2021-22 Preview: Scholarship Sleepers Pt.2

<p>Throughout my preseason analysis, I’ve scouted prospects that are scholarship-caliber talents, but they remain underrecruited. For the second time this preseason, we’ll put the spotlight on Wisconsin’s scholarship sleepers.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1021594" first="Antwan" last="Burns-Jones"] - Catholic Memorial - 2023:<br /> A guy that surprised me with his talent and improved IQ. Burns-Jones plays a balanced, efficient game on offense. He's proved he belongs in the backcourt with his 48 percent three-point percentage and sneaky-good pull-up shooting tendencies. He’s maintained the paint scoring foundation that I liked when I watched him two summers ago; when he finishes, it’s usually a strong take with no wasted motion and impressive body control. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="981021" first="Ashe" last="Oglesby"] - The Prairie School - 2023:<br /> A guy that could field heavy interest with his potential. He’s 6’6" but looks and plays even bigger. He’s not the fastest, but brings a game-altering size component and hops to the position. Oglesby is smooth, making guard-like plays without much herky-jerky motion, and his shooting, whether catch-and-shoot or pull-ups, is knock-down. He’s got his roots in the paint though, where he's a proven mismatch on the block.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="727972" first="Andrew" last="Alia"] - Kenosha St. Joseph - 2022: <br /> Alia is one of the more athletic, well-framed guards in his class. At 6’4 with a sturdy build, he’s interchangeable in a lineup and flexible on defense. Has made his niche with high volume scoring. Alia has led his team in scoring since the 2018-19 season and has back-to-back years averaging over 19 points a night. Alia separates himself as an attacker, where he's efficient and can finish above the rim with ease. When he can’t get all the way inside, Alia still gets the ball in the bucket, as he can convert elbow jumpers with high efficiency.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="945811" first="Kenny" last="Garth"] - Westosha Central - 2022:<br /> A prospect that I’ve always thought should be getting looks at the next level. He’s built like a forward, but his IQ, ball-handling, and natural playmaking points to a future as a guard. The lefty is a machine around the hoop, making crafty finishes look easy or using his strength to overpower the defender. He’s shifty in isolation and uses quick, tight combo moves to create space or shake off his defender. A big year statistically could bring more colleges to the table.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="865840" first="Nathan" last="Gapinski"] - Watertown - 2022:<br /> A forward who has only improved his game throughout the past few years. This summer, Gapinski looked more mobile than ever, attacking the hoop with more grace than I’d seen from him in the past. He’s athletic and strong on the block and always plays within his role. He rarely takes bad shots and has added a solid three-point game this summer.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="988704" first="Zach" last="Steigenberger"] - Appleton East - 2022: <br /> A sharpshooter who blossomed into a more well-rounded offensive scorer this summer. Steigenberger can isolate more than in past years and has shown he can break down defenders with quick, controlled combo moves. His jumper may have a higher release point too, which is evident in his mid-range arsenal. He’s a constant threat to pull-up at the elbow and make a circus shot, even if the defender is there.</p>