The Last Dance – Greg’s Weekend Wrap-up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a full weekend of hoops in Chicagoland, The Last Dance is complete for 2024. Plenty of Wisconsin-based players and teams showed out at the event and over the course of the weekend I was able to connect with a number of team coaches and administrators. I shared my Friday/Saturday notes yesterday and in this wrap-up, I will highlight some top performers from the Badger state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Standouts</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scorers get a lot of attention (and will later in this article), but often times, not enough credit is given to those players who get after it on the defensive end of the court. I went into this weekend looking for those guys and, in the process, identified these five from the games I watched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2390304' first='Logan' last='Gray'] (CV Select 17u S&amp;S) is a 6'2" point guard who is fluid laterally on the perimeter and consistently gets a hand up on the shot. He releases quickly and gets back in transition and can use his athleticism to block shots when he gets there. Logan bodies up really well in the post and will disrupt shots as a result. He is always aware when on the help side and slides over in his rotations to cut penetration as needed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 2025 National) is another guard who often draws post assignments on defense due to his 6'3" stature. (You will find this is a bit of a theme in these observations.) He can absolutely get the job done inside and will get up to block shots when opposing players drive to the hoop. He also excels when his opponent is on the perimeter, bringing active on-ball pressure to generate steals and turnovers. Aiden will hustle back to disrupt fast breaks and tally block shots when doing so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140933' first='Jaxon' last='Ladron'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] 2027) will give you a more traditional look as an outside defender, which is a role he plays exceptionally well. The 5'11" combo guard has quick feet and can impact the offensive flow in a variety of ways. He'll upset the intentions of ball-handlers by redirecting and steering with sound positioning, cutting off penetration on drives and forcing turnovers by shutting down passing lanes. He hustles after loose balls and is never out of the play, as illustrated by a leaping blocked pass at half court when the other team was looking for a run-out bucket. He'll also pick up the occasional blocked shot by being in the right place at the right time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2381570' first='Vincent' last='Timm'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076025' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'] 2027 Black). Vincent always seems to be in the middle of the action defensively. He is just a shade over 6'0" from what I can tell and plays forward for the Blaze. He consistently gets a hand in the face of the shooter, tips passes, can block shots, will disrupt plays in transition and create turnovers through sheer hustle and will. And he is clever as well. Playing a forward in a 2-3 zone on one particular BLOB play, he sagged slightly off the corner shooter and peaked over his shoulder to diagnose the forthcoming play. In a flash he (must have) read the eyes of the inbounder and shot to the post, cleanly picking off the pass before the post player could even get a hand on it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2406133' first='Colin' last='Williams'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] Red) stands 6'0" and plays like he is 6'4". A strong and smart defender, Williams will use good body position to shut down larger players in the post and will keep those players off the boards by turning to box out and clearing space to do his own work on the glass. He has a knack for disrupting plays in the paint by addressing the opponent before he can get the shot up. Depending on matchups, Colin is quite capable of defending on the perimeter as well. He breaks down and slides well when on-ball and is not afraid to get on the floor and scrap for 50/50 balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">And One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2401404' first='Owen' last='Ayite Atayi'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u). I had started my notes with Owen as a defensive standout, but as the game I was watching progressed, he kept doing more in other facets of the game worthy of mention. At first, I took notice of two plays under the basket where he disrupted the possessions cleanly and turned high percentage tries into turnovers for the opposition. At 6'3" he was going aggressively to the boards and using his length to get in passing lanes and jump passes for steals. On the offensive end he went to the rim with confidence and showed the ability to finish through contact. He is quick on both ends of the court, whether driving or cutting off a drive. Owen can knock down the three ball as well as free throws and possesses the ability to score at any level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Weekend Standouts</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without centralized statistics, I reached out to team administrators and coaches to gather some top Wisconsin-based performers from throughout the weekend. This is not an all-inclusive list by any means, but these players are deserving of recognition for their outstanding performances for their teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Scoring</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2111727' first='Jesse' last='Napgezek'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 22.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1431465' first='Zayn' last='Young'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2025 Black): 22.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] Red 16u): 18.8 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2381444' first='Graeson' last='Geiger'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] 15u): 18.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2395592' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'] (CV Select 2025 Schilling): 17.3 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2417898' first='Owen' last='Weisenberger'] (CV Select 2025 S&amp;S) 15.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2140915' first='Eric' last='Dusick'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2027): 14.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1673681' first='Cohen' last='Priebe'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 14.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1561954' first='Steven' last='Wright'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2026 Black): 14.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2391100' first='Myles' last='Sinette'] (CV Select 2025 S&amp;S): 13.3 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Amos Ewing ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2026 Black): 13.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Amiris Hunt ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2026 White): 13.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2415766' first='Griffin' last='Lange'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 12.5 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2121317' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 12.3 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2610589' first='Kaleb' last='Colbert'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2026 White): 12.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2435115' first='Rashad' last='Fenner'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2025 Black): 12.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2423413' first='Alex' last='Mueller'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2025 White): 12.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] 15u): 11.5 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 11.3 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2401404' first='Owen' last='Ayite Atayi'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 11.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Carter Summerville ([program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] 2025 White): 11.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1561933' first='Alex' last='Berget'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] Red 16u): 10.5 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2389855' first='Andrew' last='Lehman'] (CV Select 2025 Schilling): 10.3 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2381699' first='Bryce' last='Crubaugh-Lockard'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 10.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2224510' first='Finley' last='Strom'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] Red 16u): 10.0 ppg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rebounding</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This list is shorter, as rebounding statistics are harder to come by. But these guys worked hard on the boards at The Last Dance and should also be recognized. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2381704' first='Treaton' last='Loeffelholz'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 7.4 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2415337' first='Charlie' last='Cayley'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 6.5 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2381700' first='Jeremiah' last='Collins'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] 16u): 6.4 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2381446' first='Landon' last='Washetas'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] 15u): 6 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] Red 16u): 5.7 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2492771' first='Casey' last='Stuedemann'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 5.5 rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2111727' first='Jesse' last='Napgezek'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2485560' first='G-Elite' last=''] 17u): 5rpg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->