Standouts from the La Crosse Central Invitational Tournament

With eighteen varsity matchups on the docket for the La Crosse Central Invitational Tournament, there was plenty of action to take in across the four courts of play. The tournament featured nine teams from Wisconsin and three from Minnesota. Whether athletes played a spring sport, AAU (or both), or took time away since the close of the high school basketball season, it was clear we are still early in the high school summer session. Some players needed to get their legs under them, while others appeared ready to go. Shots for many were inconsistent, but not for all. In the six hours of hoops action I watched, there were equally as many players who stood out to me, and they are as follows:    As morning showers cleared outside the fieldhouse at La Crosse Central, Gerke was making it rain inside. This promising 2027 prospect hit at least five threes in his first game of the day, including one with a hand squarely in his face and another on a sweet step-back. But his shot selection wasn't limited to long range. Quinn flashed a nice pull-up, midrange jumper, going to his right. He also went baseline on several occasions, drawing fouls in the process. The incoming sophomore, who started over 20 games for Tomah last season, is long and lean. It will be interesting to see how he matures over the next three seasons for the Timberwolves.     I've caught a very limited amount of Ethan's play with Chippewa Valley Select on the Prep Hoops Circuit, and I was looking forward to seeing him play in this event. He did not disappoint. Kniseley has a high basketball IQ and pairs that with a strong body and athleticism to offset less than optimal height. He is solid in all phases. He will take on larger players, driving to the hoop and keeping his body between the defender and the ball to convert over them or draw the foul. He leverages his ability to drive and score to also drive and kick, giving his teammates open looks on the perimeter. When on the perimeter himself, Ethan can and will knock down the three-ball. Ethan doesn't let up on the defensive end and is an aggressive on-ball defender.     Ian was filling it up when I saw him last weekend and he continued that trend this week at La Crosse Central. A starter for Onalaska throughout last season, Kowal has moved from a role player to a featured player for the Hilltoppers. While he has shown the ability to penetrate and convert in traffic, he has most notably been a three-point threat in the past. Kowal is still deadly from beyond the arc, but he has turned up the intensity on his takes to the hoop and it is paying off with frequent trips to the charity stripe and increased scoring overall. That intensity extends to rebounding and defense as well, which has been the case whenever I've had the opportunity to see him play.     Two of the first three plays I saw from De Soto were triples from Krueger. He has a solid frame and defends the post, while mostly playing a wing on the offensive end. He showed good agility with the ball in his hands and hit a three following a nice ball fake/shoulder shake combo. He appears to be a positive, vocal leader for his team and communicated well on defense. I would have liked to see a bit more quickness and fight on defense and rebounding, but that said, he did grab boards and had a blocked shot during the half of basketball I watched. He was the leading rebounder on for the Pirates last season and is the highest point-scorer for returning players, so I will be looking for additional opportunities to see him play.     I really liked what I saw from Servais on his home court during this tournament. He is always in motion; active hands and quick lateral movement on defense, cutting and penetrating on offense, getting on the floor after loose balls, etc. He is confident with his handles and has very good court vision, which he uses to distribute the ball unselfishly. Gabe has a smooth stroke, whether hitting threes from anywhere on the arc or converting at the free throw line. His tenacity also pays off in the form of rebounds and steals. He should be fun to watch for Riverhawk and basketball fans in general, over the next three seasons.     Another Riverhawk of note was [player_tooltip player_id='1598964' first='Frankie' last='Wilk']. Wilk is a solid 6'3" with the leg strength and bounce to defend the post, attack the rim, or get up on the glass. He is a willing and effective defender, whether in the paint or outside. Similarly, on the offensive end, he used a strong up and under move to draw a foul, finish and convert an "and one." A few plays later, he hit from the outside. There is plenty of movement in La Crosse Central's offense and this allows Wilk to showcase his ability to play in a positionless style. He is listed as a combo guard, which is fitting as he will bring the ball up or slide to a wing as the flow dictates. He could easily move to a corner spot and drive the baseline or hit from the corner if needed. Frankie runs the break effectively and showed a nice feel for knowing when to feed a runner or finish himself.

With eighteen varsity matchups on the docket for the La Crosse Central Invitational Tournament, there was plenty of action to take in across the four courts of play. The tournament featured nine teams from Wisconsin and three from Minnesota. Whether athletes played a spring sport, AAU (or both), or took time away since the close of the high school basketball season, it was clear we are still early in the high school summer session. Some players needed to get their legs under them, while others appeared ready to go. Shots for many were inconsistent, but not for all. In the six hours of hoops action I watched, there were equally as many players who stood out to me, and they are as follows: