#PHMidwestShowdown: Max’s Day 1 Standouts
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Seven of the top performers I saw on night one in Appleton at the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown! Will Sweeney WI #33 PG #11 HEIGHT 5'10" POS PG CLASS 2026 View Player Boost Profile Download Image Will Sweeney Class…
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Continue ReadingSeven of the top performers I saw on night one in Appleton at the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown!
Will Sweeney
Will
Sweeney
5'10" | PG
Appleton North | 2026
State
WI
put in an impressive showing on the defensive end to help lead his Wisconsin PGC team past Power 5 in a loaded 16u matchup. Matched up against one of the best guards in the state regardless of class, Will was working to make every possession difficult. He was forcing tough shots and used his quickness to limit the amount of paint touches his man could get. Also drew a charge late in the game that was a big momentum play for his team. Brought a ton of toughness to the floor defensively and was a true floor general for his team getting everyone involved offensively.
Highlights
Thian had a 6 point burst late in the first half that really helped swing the game around for Wisconsin PGC. After trailing just about the entire half, Thian threw down two dunks and drove to the basket for another lay-up to help his team go into halftime with a lead. In the 2nd half he just continued to find ways to get to the rim, and was a composed finisher off of two feet. Did a nice job of getting guys in the air with a shot fake and using his bounce to rise up above shot blockers. Capped off the win with a windmill dunk that he made look effortless.
Highlights
Jakari was making big plays on the defensive end for Wisconsin PGC. His team played without a true big for a lot of the game, and Jakari stepped up as that rim protecting and rebounding presence inside. He’s an explosive athlete who elevates effortlessly, and was putting himself in the right spots off the ball to step in and contest around the rim. Matched up against a Power 5 team that loved to attack the basket, Jakari wasn’t giving up any easy looks inside. Offensively he worked hard to run the floor for transition looks, and was scrapping on the offensive glass trying to earn put-back opportunities.
![Jaxson Moss](https://prephoops.com/wp-content/themes/prep-network-content/public/images/generic-male.png)
Jaxson Moss
Jaxson Moss
Jaxson had a breakout junior season at Racine Park, and impressed last night running with Power 5. The 6’6 forward just goes out and plays hard, fighting for every loose ball and rebound he can get to. Has the mobility to move his feet out on the perimeter, and is a strong presence capable of holding his ground on the block. From watching him over the winter I knew he was a strong rebounder, but he stood out with his improved confidence on the offensive end. Jaxson made a handful of threes throughout the game, catching and firing with confidence when the space was there.
I liked the effort that Zamari showed on the defensive end. He’s so quick moving laterally, and put in the work to sit deep in a stance and pressure the ball hard on the perimeter. He did a nice job of fighting to get over screens, and when he wasn’t able to, he was communicating the switch with his teammate. Offensively he’s dangerous using his quick first step to get to the rim, but looks to be developing a nice pull-up game if his man sags off too much.
Highlights
![Jcobi Mathis](https://prephoops.com/wp-content/themes/prep-network-content/public/images/generic-male.png)
Jcobi Mathis
Jcobi Mathis
A majority of Wisconsin Playground’s offense seemed to be coming from Jcobi Mathis. He’s a quick guard with a shifty handle to create separation on the perimeter, or to get all the way to the rim and finish. Quick release from beyond the arc meant he only needed a little bit of space to get a shot off, and was doing so both off the catch and the dribble. As just a freshman he averaged 22.6 ppg at St. Augustine, and that level of scoring seems to be translating to his play with Wisconsin PGC.
Cole came in off the bench and helped provide a spark for Racine Truth . His varsity experience seemed to show particularly on the defensive end, where he came up with a handful of steals in the first half, simply by being in the right place at the right time. Cole’s off ball rotations and pressure on the ball helped force a handful of mistakes from opposing guards, and from there he was looking to push the pace out in transition. His ability to force turnovers helped lead to plenty of easy buckets for his team in the open floor.