Western Wisconsin Film Review: Guards

This is the second of two posts in a series in which I share my thoughts on players who submitted game film for review and comment. While I have seen some of these players in person and may have commented on them at one point or another, I had yet to provide a full player evaluation on them in my first few months as a scout/contributor for Prep Hoops. I placed an open call for submissions from players in western Wisconsin on my X account (@GM_Hoops).    Buschor is one of the top prospects in western Wisconsin, period. He has a solid frame, with good height for a shooting guard at 6'4". He can use that size to defend on the inside but is nimble and can also guard on the perimeter. Broker is aggressive on the glass and averaged 6.4 boards per game last season with Darlington. He can get to the basket and finish in traffic utilizing his size and strength and also has the athleticism to be creative on drives to the hoop. He has great court vision and will feed his teammates in just about any scenario on the court. Where Buschor really shines is as a shooter. He converts at a high percentage overall and hit 35.8% from beyond the arc for the Redbirds last season. He has a smooth stroke, whether hitting a three off a catch and shoot or when knocking down a pull-up jumper.     Having gained valuable varsity experience as a freshman, with plenty of minutes in competitive games, Donnelly shows promise to be a strong contributor for Somerset over the coming years. He is a solid three-point shooter with a reliable stroke and demonstrates good off-ball movement, making smart cuts and showing a good feel for the game. Though undersized for now, he manages to score off penetration effectively, using creativity to navigate around defenders. Defensively, he positions himself well and understands where to be on the floor. With a senior-laden team last year, Donnelly has the potential for a breakout season this coming winter. Given his current skill set and likely physical growth and development, he will certainly be a player to keep an eye on.     Graetz is an emerging talent who was a dependable contributor off the bench for River Falls last season. He has a quick release and showed the ability to hit step-backs and pull-up shots with solid accuracy from beyond the arc. I like his decisiveness, which gives him a swift first step that he uses to get past defenders to attack the hoop or set up teammates with a quick dish. He is strong with his off-hand dribble and has good handles overall. Graetz exhibits good composure when facing backcourt pressure and trapping situations. His off-ball movement keeps his opponent guessing and contributes to open looks for him and his teammates. With additional growth and time in the weight room Brody has the potential to elevate his game even further over the next two seasons.     Jacobus is a true sparkplug on the court, exhibiting aggressiveness in all aspects of the game. While he's undersized at 5'10", his hustle and athleticism are equalizers. He can shoot it off the bounce or from deep, making him a versatile scoring threat. He moves well without the ball, continually finding ways to get open. Jacobus will challenge larger opponents, using his athleticism and above-average body control to take it to the hole in traffic and convert. Although his shooting can be a bit streaky, he has a nice looking, fundamentally sound jump shot. When he's on, he can really light up the scoreboard. He's also a smart and crafty passer who looks to facilitate for the good of the team. Defensively, his tenacity and quick hands create turnovers in a variety of ways. Last season, he averaged almost 14 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for North Crawford, the latter being especially impressive when noting his height.     Running the offense from the point guard position for River Falls, Johnson is an impressive left-hander with a high basketball IQ and instincts. He effectively uses the triple threat position on the perimeter, leveraging all three options to keep opponents off-balance. With a quick first step, he will frequently blow by defenders off the dribble and score from the midrange or at the hoop, with an ability to hit unbalanced shots and drain pull-up jumpers. A strong athlete, Johnson will take the ball to the rack with confidence and finish through contact. Taking advantage of his defender's attempts to counter his driving abilities, he'll use a jab or step-back from the triple threat position to put up shots from beyond the arc. He also keeps his head on a swivel and will make the extra pass, as evidenced by his 4.7 assists per game last season for the Wildcats.     A 6'2" combo guard, McDowell has good size and strength on the perimeter. He can handle backcourt pressure effectively and run the point or slide to the shooting guard position as the lineup and flow of the game dictates. He has a confident and effective handle and can create opportunities for himself and teammates via penetration. McDowell's shooting range extends beyond the three-point line, and he is an effective midrange scorer capable of creating space or elevating over smaller opponents to get his shots. Defensively, he anticipates passes well, leading to a couple steals per game and he is also an asset to the team on the boards on both ends of the court. He was the leading scorer for Viroqua as a junior and is poised for a big season this winter.     As a point guard, Moessner exhibits a well-rounded style of play, with the ability to score from all three levels, implementing a soft runner as part of his arsenal. He is also slippery without the ball and can free himself up for open midrange jumpers and triples. Moessner is a natural facilitator, consistently looking to involve his teammates and make the extra pass. At 6'2", he has good height for his position. He uses that height to his advantage defensively, blocking shots and disrupting passing lanes with his length and quick feet. Additional time in the weight room could help him further compete for playing time at the varsity level. With up to nine returning seniors on the successful Eau Claire Memorial squad from last year, I'll be watching to see how Caleb fits into the mix this upcoming season.     When a player starts his highlight reel with a steal, you know he's serious about defense. While a touch undersized at 5'11” Raleigh has all the tools to be a thorn in an opponent's side with defensive intensity on the perimeter. His quick reflexes and keen anticipation make him a constant threat to pick your pocket or jump passing lanes. On offense, he's all about movement with a purpose, sliding and probing for openings and making the most of them. He is a creative passer with excellent court vision, which allows him to set up teammates for buckets. He plays within the flow of the game, making smart decisions, and when he gets hot from deep he can put up points in a hurry. After seeing time off the bench and starting a few games as a junior, he's poised to step into a more prominent role this season with two key starters having graduated. I won't be surprised if he is a regular in the starting lineup for New Richmond this coming season.     Averaging 9 points per game as a freshman starter, Rombach's high school career is off to a strong start. He appears to be unfazed by the size or experience of upperclassmen and displays good body control when taking it to the hole, which he does with confidence. When he is on, he can shoot it from any spot, including well beyond the three-point line. Rombach is an active defender, averaging nearly two steals per game. He showed his versatility in the film I watched by sliding down to a forward position within Grantsburg's 2-3 defense. In addition to his ability to hit from distance, he delivers crisp entry passes to the post from the corners and wing. As his freshman year highlights demonstrate, he has a lot of potential for success as he matures and his consistency continues to improve.

This is the second of two posts in a series in which I share my thoughts on players who submitted game film for review and comment. While I have seen some of these players in person and may have commented on them at one point or another, I had yet to provide a full player evaluation on them in my first few months as a scout/contributor for Prep Hoops. I placed an open call for submissions from players in western Wisconsin on my X account (@GM_Hoops).