Preview: Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals 17U

<p style="text-align: left;">Breaking down the field at the Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals from a Wisconsin lens...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>TITLE FAVORITES</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Wisconsin Crusaders<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zach-Steigenberger4.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1241296" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zach-Steigenberger4-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></strong></p> <p>This team is deep and have been playing together for such a long time that it’s hard to throw them out of a rhythm. Since adding [player_tooltip player_id="1017073" first="Owen" last="Pawlikowski"] to the roster, it’s been a near seamless transition and made the Crusaders even better. Along with Nate Gapinski, [player_tooltip player_id="988698" first="Josiah" last="Butler"], [player_tooltip player_id="988704" first="Zach" last="Steigenberger"], [player_tooltip player_id="1089756" first="Jack" last="Jorgensen"], [player_tooltip player_id="950099" first="Carter" last="Thomas"], and [player_tooltip player_id="801152" first="Tyler" last="Borowski"],  the Crusaders have the depth and talent to not only be the last Wisconsin team remaining, but win the whole thing.</p> <p><strong>Team 1848</strong></p> <p>Interested to see how this team comes back after a long week in Vegas where they seemed to run out of gas and had to battle hard for 36 minutes to grind out a few wins too.  [player_tooltip player_id="1028771" first="Ryan" last="Sweeney"] is playing at a high level and he’s getting some good support from [player_tooltip player_id="1190379" first="Chris" last="Mitchell"], [player_tooltip player_id="1244880" first="Eli" last="Schmidt"], and [player_tooltip player_id="865861" first="Cade" last="Feldhausen"] among others. This group is very connected and plays so well together. Might not have the most talent on paper, but there isn’t one team in this field that Team 1848 can’t beat.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>DARK HORSE</strong></span></p> <p>Wisconsin Blizzard</p> <p>This team has a lot of different parts and can create matchup problems with their size and versatility from numerous spots. [player_tooltip player_id="865849" first="Kade" last="Van Asten"], [player_tooltip player_id="988975" first="J.J." last="Paider"], [player_tooltip player_id="1198416" first="Jeb" last="Nytes"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1029760" first="Brock" last="Donaldson"] are all difficult matchups for a variety of reasons. With [player_tooltip player_id="990559" first="Nate" last="Streveler"] back in the fold, the SPASH star gives the Blizzard two go-to scoring options along with [player_tooltip player_id="865846" first="Parker" last="Prahl"], who’s had a big AAU season.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>SURPRISE TEAMS</strong></span></p> <p>ABC Young Lions Black<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Luke-Bara1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1231138" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Luke-Bara1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>When you’ve got [player_tooltip player_id="994376" first="Luke" last="Bara"], I think you have a chance in any game. The former Muskego star is at the controls for this ABC Young Lions squad and is certainly capable of putting the team on his back and delivering huge scoring and assist numbers.   As we saw a few weeks ago in Appleton, this team perhaps plays harder than anybody. If [player_tooltip player_id="865843" first="Grant" last="Martin"], <strong>Caleb Kozinski</strong>, and <strong>Dylan Hibicke</strong> can hit shots, make plays, and take the load off Bara,  the ABC Young Lions can go far in this tournament.</p> <p><strong>Wisconsin Playground Club PH</strong></p> <p>PGC should be riding high after a title win at the Las Vegas Classic.  Not a team with a lot of size, but they play to their strengths. Behind the  likes of [player_tooltip player_id="1026710" first="Daniel" last="Robinson"], [player_tooltip player_id="761401" first="Marshawn" last="Robinson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1041724" first="Asanjai" last="Hunter"], and [player_tooltip player_id="764101" first="Quentin" last="Bolton"], PGC can flat out score in flurries and turn up the pressure defensively. They also started to get some big contributions from others as well, which could catch opponents by surprise this weekend.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Others to Watch</strong>: Wisconsin Academy Hibner, DF Elite, Gallo Sports Center, Chapman Basketball Academy, Wisconsin Starz, Wisconsin Blizzard Ivory</p>