Best Available: 2023 Combo Guards

The 2023 recruiting cycle begins its final stages as the 2022-23 season is just around the corner. Here’s a look at the top 10 combo guards still on the board in Wisconsin…

1. Prentice Young Prentice Young 6'4" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State #273 Nation WI – Wisconsin Lutheran

Young’s recruitment has been quiet since the end of the summer. If you’re a Division 2 program looking for a steal, this would be a great place to start. As of now, UW-Milwaukee is still in touch with Young, a versatile, do-it-all combo guard that’s also arguably the best on-ball defender in the state. Coming off a torn ACL suffered prior to his junior year, Young came back mid-season and averaged eight points, three rebounds, and two assists per game for a loaded Wisconsin Lutheran squad. Young progressively got better as the season wore on and started to look like his old self once again, with an improved jumper.

Prentice Young

17 State

5 Pos

6'4"  |  CG  |  2023 Wisconsin Lutheran  |  ABC Young Lions

2. Demerius Shakur Demerius Shakur 6'2" | CG Martin Luther | 2023 State WI – Martin Luther

Shakur was playing some of his best ball in July and he could be in store for a big senior season. Scoring isn’t a big part of his game, but saw Shakur put the team on his back down the stretch when they needed him. As a junior, Shakur posted 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game. A smooth ball handler and terrific decision maker, Shakur operates in the pick n’ roll at a very high level. At this time, he’s hearing from Milwaukee, South Dakota, IPFW, Columbia, UNC-Wilmington, and Southern Illinois. Prep school also isn’t off the table either.

Demerius Shakur

23 State

6 Pos

6'2"  |  CG  |  2023 Martin Luther  |  Wisconsin Playground UAA 2023

3. Matthew Schmainda Matthew Schmainda 6'2" | CG Brookfield East | 2023 State WI – Brookfield East

It’s expected that Schmainda wins up at Michigan Tech or Hillsdale. Schmainda is a rare breed prospect. Not only is the kid tough as nails and blue collar through and through, he can get you 20-plus points in the Greater Metro as well. You don’t see many prospects wired to make hustle plays and also explode as scorers. As a junior, Schmainda averaged 17 points and three assists per game. A dangerous shooter with explosive handles and shot creating ability, Schmainda can be a very good four-year performer at the D2 level.

Matthew Schmainda

26 State

7 Pos

6'2"  |  CG  |  2023 Brookfield East  |  Wisconsin Swing 2023-Bredesen

4. Austin Herro Austin Herro 6'2" | CG Whitnall | 2023 State WI – Whitnall

Herro holds a scholarship offer from Cal-Poly going into his senior season. Eager to see what the 6-foot-3 guard does this winter. He’s battled injuries throughout pretty much his entire high school career. Herro came back late in the spring and put together some very strong spurts in EYBL play. Herro has a really good feel for the game, sees the entire floor, and makes plays for others. Think he’ll continue to move up the rankings as he gets his confidence back.

Austin Herro

16 State

4 Pos

6'2"  |  CG  |  2023 Whitnall  |  Phenom University EYBL 2023

5. A.J. Lieuwen A.J. Lieuwen 6'0" | CG Bay Port | 2023 State WI – Bay Port

Lieuwen is coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points and three assists per game. A confident, skilled guard with a deadly pull-up game, Lieuwen just plays at a different pace. He’s always coming downhill and putting pressure on defenders. With his speed and explosive first step, he forces defenders to give him extra room, which really sets up that pull-up game. If you play him for the jumper, Lieuwen has that blow-by ability and sneaky good finishing package at the rim.

A.J. Lieuwen

31 State

8 Pos

6'0"  |  CG  |  2023 Bay Port  |  Team 1848

6. Mason Prey Mason Prey 6'4" | CG Newman Catholic | 2023 State WI – Newman Catholic

Oshkosh, La Crosse, St. John’s, Malone, and Stevens Point are some of the schools vying for Prey heading into the winter. A high-IQ, skilled guard that can run a team and make winning plays, Prey is about as well rounded as it gets on this list. Aside from dictating and controlling a game, Prey may not do anything at an elite level in this state, but he’s one of the few guys without glaring holes in his game too. As a junior, Prey put up 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game. Every team he’s on just wins and the guys around him seem to thrive as well.

Mason Prey

35 State

9 Pos

6'4"  |  CG  |  2023 Newman Catholic  |  Wisconsin Playmakers

7. Jordan Malmlov Jordan Malmlov 6'0" | CG Prescott | 2023 State WI – Prescott

Kid can really score it. As a junior, Malmlov put up 23 points and four assists per game for a very good Prescott squad. He also hit a whopping 91 3-pointers while shooting 41 percent from downtown. Malmlov plays a lot at the point, but he’s a give it up and get it back type guard that defenders just can’t catch their breath with.

Jordan Malmlov

36 State

10 Pos

6'0"  |  CG  |  2023 Prescott  |  Minnesota Select

8. Jamiir Allen Jamiir Allen 6'0" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State WI – Wisconsin Lutheran

Allen had one of the better junior seasons that people weren’t talking about. A dangerous isolation scorer, Allen is extremely difficult to stay in front of. The 6-foot guard averaged 14 points and three assists while playing alongside a top 50 national prospect. Allen utilizes change of pace/direction and head fakes about as well as any guard in the state. He’s also a tremendous touch finisher that can score while playing at top end speed and is willing to challenge bigs at the rim because of that touch and body control.

Jamiir Allen

41 State

11 Pos

6'0"  |  CG  |  2023 Wisconsin Lutheran  |  ABC Young Lions

9. Daniel Robinson Daniel Robinson 6'2" | CG Waukesha South | 2023 State WI – Waukesha South

Citadel, St. Leo, Youngstown State, Midland College, Western Illinois, and Milwaukee are some of the programs involved with Robinson at this time. A strong, athletic, uptempo guard, Robinson keyed one of the biggest surprise teams in the state last year in Waukesha South, who came out of nowhere to win the Classic Eight. As a junior, Robinson posted 13 points and three assists per game. More of a downhill, attacking slaher right now, but when Robinson is able to mix in that pull-up jumper, he can make teams pick their poison.

Daniel Robinson

42 State

12 Pos

6'2"  |  CG  |  2023 Waukesha South  |  Wisconsin Playground Club PH

10. Adison Mittelstadt Adison Mittelstadt 6'2" | CG Mayville | 2023 State WI – Mayville

One of the better athletes on this list, Middelstadt averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game for Mayville as a junior. He’s currently fielding interest from North Park, Oberlin, Loras, the University of Mary, and a host programs in Wisconsin. Middelstadt can beat teams in a variety of different ways. He’s skilled and fluid enough on the ball to break down defenses. He can also finish at seemingly impossible angles at times. He can shoot the rock from the outside and score off-balance in the mid-range. You’ll also see him use his 6-foot-2 frame and back down smaller guards on the block.

Adison Mittelstadt

46 State

13 Pos

6'2"  |  CG  |  2023 Mayville  |  Movement Hoops Elite 2023

Others: Max Tutas (Sheboygan North), Austin Villareal Austin Villareal 6'1" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State WI (Arrowhead), Tre Miller Tre Miller 6'0" | CG Janesville Parker | 2023 State WI (Janesville Parker), Deshawn Webb Deshawn Webb 6'3" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2023 State WI (Milwaukee Academy of Science)