10 Seniors Ready to Break Out in 2021-22

<p>The 2021-22 WIAA boys basketball season is less than a month away. Here’s a look at 10 senior prospects who you might not know yet, but are primed to break out this winter...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="990740" first="Devon" last="Fielding"] - PG - La Crosse Central</p> <p>Fielding played his way into the top 50 rankings this summer. We already knew the senior was a sound floor general who makes high-IQ decisions with the basketball and can shoot the rock, but he’s added some eye-opening athleticism, which has boosted his stock in a big way. The 6-foot-1 guard can play above the rim while going off two feet. Due to a shortened 2020-21 season, Fielding got overlooked despite averaging 17.2 pppg as a junior.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1041724" first="Asanjai" last="Hunter"] - G - The Prairie School<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/23-Asanjai-Hunter.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290081" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/23-Asanjai-Hunter-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>Hunter wasn’t among The Prairie School’s top three scorers last season, but he was a big reason why the Hawks reached the state tournament and nearly advanced to the title game. As a junior, Hunter did a little bit of everything, averaging 9.4 points,  4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while also being one of the team’s best on-ball defenders. Hunter is a pest on that end of the floor and gets his hands on the ball. He turns defense into offense as well as any player in the state.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1089756" first="Jack" last="Jorgensen"] - SG - De Pere</p> <p>With some seniors departing for De Pere, looking for Jorgensen’s numbers to increase this season. One of the best shooters in the state, Jorgensen should feast off the attention that Johnny Kinziger is going to demand.  As a junior, Jorgensen averaged 10.8 points per game and shot nearly 42 percent from beyond the arc. Over the summer, Jorgensen was automatic from downtown, often turning in games where he’d knock in 4-6 triples consistently. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1299947" first="Alex" last="Lagerman"] - F - Dominican</p> <p>Lagerman returns from Germany. The 6-foot-8 forward played at Dominican as a sophomore prior to spending last season at home. Lagerman has been a warrior in fall league action, showing dominant stretches of play with his high motor. Lagerman is going to control the paint, run the floor, and will even create some mismatch opportunities with his ability to slash from the perimeter or shoot from the outside. He’s got a definite chance to move into the top 50 player rankings this season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="865853" first="Massimo" last="Malterer"] - G - Madison East<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/67-Massimo-Malterer.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290039" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/67-Massimo-Malterer-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>The Purgolders didn’t play in 2020-21. That said, Malterer still remains a relatively unknown commodity in the Big Eight. One of the craftiest players in the state, Malterer has the ability to live at the rim without blowing anybody away athletically. Malterer has some serious break-you-down ability, able to change direction on a dime or blow-by with either hand.  Think he’ll push for first-team All-Conference honors this winter.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1200543" first="Jacob" last="Naber"] - PF - Janesville Parker</p> <p>One of the top uncommitted post prospects in the senior class, Naber has a lot of untapped potential. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 13 points and nine rebounds per game last season and will now be in the forefront for a Vikings squad that lost it’s top two leading scorers. Naber has some budding skill, able to score effectively 1-on-1 on the block or step away from the rim. Showed really good tools, footwork, and awareness to pass out of double teams over the summer.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="988975" first="J.J." last="Paider"] - PF - Neenah</p> <p>Paider is playing his best ball right now and turning a lot of heads in fall league action. Think he’s ready to give an already talented Neenah squad a substantial boost. Paider averaged 4.6 ppg as a junior for a loaded Rockets squad, but shot 68.5 percent from the field. A long, athletic forward who gets off the ground quickly and has nimble feet, Paider can be an x-factor in transition or feed off  guards that can drive and dish. He’s also showing flashes of being able to handle the ball  on the perimeter, take defenders off the dribble, and shoot it a bit from the outside. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1089729" first="John" last="Pitta"] - SG - Whitnall</p> <p>Pitta has been on a war path all off-season. A high volume scorer with a motor that doesn’t turn off, Pitta is always in attack mode. He’s got a downhill mindset and the tools to get to the rim, even if multiple defenders are in the area.  Averaging just shy of 10 points per game as a junior, Pitta has the explosive scoring ability to carry Whitnall offensively if needed. With the Falcons grooming some young point guards, Pitta will likely benefit from their feel for the game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"] - PG -  Hudson<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/42-Andre-Renta.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290794" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/42-Andre-Renta-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>Fresh off his commitment to St. Cloud State, Renta is poised for a big senior season. He averaged around 13 points and six rebounds per game as a junior. With [player_tooltip player_id="880011" first="Luke" last="Healy"] now at Sioux Falls,  Renta’s numbers should increase drastically. The senior guard has some of the most electric handles in the state. He’s got some serious blow-by ability and speed on the ball. Renta can be a killer in the pick n’ roll. With his outside shooting ability, defenders will sometimes just have to pick their poison. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1028771" first="Ryan" last="Sweeney"] - G -  Green Bay East</p> <p>He averaged better than 20 points per game as a junior, but Sweeney is still flying under the radar. WIAC  schools certainly aren't sleeping as they're hoping the athletic 6-foot-2 guards falls their way.  Sweeney is an uptempo guard that can play above the rim. He's also a drastically improved 3-point shooter and became a silent assassin over the summer. It didn't matter who the opponent was, where the tournament was held, or what time  tip off was at, Sweeney came to play and put up big numbers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Others to Watch:  [player_tooltip player_id="1170559" first="Caiden" last="Lecce"] (Kenosha St. Joseph),  [player_tooltip player_id="865843" first="Grant" last="Martin"] (Menomonee Falls), [player_tooltip player_id="1244880" first="Eli" last="Schmidt"] (Neenah), [player_tooltip player_id="1156225" first="Reed" last="Seckar"] (Oshkosh North), [player_tooltip player_id="1200561" first="Jaxson" last="Dillon"] (Menasha)</p>