Updated Class of 2027 Player Rankings: Top 10 Loaded With Promise

The [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] club basketball squad that advanced deep into the prestigious Nike Peach Jam Tournament earlier this month includes the top four players in the updated Prep Hoops Wisconsin Class of 2027 Player Rankings. Depth was a big strength for [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] as the club also boasts seven of the top 10 ranked players in 2027. Indeed, coach Charles Ruffing of [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] said different players led his team on different nights and cited the strong play of [player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'] of Milwaukee Juneau, [player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis'] of Freedom, [player_tooltip player_id='2351190' first='Jack' last='Kohnen'] of Slinger and [player_tooltip player_id='2288469' first='Jalen' last='Brown'] of Wauwatosa West as the biggest reason for the impressive success of the team. The top-ranked Johnson, a skilled 6-foot-5 guard, has picked up a bunch of scholarship offers of late, including SMU on Monday and Missouri on Tuesday. An instinctual combination guard with a high ceiling as he continues to grow and gain strength, Johnson had previously earned scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Nebraska, among others. Johnson was voted co-Player of the Year in the Blue Division of the Milwaukee City Conference as a freshman after he averaged 24.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists. His father, Torre Johnson, was a standout player at Juneau and later played at both Oklahoma State and Milwaukee. The second-ranked Davis (6-7) has an enormous upside and earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin coach Greg Gard in June. He played exceptionally well in July for [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] and competes with endless effort. Davis' versatility is a huge asset as he can guard virtually any position on the floor. His perimeter shot has improved throughout the spring/summer and he has become more confident and aggressive. Davis received unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference recognition as a freshman at Freedom. He led the Irish to a 23-5 record by averaging 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Another player with a big future, the third-ranked Kohnen showed his potential when he went for a triple double against Babatunde Oladotun (6-8) of Team Durant. Oladotum is considered one of the top five players in the 2027 class nationally. Kohnen is a 6-foot-6 wing with outstanding ball skills and a high IQ for the game. He can contribute in almost every way possible during the course of the game, using his length and playmaking ability to score himself or set up his teammates. A first-team all-North Shore Conference choice as a freshman, Kohnen averaged 18.8 points and 12.3 rebounds while helping the Owls to a 12-13 record. The fourth-ranked Brown (6-4) is projected to be a point guard at the next level. He played that spot for much of the summer with Wauwatosa West and [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] and excelled. A very productive player who competes with a purpose on both ends of the court, Brown is a bit older than others among the top four, and it shows some as his game is very mature. Competing in the exceptionally strong Greater Metro Conference, Brown was voted second-team all-league as a freshman after averaging 14.2 points and 4.8 rebounds as the Trojans went 18-9. No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='2140913' first='Eli' last='Krueger'] of McFarland is the first non-[program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] player in the updated rankings. The skilled, physical and productive 6-foot-8 forward can play inside and score around the basket or step outside and make passes or score from the high post. Krueger missed a good chunk of his frosh campaign at McFarland due to an injury, but when he played, he performed well, averaging 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. He helped the [program_tooltip program_id='2078835' first='Wisconsin' last='Swing'] 15U squad coached by Matt Bredesen to a 37-12 record over the spring/summer. No. 6-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2140983' first='Tref' last='Rademaker'] (6-9) of West De Pere and [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] is one of the best post prospects in the state's 2027 class. He is an outstanding passer out of double-teams and has good hands. Rademaker is a developing offensive player as he continues to grow into his long frame and impressive height. He started as a freshman for West De Pere and averaged 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds for a squad that went 16-9 under coach Todd Deschane. No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'] (6-6) of Milwaukee King is the son of ex-King all-state forward Otto McDuffie. Deuce had a strong freshman season for the Generals and was a member of the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] squad for some events in July. He has a good skill set and presents some issues for opponents because of his size. McDuffie was accorded second-team all-City Conference honors in the Gold Division of the 21-team circuit last season. The 24: Up club program boasts several very promising players at the 15U level, none more so than [player_tooltip player_id='2194435' first='Max' last='Jones'], a gifted 6-foot-2 guard from West Allis Central. Jones averaged 15.5 points and and 2.2 assists while competing well against talented teams such as Pewaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran in the Western Division of the Woodland Conference. Jones teams with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'] to give the Bulldogs one of the state's elite backcourt tandems. No. 9 [player_tooltip player_id='2140949' first='Kager' last='Knueppel'] is the younger brother of Duke recruit Kon Knueppel, who led Wisconsin Lutheran to a 30-0 record and the WIAA Division 2 state title last March. Kon Knueppel won the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Mr. Basketball award and is expected to play big minutes as a freshman at Duke. [player_tooltip player_id='2140949' first='Kager' last='Knueppel'], the second of five boys in the family, saw varsity minutes off the bench as a freshman at Wisconsin Lutheran, and played at a high level for the talented Davis Brothers Elite club team in the spring/summer. Kager is a lanky 6-foot-7 wing who can shoot from the perimeter and from well outside the three-point arc. Rounding out the top 10 is guard [player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'] (6-2) of [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] and Arrowhead. Perhaps the best on-ball defender in the class, Resch is a bulldog on that end of the court. His relentless pursuit in shutting down opponents is a fun thing to watch as he takes that job very seriously. Resch is also a capable offensive player and can shoot it from distance. He played exceptionally well for Arrowhead down the stretch last season, helping the Warhawks to a runner-up finish at the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament. Next: A look at prospects Nos. 11-20.

The Team Herro club basketball squad that advanced deep into the prestigious Nike Peach Jam Tournament earlier this month includes the top four players in the updated Prep Hoops Wisconsin Class of 2027 Player Rankings.

Depth was a big strength for Team Herro as the club also boasts seven of the top 10 ranked players in 2027.

Indeed, coach Charles Ruffing of Team Herro said different players led his team on different nights and cited the strong play of Dooney Johnson Dooney Johnson 6'5" | CG Milwaukee Juneau | 2027 State #42 Nation WI of Milwaukee Juneau, Donovan Davis Donovan Davis 6'8" | PF Freedom | 2027 State #26 Nation WI of Freedom, Jack Kohnen Jack Kohnen 6'6" | SF Slinger | 2027 State #52 Nation WI of Slinger and Jalen Brown Jalen Brown 6'5" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2027 State #94 Nation WI of Wauwatosa West as the biggest reason for the impressive success of the team.

The top-ranked Johnson, a skilled 6-foot-5 guard, has picked up a bunch of scholarship offers of late, including SMU on Monday and Missouri on Tuesday. An instinctual combination guard with a high ceiling as he continues to grow and gain strength, Johnson had previously earned scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Nebraska, among others. Johnson was voted co-Player of the Year in the Blue Division of the Milwaukee City Conference as a freshman after he averaged 24.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists. His father, Torre Johnson, was a standout player at Juneau and later played at both Oklahoma State and Milwaukee.

The second-ranked Davis (6-7) has an enormous upside and earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin coach Greg Gard in June. He played exceptionally well in July for Team Herro and competes with endless effort. Davis' versatility is a huge asset as he can guard virtually any position on the floor. His perimeter shot has improved throughout the spring/summer and he has become more confident and aggressive. Davis received unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference recognition as a freshman at Freedom. He led the Irish to a 23-5 record by averaging 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Another player with a big future, the third-ranked Kohnen showed his potential when he went for a triple double against Babatunde Oladotun (6-8) of Team Durant. Oladotum is considered one of the top five players in the 2027 class nationally. Kohnen is a 6-foot-6 wing with outstanding ball skills and a high IQ for the game. He can contribute in almost every way possible during the course of the game, using his length and playmaking ability to score himself or set up his teammates. A first-team all-North Shore Conference choice as a freshman, Kohnen averaged 18.8 points and 12.3 rebounds while helping the Owls to a 12-13 record.

The fourth-ranked Brown (6-4) is projected to be a point guard at the next level. He played that spot for much of the summer with Wauwatosa West and Team Herro and excelled. A very productive player who competes with a purpose on both ends of the court, Brown is a bit older than others among the top four, and it shows some as his game is very mature. Competing in the exceptionally strong Greater Metro Conference, Brown was voted second-team all-league as a freshman after averaging 14.2 points and 4.8 rebounds as the Trojans went 18-9.

No. 5 Eli Krueger Eli Krueger 6'9" | PF McFarland | 2027 State WI of McFarland is the first non- Team Herro player in the updated rankings. The skilled, physical and productive 6-foot-8 forward can play inside and score around the basket or step outside and make passes or score from the high post. Krueger missed a good chunk of his frosh campaign at McFarland due to an injury, but when he played, he performed well, averaging 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. He helped the Wisconsin Swing 15U squad coached by Matt Bredesen to a 37-12 record over the spring/summer.

No. 6-ranked Tref Rademaker Tref Rademaker 6'9" | PF West De Pere | 2027 WI (6-9) of West De Pere and Team Herro is one of the best post prospects in the state's 2027 class. He is an outstanding passer out of double-teams and has good hands. Rademaker is a developing offensive player as he continues to grow into his long frame and impressive height. He started as a freshman for West De Pere and averaged 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds for a squad that went 16-9 under coach Todd Deschane.

No. 7 Deuce McDuffie Deuce McDuffie 6'7" | SF/SG Nicolet | 2027 State #140 Nation WI (6-6) of Milwaukee King is the son of ex-King all-state forward Otto McDuffie. Deuce had a strong freshman season for the Generals and was a member of the Team Herro squad for some events in July. He has a good skill set and presents some issues for opponents because of his size. McDuffie was accorded second-team all-City Conference honors in the Gold Division of the 21-team circuit last season.

The 24: Up club program boasts several very promising players at the 15U level, none more so than Max Jones Max Jones 6'4" | SG West Allis Central | 2027 State WI , a gifted 6-foot-2 guard from West Allis Central. Jones averaged 15.5 points and and 2.2 assists while competing well against talented teams such as Pewaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran in the Western Division of the Woodland Conference. Jones teams with junior Yusef Gray Jr. Yusef Gray Jr. 6'5" | SG West Allis Central | 2026 State WI to give the Bulldogs one of the state's elite backcourt tandems.

No. 9 Kager Knueppel Kager Knueppel 6'10" | SF/SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2027 State #112 Nation WI is the younger brother of Duke recruit Kon Knueppel, who led Wisconsin Lutheran to a 30-0 record and the WIAA Division 2 state title last March. Kon Knueppel won the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Mr. Basketball award and is expected to play big minutes as a freshman at Duke. Kager Knueppel Kager Knueppel 6'10" | SF/SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2027 State #112 Nation WI , the second of five boys in the family, saw varsity minutes off the bench as a freshman at Wisconsin Lutheran, and played at a high level for the talented Davis Brothers Elite club team in the spring/summer. Kager is a lanky 6-foot-7 wing who can shoot from the perimeter and from well outside the three-point arc.

Rounding out the top 10 is guard Trey Resch Trey Resch 6'2" | CG/PG Arrowhead | 2027 State WI (6-2) of Team Herro and Arrowhead. Perhaps the best on-ball defender in the class, Resch is a bulldog on that end of the court. His relentless pursuit in shutting down opponents is a fun thing to watch as he takes that job very seriously. Resch is also a capable offensive player and can shoot it from distance. He played exceptionally well for Arrowhead down the stretch last season, helping the Warhawks to a runner-up finish at the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament.

Next: A look at prospects Nos. 11-20.