Preview: Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals 16U
In this article:
Breaking down the field at the Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals from a Wisconsin lens… THE FAVORITES Wisconsin Crusaders This group has consistently played at a high level since they stepped on the floor for the Rock Spring Classic in…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBreaking down the field at the Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals from a Wisconsin lens…
THE FAVORITES
Wisconsin Crusaders
This group has consistently played at a high level since they stepped on the floor for the Rock Spring Classic in March. Led by top 10 sophomore Levi Birkholz Levi Birkholz 5'2" | SG Lakeside Luthersn | 2023 State #290 Nation WI , the Crusaders have made a case to be arguably the best 16U team in Wisconsin. Alex Sherwood Alex Sherwood 6'4" | SF Xavier | 2023 State WI , Andrew Verhelst Andrew Verhelst 6'3" | SF Sheboygan Lutheran | 2023 State WI , Ethan Heck Ethan Heck 6'5" | SG West Depere | 2023 State WI , Cole Uhlenbrauck Cole Uhlenbrauck 6'4" | SF Saint Mary Catholic | 2023 State WI , Elijah Meerstein Elijah Meerstein 6'2" | PG N.E.W. Lutheran | 2023 State WI , and Caleb Glaser Caleb Glaser 6'6" | SF Appleton East | 2023 State WI have all boosted their stock over the past several months as well, making this a deep and talented squad capable of taking home the 16U title.
Team 1848
An explosive scoring team that plays an uptempo brand of basketball, Team 1848 has quietly been one of the top AAU squads in the Midwest. Their 1-2 punch of Emmett Lawton Emmett Lawton 6'2" | SG Notre Dame Academy | 2023 State WI and A.J. Lieuwen A.J. Lieuwen 6'0" | CG Bay Port | 2023 State WI will give defenses fits. They’ve also got a couple of under the radar, high value prospects in Vincent Vandervest Vincent Vandervest 6'4" | SF Bay Port | 2023 State WI , Ethan Wall-Atim Ethan Wall-Atim 6'4" | PF Notre Dame De La Baie Academy | 2023 State WI , Seth Miron Seth Miron 6'4" | SF Kimberly | 2023 State WI , and Connor Pytleski Connor Pytleski 6'2" | SG Green Bay Southwest | 2023 State WI who can rise to the occasion when their number is called.
DARK HORSE CONTENDERS
Team Haliburton
Picking up Nacir Beamon Nacir Beamon 6'2" | SG Nicolet | 2024 State WI , the second-ranked freshman in Wisconsin, Team Haliburton is a young, but loaded squad. Two other top 2024’s, Sekou Konneh Sekou Konneh 6'6" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State WI and Amari McCottry Amari McCottry 6'5" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #304 Nation WI give Team Haliburton arguably the top trio in the entire field.
ABC Young Lions Black
Jamiir Allen Jamiir Allen 6'0" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State WI and Logan Arndt Logan Arndt 6'2" | SG Oconomowoc | 2023 State WI are a tough backcourt to stop. Two guys that can go get a bucket on their own consistently, Arndt and Allen form a pair of top 50 sophomore prospects. The ABC Young Lions have plenty of quality role players as well, including Anthony Carter Anthony Carter 6'0" | PG Greenfield | 2023 State WI and Will Gardner Will Gardner 6'2" | CG Franklin | 2023 State WI .
SURPRISE TEAM
Chapman Basketball Academy McCabe
CBA features a number of players poised to make noise during the 2021-22 season. Big man Chris Djursavic is just scratching the surface and is the go-to man in the middle. Matthew Thisle is a blue collar sniper who affects the game in a lot of ways. Jack Riley Jack Riley 6'0" | SF Catholic Memorial | 2023 State WI and Dominic Pitts are two others to watch on this squad.
Others to Watch: PrideRoc, Wisconsin Crusaders Select, Wisconsin Starz, Coulee Country, Kevon Looney Power 5, Chapman Basketball Academy Elite