Midwest Players Classic: Players to Watch

One of the top events annually in Wisconsin's high school basketball season, the Midwest Players Classic returns on Saturday with another strong field of talent. Here's a look at the top players to watch in La Crosse...

Steven Clay Steven Clay 6'5" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #193 Nation WI - 2022 - SG - Menomonee Falls

Averaging 21.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a junior. A lethal shooter with intriguing size/length (6-5). Holding high major offers from Maryland and TCU, Clay has unique ball handling ability for his size coupled with a killer instinct.

Victor Desmond Victor Desmond 6'6" | SF Onalaska | 2021 State WI - 2021 - SF - Onalaska

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A sleeper that's still available, Desmond is averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game on a very balanced and talented Onalaska squad. The 6-foot-6 wing is a strong, athletic slasher with plenty of upside at the next level.

Jameson Dougherty Jameson Dougherty 6'9" | PF River Falls | 2021 State WI - 2021 - PF - River Falls

Committed to Army. Dougherty is averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as a senior. Long, athletic big man is just scratching the surface and made big move up the rankings over the summer.

Gavin Farrell Gavin Farrell 6'2" | SG Verona Area | 2023 State WI - 2023 - G - Verona

Considered a top 30 prospect in the 2023 class, Farrell played sizable minutes for the Wildcats as a freshman. A knockdown perimeter shooter, makes defenders pay off poor closeouts or when they fail to get a hand up off the catch.

Luke Healy Luke Healy 6'0" | CG Hudson | 2021 State WI - 2021 - G - Hudson

Committed to Division 2 Sioux Falls. Healy is averaging 26.4 points and 3.4 assists per game this season. The senior guard is a terrific shooter off the dribble with break-you-down ability.

Zac Johnson Zac Johnson 6'3" | SG River Falls | 2021 State WI - 2021 - SG - River Falls

One of the state's premier shooters, Johnson is averaging 24.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season. Committed to Augustana, Johnson is absolutely deadly from beyond the arc. The lefty has worked hard to improve his all-around game and become a three-level scorer.

Carter Lancaster Carter Lancaster 6'4" | SF Darlington | 2021 State WI - 2021 - SF - Darlington

One of the best Divison 2 prospects that's still available, Lancaster has offers from Northern State and Upper Iowa. A swiss army knife type prospect, Lancaster excels in a variety of ways. The 6-foot-3 swing man can shoot from the perimeter, dish the basketball, rebound, defend, and make toughness plays. Lancaster leads the Redbirds in scoring (19.3 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg), and assists (4.2 apg) this season.

Monte Mayberry Monte Mayberry 6'3" | SG Northwestern | 2022 State MN - 2022 - SG - Northwestern

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A sleeper in the 2022 class, Mayberry is averaging 13 points and seven boards per game this season. Mayberry has prototypical size (6-3) and has one of the most pure strokes in the state.

Gavin Mcgrath Gavin Mcgrath 6'10" | C Onalaska | 2021 State WI - 2021 - C - Onalaska

Committed to North Dakota. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 14.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the undefeated Hilltoppers. A terrific rim protector with a budding skillset, McGrath has consistently shown vast improvement over the past three seasons.

Christopher Morgan Christopher Morgan 6'1" | PG Kaukauna | 2022 State WI - 2022 - PG - Kaukauna

Morgan is averaging 22.3 points and 6.3 assists per game in the always tough Fox Valley Association. A three-year varsity performer, Morgan can completely control an offense, competes his tail off, and is always in attack mode.

Lance Nelson Lance Nelson 6'0" | PG Monona Grove | 2021 State WI - 2021 - G - Monona Grove

The Silver Eagles will be making their 2020-21 debut. Nelson is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 15.4 points and 3.0 assists per game. Nelsin is an under the radar playmaker who catches people by surprise with his skill.

Preston Ruedinger Preston Ruedinger 6'1" | PG Lourdes Academy | 2021 State WI - 2021 - PG - Lourdes Academy

Holding a few Division 2 offers and generating Division 1 interest this season, Ruedinger is averaging 24.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. A do-it-all floor general with terrific basketball instincts, Rudeinger is one of the best available senior prospects in Wisconsin.

Seth Trimble Seth Trimble 6'3" | PG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #50 Nation WI - 2022 - PG - Menomonee Falls

In the midst of a breakout season, Trimble is averaging 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game as a junior. Trimble has offers from Creighton, Iowa State, Arizona State, TCU, and USC. A high-IQ floor general who scores from all three levels, has explosive athleticism, and makes other around him better, Trimble should take off nationally this spring/summer.

Others: Grant Martin Grant Martin 6'0" | CG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI (Menomonee Falls), Tyson Waldrop Tyson Waldrop 6'5" | SF Kaukauna | 2022 State WI (Kaukauna), Sam Kick Sam Kick 6'1" | PG Onalaska | 2021 State WI (Onalaska), Cayden Rankin Cayden Rankin 6'7" | SF Darlington | 2021 State WI (Darlington), Liam Dougherty Liam Dougherty 6'9" | PF River Falls | 2021 State WI (River Falls), Josh Bauer (Lourdes Academy), Quinn Miskowski Quinn Miskowski 6'0" | PG Aquinas | 2022 State WI (Aquinas), Melvin Ortiz (Somerset), Hank Reader (Bangor), Zane Langrehr (Bangor), Karson Mitchell Karson Mitchell 6'0" | PG Verona | 2022 WI (Verona), Dustin Derousseau (Tomah), Carson Lindauer Carson Lindauer 6'4" | SF Tomah | 2021 State WI (Tomah), Cole Kalander Cole Kalander 6'7" | PF Holmen | 2021 State WI (Holmen), Max Hammond (Holmen), Gavin Proudfoot (Onalaska Luther)