Players That Were In The Running For MVP Recognition

#PHMidwestShowdown   These players were listed in a previous article, as honorable mention in the MVPs of each age divisions for the Midwest Showdown. Each one had very solid performances for the weekend and were recognized by multiple scouts along the way. Each one is probably ranked with a history of stellar performances or in the least will be on a watch list coming soon. These players were the cream of the crop in each age group.   17U Nominations:   [player_tooltip player_id='1142142' first='Jaquan' last='Johnson'] | 5'10" | PG | 2024 | Pius XL | Wisconsin Playground Club   This kid is a very talented player / prospect and he proved during the high school season he is able to put up video game numbers, if he needed to for his team to win. During this tournament Johnson showed us why he is a top ten talent in his class. He is able to get to the rack, get hit, and either get the bucket or to the line. Saying he is tough just doesn't do him justice. For me he was able to earn player of the game (POG) status in two of his four games played. His team went 1-1 in those games, and he went for 20+ pts each time. Moving forward I would like to see Johnson get back to what made him so very special during the high school season. He trusted his teammates more especially early, where he would distribute the ball and get them involved. Then late, when it's time for a close game to be secured, he gets my vote to always have the ball in his hands. This feel for the game is something that I have seen him do with a high level of success for a couple of years now. When he does, he is that much more remarkable and a solid D1 talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='1142121' first='Tim' last='Franks'] | 6'5" | W/G | 2024 | Homestead HS | Chapman Gold Elite   Franks is one of my favorite prospects in Wisconsin and enjoy my time anytime I get to see him play. He proves that the game can be played hard and one can still be a gentleman off the court. By multiple accounts he is a leader on any team he is playing on and a great teammate that others look to on several occasions. He has been a high IQ player and a prospect that is a knockdown shooter. During this weekend he earned 1 game POG recognition, but multiple games were superior performances. He had games of 17,14,17,15 by my count. Normally, Franks is a knockdown shooter but this weekend I was impressed that when his jumper didn't fall, he was still able to produce by finding different ways to score. He already holds multiple offers with some more interest. By adding to quickness and or athleticism those should continue to come in. Almost any D2 or low major D! should take a look at this prospect, first, because of talent and then second, because of his leadership qualities.   Cole Hansen | 6'4" | SG | 2024 |Legacy Early College | Wisconsin Playground *   Hansen played well this weekend scoring in double figures in 3 out of the 4 games played, by my count. Felt that he let teams and opponents know that he is that outside shooter once again. He had limited opportunities but converted at a good rate, on them. When he wasn't scoring, he was playing a tough style of defense, usually picking up full court or at least 3/4 court. Hansen is coming off very solid Under Armour circuit sessions by shooting at a 40% rate in Arizona and an astonishing 47.6% in the 2nd session in South Carolina. Moving forward Hansen needs to continue on the trajectory he is own by building strength for the college game and then needs to improve explosiveness.   Evan Flood Published 5/28/2023 Twitter: 2024 SG Cole Hansen is showing a lot of positive signs. Knockdown shooter scoring early in possessions and hitting with a hand in his face. (1)   16U Nominations:   Amari Allen | 6'6" | G | 2025 | IMG Academy | Wisconsin Playground   Amari is a wonderful talent who performed very solid. He was probably the best all-around player in the tournament regardless of class. What he did well was lead his team through its offensive sets from the lead guard position. Next, he did a very good job of either getting to the rim or getting the free throw line. He displayed a very good pull up jumper, a skill he hasn't always possessed, finally, he was able to nail a three every once in a while. As a prospect he possesses a handful of high D1 offers with the latest coming from Iowa St and Arizona St. He will return to IMG in the fall for his junior campaign.   Brook Hinson | 6'2” | PG | 2025 | Marshfield, WI | Playmakers UA Rise   Hinson is having a huge spring and catching the eyes of scouts. Over multiple tournaments there are reports and evaluations coming in on how he is performing. He is what I think a lead guard should be, even in this age of score first mentality, he looks to get his teammates involve, he controls the pace, and then he is an absolutely a light out shooter. I watched him recently at Minnesota's Battle At The Lakes and then his games here at Midwest Showdown. He is currently ranked in the lower portion of the top twenty in the state of Wisconsin. That will assuredly change, where I believe in a loaded class, he should come in at the 10th or 11th player and the top point guard. I also believe, where some of the other PG in the class are D2 or lower prospects, Hinson is now cracking the door of a D1 prospect. Currently he could play at most D2s and certainly low majors on the D1 level. By all accounts the kid works his tail off and over the next couple of seasons time will tell. But if I am picking a PG for this class I start with his name. I am a fan.   15U Nominations:   [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'] | 6'6" | PF | 2026 | Marshfield, WI | Playmakers UA Rise 2025   This prospect made a very solid impression on the field this weekend. He is a 2026 grad year playing up a year and he held his own. He had to play against the 2025 class top prospects in the very first game on Friday night when he went up against PGC's Kai Roger, [player_tooltip player_id='1447229' first='Will' last='Garlock'], & Amari Allen. He is also coming off a very solid showing a couple of weeks prior at The Battle At The Lakes in Minnesota.   My college wrote by naming him an all-tournament team: The only 2026 prospect..... Pohl had quite the performance against both 24:Up and Chapman. He's a pure three-level scorer with underrated defensive abilities as well. I love his ability to draw contact and stay consistent too. I'm looking forward to seeing how he ranks amongst his 2026 peers. Teddy Bahu Published 5/30/23 (2)   [player_tooltip player_id='1781157' first='Rashad' last='Davis'] | 5'8" | PG | 2026 | Nicolet HS | WI PGC   Davis is a raw but dynamic point guard who made his presence known throughout the weekend. He plays fast and going downhill. His basketball IQ is improving, he is a young player, but has a solid foundation having play with the Nicolet HS team that went to state this past high school season. Right now he is a quick go to the hoop player and if he doesn't break the six foot barrier he'll need to develop his outside shot and getting his teammates involved. Really like his base though and his coaches. This prospect will be on any 2026 watch list.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Cole-Hansen.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Cole-Hansen.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1344978" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/C429A97C-7BD3-4A16-ABE8-77906373A0AF.jpeg?1685573408"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/C429A97C-7BD3-4A16-ABE8-77906373A0AF.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1945679" /></a></figure> </figure>   <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Chris-Pohl.jpeg?1685573545"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Chris-Pohl.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1962028" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Fenderson-crop-1563x1026-1685538873.jpg?1685573545"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Fenderson-crop-1563x1026-1685538873.jpg?1685573545" alt="" class="wp-image-1975317" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Rashad-Davis.jpg?1685573545"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Rashad-Davis.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1970607" /></a></figure> </figure>   <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Jaquan-Johnson-Phoot-Copy-scaled.jpg?1685573691"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Jaquan-Johnson-Phoot-Copy-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1560073" /></a></figure> </figure>   1 - Flood, Evan 5/28/'23 Twitter   2 - Bahu, Teddy. Article: All Tournament Team 16U 5/28/'23   * - Prospect is a relative of article writer. The attempt of the author is to add verifiable fact-based information & limit commentary.

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