Former Wisconsin Basketball Prospects Taking Different Paths
In the world of high-level prep basketball there is what we should be described as a national conference of schools. It is a grouping of academy or prep schools that assemble top basketball squads to complete amongst each other and…
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Continue ReadingIn the world of high-level prep basketball there is what we should be described as a national conference of schools. It is a grouping of academy or prep schools that assemble top basketball squads to complete amongst each other and on a national level. The schools still focus on academics, but generally are strictly structured in a way to get the prospect ready for a college atmosphere. Also, the rosters are reserved for either the top players or depending on a particular roster’s make-up, those prospects that have shown a high level of potential. Formerly, the conference was called the NIBC or National Interscholastic Basketball Conference, but has since been changed, to the EYBL Scholastic, which gets its name from an association with Nike.
Wisconsin, as of late, has had these three top prospects leave its ranks to try their hands at this national level. While it is a rather newer path to take, they are not the first or certainly the last, but seemed to be all grouped together in a way.
Amari Allen | 6’7″ | W | 2025 | IMG Academy | Wisconsin Playground
The former Kaukauna stand-out is now a junior, who left after a stellar freshman campaign, and has been at IMG Academy in Florida ever since. The versatile star still has ties to the dairy state in that he plays for his state’s only Under Armour sponsored AAU team, Wisconsin Playground. He went to the Academy, because he has the talent and athleticism to become a high-level player in many scouts or evaluators eyes. When he was at Kaukauna, I would describe his talents as more of a slashing wing type player. Since then and while at IMG, he is converting to a guard or a combo guard type of player. IMG certainly can speed this conversion process along. It is a place where Amari will play every day against some of the top competition in the states. Already, this past summer you often saw him leading the PGC club from the point guard position.
The first season at academy was a bit of a learning and growing period for the prospect, not seeing much of in game action, but still improving in large bounds. The growth we saw from when he left to when he showed up ready for AAU ball was nothing short of impressive. This just proves that the adversity was well worth the different path. This year he is enjoying some success where he is starting a good portion of the games. His team is 8-7 overall and 3-4 within the conference play, where due to injury he has completed in 7 of the clubs 15 contest. He is averaging 6.7ppg, 2.4 rebounds per game and then with very limited attempts, he is shooting 37.5% from deep.
He holds high level offers from Minnesota, Arizona St, Auburn Tennessee, Marquette, Iowa, Florida, St Louis, Penn St, West Virginia, Indiana, TCU, Crieghton, Virgina Tech, Villanova, Mississippi St, University of South Florida. For context, if he would ever come back to the dairy state to play, he would slide into a ranking of 1 or 2 ranking for his class in the state.
TJ Stuttley | 6’5″ | G | 2025 | Link Academy | Wisconsin Playground
After two stellar years at Onalaska TJ transferred to Link Academy in Branson Missouri as a junior. He enjoyed success as a freshman & sophomore at Onalaska which along with LaCrosse area has a history of producing some very productive stars. But like some players that just might be built different, he felt that the way to get to his goals was to play against top competition. Link is certainly that, in that they won the championship of the NIBC in 2023. They currently sit at second place in conference this season and will in contention again.
By viewing this season from an outsider of the process perspective, it has to be viewed as a season of transition and a season of growth for him. Much like Amari, and given his 6’5″ frame, TJ sees the current landscape of basketball where the guards can start at 6’4″ and above. He wanted to solidify his growth as a point guard to springboard him into a college spot. The process is going slowly, in part that TJ was an early commit to Link, then farther down the line Link accepted four guard transfers in that were top 100 rankings. TJ being the competitor accepted the challenge. I was able to talk to him briefly earlier in the season and he felt it was still a good situation where he is improving every day. He gets to play and practice against those top players in the country. He has played in about eight of his team’s fifteen games and averages about ten minutes per contest.
I do not know what the future holds for this prospect, but I do know that he should have a bright future. He is definitely a better more solid all-around prospect than when he was at Onalaska. He is bigger and strong and looks to be maturing into his frame nicely. He currently processes 2-3 offers from division one schools.
Cole Hansen | 6’4″ | CG | 2024 | Legacy Early College *
After two seasons at Wauwatosa High School and an outside chance to become the school’s all-time leading scorer this prospect left for one reason: competition. He had to know where he sat against the top competition in the country. In Wisconsin he was known as a gym rat and a scorer who could heat up the nets at times. In his final season at Tosa West he lead his team at roughly 19ppg, lead in assist, and second in rebounding.
Now he wasn’t without areas of needs improvement, but he was always known as a worker who just wanted to play and improve. After, his freshman season and after attending the prestigious invite only camp of Crossroads Elite Invitational, he was noticed by his now associate head coach. The path to a top prep school was now an option for him. The next year he attended two top camps, Crossroads again and the Pangos. He played against some of the nation’s top players. He did well, where one hall of Fame scout labeled him one of the best shooters in his class. At this point he was determined to work even harder.
He chose Legacy Early College (LEC) out of Greensville South Carolina, because of that previous relationship with the coach. Out of the three former Wisconsin prospects Cole is probably enjoying the most success initially. Remember though he is a year older in his senior year, where the other two are juniors. He has gained 13-15 pounds of good muscle which has vastly improved his athleticism. His club holds a 12-7 record overall but only2-6 in conference. He has played in all of his team’s contest starting roughly 15 of 19. He averages about 20 minutes a game and then is one of four players in double figures at 11 points per game. While at times his role has been reduced from his Tosa days, his shooting has transitioned nicely. At one point near mid-season, he was shooting 49% from deep range. He is closing in on 1250 career points, which would put a nice cap on a prep career.
Throughout his prep career he has had interest from all types of schools from large programs such as Iowa to maybe smaller but successful ones such as Belmont, Fuhrman, Elon, Charleston, to even the prestigious IVY league. Along with the other former Wisconsin prospects his future seems to be bright no matter where he ends up.
*Prospect is a relative of the author.