Viking Classic: Prospect Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 annual Viking Classic was held Friday at Wisconsin Lutheran College, featuring Fox Valley Lutheran, Lake Country Lutheran, Milwaukee Academy of Science, and Wisconsin Lutheran...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'] - 2025 - G - Milwaukee Academy of Science</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although MAS was outmatched against a very experienced Wisconsin Lutheran squad, Batemon really held his own in this high-level matchup. Batemon cooled off in the second half as he was trying to put MAS on his back, but finished with a team-high 16 points while being guarded by some talented defenders. The sophomore definitely has Division 1 potential. At 6-foot-3, Batemon can just spray from the outside. Four or five 3-poitners per game are almost nothing to him at this point. Batemon also has some serious length and the ability to play the point or run off screens and hunt triples. He looks improved off the dribble as well. A raw, lanky body that's got a lot of growing to do still, Batemon was working that mid-range jumper a lot more than I had seen in the past. It's a loaded 2025 class with maybe 20 or more Division 1 prospects, but I could see Batemon sitting in the top 10 when all is said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1447228"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638b4d4bc0117"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1199829' first='Sam' last='Ferge'] - 2024 - SG - Fox Valley Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferge started to heat up in the second half and put Lake Country Lutheran away, a solid shooter that moves without the ball, Ferge is a fundamentally sound player. The 6-foot-3 guard also plays stronger than he looks. Whether it's in transition or getting downhill in the halfcourt, Ferge is able to take a bump at the rim and finish through contact. Not anything really flashy about his game. Ferge just understands basic stuff that you're taught at a young age to get open -- pass and cut, screening without the basketball, and when that ball gets swung around the around, hit the open deck before the defense can recover. Ferge had the game-winning bucket in overtime, finishing with 16 points, 13 of which came in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1418743' first='Sam' last='Hans'] - 2024 - W/F - Lake Country Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lightning lost a ton of last season's state championship squad and are rebuilding around Hans, who played a lot of minutes during his sophomore season. Hans is a pretty versatile prospect who can play inside-out and shoot from all areas of the floor. Really like his ability to start on the perimeter, cut across the floor and look for a post-up, and then flash to the high post if that's not there. Hans will also bring the ball up the floor on certain sets and initiate the offense. Hans picked up his second foul in the first half, but LCL clearly couldn't hang on without him, inserting Hans back into the game and it was a move that paid dividends as the Lightning closed to within 24-21 at half. Hans finished with a game-high 19 points in an overtime loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1142123' first='Kon' last='Knueppel'] - 2024 - W - Wisconsin Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing a very young Milwaukee Academy of Science squad, Knueppel did what I pretty much expected -- dominate. Knueppel didn't have the second half he would have liked after scoring 16 points in the opening period, but by then, the game was already in-hand for Wisconsin Lutheran. In an all-around effort, Knueppel had 18 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. MAS really went at him defensively and aside from a couple fouls, Knueppel just gave up nothing on dribble drives and post touches. His basketball instincts obviously help, but it's also a credit to how sneaky of an athlete Knueppel really is. No, there's not these constant above the rim highlights, and nobody is going to label him as a big-time athlete, but you've gotta be borderline elite in some ways to have the twitch to stay in front of athletic guards, the strength to box out and out-rebound players while giving up a few inches, and the body control to get by guards off the bounce. Knueppel went 8-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-5 from downtown. Love how he plays fast, but is never in a hurry. The 6-foot-5 junior is also very cognizant of which moves he's used against certain defenders, setting up his counters, and never going back to the same one. For instance, he beat one defender with a sweeping crossover early in the game. Next possession, Knueppel assumes you're going to sit on that and goes into a hesitation, keeping the ball in his right hand. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142123"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638b4d4bc0190"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1266550' first='Jackson' last='Papendorf'] - 2023 - CG - Fox Valley Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Papendorf was solid against Lake Country Lutheran. Whether it was defending players bigger than his size in the post or halting a transition break, Papendorf's presence was felt on that end of the floor. Offensively, like the explosive handles and change of direction. Papendorf has a deadly behind the back dribble that he can turn into a step-back jumper or get on a defender's hip. The lefty scored 13 points in an overtime win. Thought Papendorf managed the game at a high level, made plays for others, and took his shots when available.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1266550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638b4dc393486"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1159275' first='Logan' last='Rindfleisch'] - 2024 - SF - Wisconsin Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a guy that's put in some work in the off-season. Rindfleisch wasn't even getting off the bench in the games we went to last season. On Saturday, Rindfleisch made a really nice impact for the Vikings and sparked a lot of things. Rindfleisch definitely looks a lot stronger and more assertive. The junior wing contributed 10 points, four assists, and four steals. Loved how active he was defensively, always appearing to be covering up some mistakes or breakdowns. Rindfleisch was also a big part of the transition offense for the Vikings. Rindfleisch has always been a little under the radar throughout his high school career, but could be on the verge of breaking out, even with as good as a roster that Wisconsin Lutheran has. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1159275"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638b4d4bc01eb"} /-->