Midwest Showdown: Wisconsin Wing Standouts

<p>The Midwest Showdown featured some of Wisconsin’s top programs and prospects competing in Appleton, and these are some of the wing prospects who stood out most in the games I saw!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1145649" first="Cody" last="Schmitz"] (6’5 2024 SG, Playmakers UA Rise)- </strong>Cody backed up his big scoring numbers from the high school season with an impressive showing against Wisconsin PGC. Going up against some of the top prospects in the state, Cody stood out with his ability to put up big numbers within the flow of the offense. He spent some time handling the ball for his team where he’s an unselfish player who’s also capable of creating his own shots off the dribble. He also excelled with his back to the basket, scoring twice with physical moves against a 6’10 defender and a 6’7 defender. Cody’s positional size, smooth shot, handles, and defensive versatility make him one of the top wing prospects in Wisconsin’s 2024 class.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="981021" first="Ashe" last="Oglesby"] (6’7 2023 SF, Wisconsin PGC UAA)- </strong>Ashe does a little bit of everything for his team, and gets it done on both ends of the floor. At 6’7 his frame makes him a versatile defender. He’s strong enough to defend on the block, but moves his feet so well laterally allowing him to defend on the wing and even against guards when switched off momentarily. He uses his length to get up in driving lanes and deflect passes to cause turnovers. On the offensive end he has a solid pull-up jumper, has improved his explosiveness to become a consistent above-the-rim threat, and is a high percentage finisher from post ups or dribble drives at the rim.</p> <p><strong>Max Tutas (6’3 2023 W, Wisconsin Crusaders Premier)- </strong>An unsung hero for a really good Crusaders team, Max just produces at a consistent level. He’s tough to handle around the rim as he crashes the boards hard offensively and then has the strength to power back up for second chance points. Catches defenders off guard with his quick first step, and had success getting to the basket off straight line drives. Really like how he communicates during dead balls to make sure his team is set, and also on the defensive end where you’ll constantly hear him calling out screens for his teammates. One of those players willing to go out and do whatever his coach asks of him to help the team win.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1408271" first="Andrew" last="Baumgart"] (6’3 2024 SF, Wisconsin Blizzard)- </strong>Andrew is a big time physical presence for a loaded Wisconsin Blizzard team. You won’t find many high school sophomores built like him, and it allows him to play through contact in the paint with ease. He’s a dominant rebounder at 6’3 because he always finds a man to box out and then attacks the ball off the rim. Andrew sets hard screens to free up his shooters and is active off the ball cutting to the basket for his scoring. Has the agility to defend on the wing against players his height, but his strength allows him to defend against size down low when necessary for his team.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1142118" first="Amari" last="McCottry"] (6’5 2024 W, Power 5)- </strong>Even as a sophomore, Amari was one of the most dangerous scorers in the state during the high school season. He showed why on Sunday afternoon as he put up big numbers against Wisconsin Blizzard. Everyone in the gym knows he wants to get into the lane, yet no one seems to be able to stop him from doing so. At 6’5 his long arms allow him to keep his dribble low to the ground where defenders can’t reach in, and his ability to finish at either side of the rim makes him unpredictable when he looks to attack. Amari also stretched the floor from three and flashed a pull-up game from mid-range. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963145" first="Landon" last="Key"] (6’4 2023 SF, ABC Young Lions)- </strong>Landon is such a versatile player for ABC Young Lions. He has some length, explosiveness, and an all-around skill set on the offensive end. He can handle the ball and initiate the offense, fly up the floor to get to the rim in transition, and is an underrated passer when he gets into the lane. Defensively he’s someone you can throw on an opposing team’s best player and hold them below their average because of his long frame and quick feet. His play was a big reason that ABC Young Lions went 4-0 on the weekend.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1089681" first="Cole" last="Hansen"] (6’4 2024 SG, Wisconsin PGC UAA)- </strong>One of the best scoring displays of the weekend came from [player_tooltip player_id="1089681" first="Cole" last="Hansen"] in a tight win over Playmakers UA Rise. Cole excels as a catch-and-shoot threat from three, as he’s active without the ball and knows where to relocate to get open looks from deep. Looked like an improved threat handling the ball in pick &amp; rolls as well, as he’s a solid passer but also knows when to pull-up if his defender goes under the screen. Tough competitor who’s going to get after it on the defensive end and apply constant ball pressure.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>