Prep Hoops Live: 17U Standouts

<p>Six 17U prospects who jumped out at Prep Hoops Live in Kansas City....</p> [caption id="attachment_1171256" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ethan-Scott-Tyler-Borowski.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1171256 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ethan-Scott-Tyler-Borowski-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="801152" first="Tyler" last="Borowski"][/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="801152" first="Tyler" last="Borowski"] - 2022 - PG - Wisconsin Crusaders</p> <p>Thought Borowski really dished the ball well against Young and Reckless.  Facing an uptempo, high-pressure team, Borowski really handled it well and  put his teammates in terrific scoring positions. The Appleton East standout found his guys on some really nice back cuts and often had to get the ball into tight passing windows. Not always a guy that  creates shots off the dribble, but he had some noticeable flashes, including a beautiful spin and score, floating a shot up over two defenders with his left hand. Once Borowski gives the ball up, he’s very dangerous as a 3-point shooter. Borowski has a knack for finding those soft spots in the defense, usually the corners, and he’s pretty reliable from deep.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="988698" first="Josiah" last="Butler"] - 2022 - SG - Wisconsin Crusaders</p> <p>Like the overall scoring package that Butler possesses.  Gotta cut down on the turnovers, but his feel and ability to score in a variety of different ways really sticks out. The 6-foot-2 guard can catch and shoot, is very smooth off the dribble,  is comfortable in the mid-range, and has excellent body control/strength at the rim. Like Butler defensively as well. He can play low in his stance and has the lateral quickness/strength to shut off drives to the rim. Butler also rebounds well from the guard position. As he often does, Butler turned it on in the second half against Young and Reckless and kept the Crusaders within striking distance against a quality opponent.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1028771" first="Ryan" last="Sweeney"] - 2022 - G  - Team 1848</p> <p>Continuing his breakout summer, Sweeney looked really good in a win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Just love his ability to thrive in the open floor. The 6-foot-2 guard is deceptively athletic and can make even good athletes look bad. He’s also gotten so much better in the halfcourt and was able to carve up defenses with limited dribbles. The Green Bay East standout plays within the flow of the offense, making hard cuts and doing his work early. His quickness translates to the defensive end. Sweeney can move laterally and hound people without fouling. At 6-foot-2, Sweeney can play on and off the ball and will knock down his open shots. Division 2 schools are going to want to pay close attention here.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="950099" first="Carter" last="Thomas"] - 2022 - F -  Wisconsin Crusaders</p> <p>Because he’s a tweener, Thomas may end up being a Division 3 prospect,  but he’s always just kind of outplayed what people expect of him. The 6-foot-5 combo forward just usually seems to be in the right place and helping his team in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. When he doesn’t have the ball, Thomas is always moving or setting a screen for somebody. When the shot goes up, Thomas  is hunting down the basketball.  He wipes away a lot of mistakes from his team too by coming up with loose balls that could result in turnovers and playing strong help and recover defense. Thomas plays bigger than his size and with a noticeable edge. This kid will take some hits right in his chest and either draw a charge or just let his man know, ’you’re not getting through me.’ Thomas can put up numbers offensively as well. He’s not overly perimeter-oriented, but has drastically improved his 3-point shooting, ability to attack from the perimeter, and finishes well with either hand. Think at worse, by the end of the summer, he’ll be a guy WIAC programs strongly covet.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="988981" first="Landon" last="Van Calster"] - 2022 - SF - Team 1848</p> <p>This kid has the potential to be a real problem at the next level. A versatile, 6-foot-6 wing that impacts the game in a variety of ways, Van Calster is not only a matchup issue, but he can fill  a variety of different roles for a team.  The Northern Michigan commit looked really good in the open floor, keeping his head up on the dribble and creating shots for his teammates. More of a floor spacer last year, Van Calster has gotten better and better and putting the ball on the deck and being a decision maker. Van Calster is a terrific outside shooter, but very willing to make the extra pass and turn down good shots for a great  one. Have said this before, but he’s better defensively than people think. Van Calster can switch onto just about any position and gives every team he’s on some serious lineup flexibility.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1178858" first="Austin" last="Wagner"] - 2022 - W - Chapman Basketball Academy</p> <p>Interesting prospect here. Wagner is a 6-foot-4 wing with some added length and a really clean shooting stroke. Averaged around 11 points per game as a junior, but shot 54 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range for a very good Kettle Moraine Lutheran squad. Wagner has some pep in his step. When he’s confident and really knows what he wants to do offensively, it looks really good.  Wagner is lanky, but definitely scrappy and did some nice things on the offensive glass as well against H&amp;H Elite. Like Wagner as a sniper or a pump-fake, one-dribble jumper shooter, but he’s also to mix in a nice floater and some soft touch finishes when he attacks the paint as well.</p>