Midwest Players Classic Standouts

<p>The Midwest Players Classic took place in La Crosse over the weekend, with some of Wisconsin’s top teams competing at the La Crosse Center! I was there to catch a handful of games, and these are seven of the top performers that I saw compete.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"] (6’4 2022 G, DeForest)- </strong>Haven’t seen too many players more efficient at scoring the ball than Max this season. He just doesn’t take bad shots, and that results in a high shooting percentage both overall from the field and from beyond the arc. Against a tough Fox Valley Lutheran team, Max was picking his moments to score and that resulted in 20 points while shooting 4-8 from 3P. He has such a clean release, and with his size/release point it makes it difficult for opposing guards to contest his shot at the high school level. Weisbrod showed he has the ability to create separation on or off the ball, and can also get into the paint to create for his teammates. Added in 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the win.</p> <p><strong>Dupree Fletcher Jr. (5’10 2024 PG, Carmen Northwest)- </strong>Dupree showed why he’s one of the top scorers in the 2024 class, as the sophomore guard is electric with the ball in his hands. So quick and plays with great change of speed to shake his initial defender, and he also showed he’s a bit more explosive than I thought. He uses that explosiveness to get good elevation on his jumper, while also being able to go into contact and hang in the air to finish inside. Dupree isn’t scared to go up against size, which means defenders can’t afford to play him too tight as he’ll just blow right by them and get to the rim. Against a scrappy Minneapolis North press, Dupree did a nice job of handling the ball under pressure and getting it past half-court. Finished with a team high 17 points.</p> <p><strong>LJ Wells (6’7 2022 F, Eau Claire Memorial)- </strong>The unsigned senior is a walking highlight, and he had his athleticism on full display Saturday night. He’s long, explosive, and has a strong frame for his size which makes him tough to stop around the rim. On multiple occasions he was able to power through contact and finish with touch at the rim, while other times he simply elevated and threw down some powerful dunks over the top of defenders. He’s a major threat in transition because of how hard he runs the floor, and opposing teams at this level rarely have a guy his size who can keep up with him. His 23 points on 10-15 shooting helped lead his team past West Salem.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="865850" first="Mekhi" last="Shaw"] (6’ 2022 PG, Eau Claire Memorial)- </strong>Not sure I’ve seen a quicker on-ball defender all season. Mekhi was a pest that simply never quit pressuring the ball, and that resulted in five steals and countless other forced turnovers. He sits deep in a stance and moves his feet so quickly to mirror the ball handler, and was constantly turning his man as he tried to get past half-court. Loose ball? Mekhi would be diving across the floor to get possession for his team. Turned it over a bit more than he would’ve liked as he tried to get a little fancy at times when his team was up big, but showed he can get into the paint off the dribble to create for his teammates. Finished with 6 points, 8 assists, and 5 steals in the win.</p> <p><strong>Michael Skemp (6’4 2022 SF, Onalaska)- </strong>The strong and versatile wing/forward dropped 23 points and pulled in 8 rebounds to help his team take down Milwaukee Bradley Tech. He’s a physical presence down low with the touch to finish at the rim, while also showing explosiveness off two feet with a transition dunk. Michael showed touch on the mid-range jumper as well. Onalaska ran a zone defense most of the game, and Skemp did a nice job of locating a body after every shot to box out before attacking the ball off the rim.</p> <p><strong>Carson Koepnick (6’1 2023 G, West Salem)- </strong>Against a tough Eau Claire Memorial team, Carson put up a team high 23 points while shooting 8-13 from the field. Didn’t knock down a three the whole game, but instead managed to get inside the paint to finish or draw a foul and get to the line. Scrappy defender with good off-ball positioning who was able to jump passing lanes trap opposing players as he picked up 3 steals. His consistent play all season long is why West Salem is 11-1 on the year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1116321" first="Robert" last="Booker"] (6’7 2024 F, Waunakee)- </strong>Going up against one of the top teams in Minnesota, I thought Robert made some nice plays off the bench for Waunakee. With how much size his team has, he doesn’t get a huge amount of touches, but he capitalized well on his opportunities down low. Converted on some tough finishes with smaller defenders swarming him, showing he has the physicality to play through some contact while also showcasing his tough at the rim. Finished with 9 points in the loss.</p>