Rap/Oak Creek
Previous: 44
Division 2 programs and even Division 1’s are noticing Sinani, who’s in the midst of a huge summer. Arguably the biggest riser in terms of where he was last summer to now, Sinani has been an automatic bucket. Sinani is equally effective in the open floor or in the half court. The Oak Creek guard has intriguing burst and wiggle on the ball to either create a jumper with plenty of space or blow-by his defender. At 6-foot-2, Sinani can knock down shots all over the floor and hit consistently off-balance as well.
No. 39 Joe Reuter Joe Reuter 6'4" | SG Chippewa Falls | 2021 State WI – Shooting Guard – Wisconsin Playmakers Siler/Chippewa Falls
Previous: 78
Reuter showed during the Prep Hoops Circuit that he’s one of the top shooters in the state. Reuter is a legit 6-foot-4 with a high release and looks really good in the catch and shoot game. Reuter also has an in-between game and can use his size to take defenders to the block and score over the top. Also a high-motor prospect, Reuter attacks the offensive glass and is a willing defender with lateral quickness to protect the paint.
No. 44 Jameer Barker Jameer Barker 6'2" | SG Racine St. Catherine's | 2021 State WI – Shooting Guard – Wisconsin Sharks/Racine St. Catherine’s
Previous: NR
Barker is instant offense. The Racine St. Catherine’s standout can fill it up on the perimeter and score in all types of ways. The 6-foot-2 guard is a plus-length, smooth prospect who can simply take what the defense gives him. If the defender comes at him with a hand down, Barker will make them pay. If he’s crowded, Barker has the toughness and finishing ability to attack the paint. A lefty with supreme confidence as a scorer, Barker just never loses faith and is the same player no matter how many shots he may have made/missed consecutively.
No. 46 Tre Valeriano Tre Valeriano 6'0" | PG Pius XI | 2021 State WI – Point Guard – World Hoops Elite /Pius XI
Previous: 99
Maybe the most improved player in the state, Valeriano can score in bunches. Valeriano operates well in the pick n’ roll. He can reject screens or turn the corner and has a nice mid-range pull-up. While he’s undersized, Valeriano has the touch and body control around the rim to avoid shot blockers. Valeriano looks vastly improved with his ability to control a game from the point guard spot, able to weave in and out of traffic, keep his head up, and play fast without being out of control.
No. 58 Selle Dime Selle Dime 6'7" | PF Golda Meir | 2021 State WI – Forward – Phenom University/Golda Meir
Previous: 89
Dime still has maybe the best upside in this class. He’s still got a long way to go, but the 6-foot-8 combo forward is beginning to put some things together. Dime has some scary length and athleticism. Right now, he can really impact a game defensively, playing the passing lanes and protect the rim. He shows some signs of being able to score in the half court, catching in the paint and scoring in traffic or ripping from the high post and getting to the rim. He’s also a threat on the offensive glass. As his skills continue to catch up to his measurables, Dime’s stock is only going to go up.
No. 59 Jonah Rindfleisch Jonah Rindfleisch 6'7" | SF Wisconsin Lutheran | 2021 State WI – Forward – Wisconsin Rap/Wisconsin Lutheran
Previous: 83
Speaking of upside, Rindlefliesch is showing big time flashes this summer. Rindlefliesch is a 6-foot-7 forward who’s long, lanky, and not even close to filling into his body, but possesses some scary athleticism. An above the rim finisher who can also shoot it a bit from the outside, Rindlefliesch has plenty of ways to still expand his offensive skillset. What you like most though is that Rindlefliesch does take pride in the little things. He’s a solid rebounder, passer, and buys in defensively. Rindlefliesch does a great job of protecting the rim from the weak-side and always runs the floor in transition.
No. 67 Jaqunis Rhodes Jaqunis Rhodes 5'10" | PG West Allis Central | 2021 State WI – Point Guard – Shooting Stars/West Allis Central
Previous: 85
Rhodes can absolutely go. One of the quickest guards in the state, Rhodes’ size and speed just gives defenders fits when they try and chase around a 5-foot-8 guard. Rhodes just wears on people with his ability to pull defenders to the half court line, wait for them to get a count, and then attack. A drive and dish guard who’s improved greatly as a shooter, Rhodes can make teams pick their poison. Rhodes is one of the few prospects in this state who can truly operate consistently at top end speed without being out of control.
No. 71 Ronald Kirk Ronald Kirk 6'4" | SF Dominican | 2021 State WI – Wing – Phenom University/Dominican
Previous: 100
Kirk has strong positional size at 6-foot-4 and is a knockdown perimeter shooter. A strong, plus-length wing, Kirk also has a really intriguing frame and body type that won’t limit him to be just an outside threat. I really like Kirk in the catch-and-shoot game, but he plays surprisingly low to the ground for his size and is more of a fluid athlete than I thought. Despite moving up nearly 30 spots since last season, wouldn’t be surprised if Kirk is still undervalued right now.
No. 72 Aidan Ottery Aidan Ottery 6'5" | PF St. Mary's Springs | 2021 State WI – Small Forward – Wisconsin Crusaders/St. Mary’s Springs
Previous: 95
Ottery is just one of those prospects that makes everyone around him better. The 6-foot-4 senior is almost a point forward. He loves to push the ball in transition and does a great job of finding open teammates with on-target and on-time passes. Not going to wow anybody with size, athleticism, etc., but Ottery is a high-IQ, versatile prospect who can play and defend multiple positions. He’s a swiss army knife on the floor with his ability to facilitate, hit open 3’s, post-up on the block, and ignite the transition break. Think Ottery could be one of the more underrated pickups for a Division 3/NAIA program because he can contribute in so many ways and will allow coaches to experiment with multiple lineup combinations.