Nebraska Weekly Stock Risers

[player_tooltip player_id="1165691" first="AJ" last="Heffelfinger"] | 6’1 G | Waverly /Lincoln Supreme 16U National 1 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Aj-Heffelfinger.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1171581 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Aj-Heffelfinger-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>The junior guard is coming off a couple of 20+ points games this past week. Aj is averaging 13.3 points per game this season and has helped the Vikings get out to a 10-3 start to the season. The team's top scorer was in full attack mode these last couple of games averaging 27 points against each opponent. Following a big when in the previous game, the Vikings and its scoring junior took on a decent Knights team. The junior leader was able to pour in 24 points and hit 5 threes as he lead his team to victory. In his next game versus Seward, a not-so-decent team record-wise but has proven to be a tough matchup for the Vikings as they were able to escape with a close win. Aj was able to score 20 points to help fend off the fighting Blue Jays. Plenty of games left this season for this Waverly team as they are currently 2nd in their district at 1-0, the junior will be asked to add more to his scoring output as he and the Vikings take on more tough competition down the schedule.   [player_tooltip player_id="1154470" first="Jack" last="Dahlgren"] | 6’2 G | Kearney Jack and the Bearcats are in the middle of the pack in their conference. Suffering close losses in back-to-back games the Bearcats sit 6-6 in their class. The junior guard was still playing very well, as he fought and tried to get his team back in each game. Jack, the 6’2 guard is averaging 13.8 points per game and 4.9 rebounds, leading his team in both categories. In the first game of the back-to-back, the junior guard dropped in 14 points on 6/8 shooting while also snagging in 10 rebounds. The junior double-double performance wasn’t enough as he and the team fell to powerhouse Rockets in a close game. The next day was also a tough battle as their opponents were the Titans. Jack was able to put up 17 points on 5/9 shooting while hitting a couple of threes and grabbing 6 rebounds. Another close loss for the junior and the Bearcats but there was much to pick up from the kid's play this past week. The junior guard was able to average 15 points and 8 rebounds this week against two good opponents in their class. Shows that he’s able to play up to his competition and give his team a fighting chance to compete. The next game can be a bounce-back game for the Bearcats as they take on Pius. [player_tooltip player_id="1018748" first="Jace" last="Nelson"] | 6’6 F | Gordon-Rushville Jace and the Mustangs played three games this last week going 2-1 and suffering their second loss of the season. The junior forward was terrific in both wins putting up 20 plus points in both those games. In the loss, his performance from the field wasn’t at best but still was able to post a double-double. In the first game of the week versus the Hawks, Jace was able to pour in 20 points while not missing a shot from the field the entire game. Hitting one three and several shots around the hoop. Ended the game with 7 rebounds and a couple of assists to add to the stats. The next game wasn’t the same outcome as the Mustangs fell to the Bulldogs, who jumped out to an early lead and kept it all game. Wasnt the best shooting night for the junior, scoring 11 points on 3/11 shooting. Was able to post a double-double as he battle on the boards pulling down 14 rebounds. Bounce back game came in the next game against the last place Longhorns the next day. Following a bad shooting night, the junior captain was able to shed the previous night and go off for 22 points. Finding his rhythm and the hole he only missed 3 shots the entire night and snagged in 5 rebounds to rout the last-place team. Jace has a lot of games left to prove any doubter wrong as he and his teammate are on pace to make a deep run. [player_tooltip player_id="1235587" first="Jake" last="Bargen"] | 6’3 G | Centennial/Lincoln Supreme 17U National 1 The senior guard is having a great year for the Broncos. The four-year varsity player is averaging a career-best this season 17.4 points per game. Jake leads his team in scoring and is the only player on his team averaging over ten points this season, so safe to say the Broncos rely on his scoring for a big part of their success on the court. The senior averaged 18 points over the past week and the Broncos went 2-1 facing some tough opponents. The first game against the Huskies was a very low-scoring game. Out of the total 24 points, the Broncos scored, Jake, scored 21 points of them and grabbed a few rebounds to go along with the scoring dominance. Jake's 21 points were more than his opponent's total scoring, clear to say the best scorer on the floor. In the next game versus the Vikings, the senior got a lot more help from his teammates but was still able to pour in 17 points hitting a couple of threes in a win. The final game of the week was a tough loss against district leader Bison. The senior scored 17 points and hit a couple of threes again. For the Broncos to make it far this season it's going to be on the senior guard's shoulders which will result in more scoring and bigger points total through the rest of the season. [player_tooltip player_id="1017540" first="Lance" last="Rucker"] | 6’3 F | Millard South In his most recent game, the junior forward put on a show that should raise the eyes of a few people and show the young players’ abilities and potential. The leading scoring and rebounder for his team, Lance is averaging 13.1 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. Been in a shooting slump lately hitting double figures in only one game in his last 5 games. In the first game of this week, he still was in a bit of a slump as he only scored 4 points snagged 4 rebounds against Gretna. He turned it around the next game versus Lincoln High and seem to find his swagger back as he dropped in 23 points getting to the charity stripe 8 times only missing one free throw. He was able to add in 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to a bounce-back performance. His slumped came around winter break and feel that he is back in game mode hopefully for the rest of the season. I expect more performance like this one from the junior further into the season. [player_tooltip player_id="1253972" first="Jacob" last="Arop"] | 6’6 C | Bellevue West/Nebraska Supreme UAA 15U The sophomore everyone at Bellevue West has been waiting for finally makes his debut and proves will be a big part of coming off the bench for the Thunderbirds rest of the season. As the Thunderbirds look to get back to the final and this time completing the goal. Jacob's contribution from coming off the bench and putting up numbers will help their case to get back to the chip. Transferred from South last season, in his first game for the Thunderbirds against North, you can already notice that the sophomore center will take up space and use it well. The center was able to snag in 9 rebounds while helping on the offensive end adding in 9 points. A point and rebound away from a double-double, the sophomore will be tough to handle for a lot of the team’s second unit off the bench. Finally eligible to play the sophomore did have some nerves before the game. "At first before the game started I was a little nervous because it was my first game back and I didn’t know if it was gonna be a good or bad game...but when I was in warm-ups and got a little feel for it nerves went away and I just played my game," said the transfer center. There is still plenty of time for the sophomore to work his way to have a big role for the Thunderbird but the hustle that he brings and being able to put the ball in the hole will always get you minutes.