10 Standouts from Prep Hoops Expo in Appleton

The Prep Hoops Wisconsin Expo was held Sunday at the Community First Champions Center in Appleton. Following are profiles of 10 players who grabbed by attention with their strong play at the event. Players are listed in alphabetical order.    Boyce is nothing if not relentless. The strong, physical and confident backcourt player loves to get to the basket and overpower opponents with his strength and skill. He is extremely difficult to keep out of the lane because of his physicality and aggressiveness. Boyce played well off of two feet in the lane, and he displayed strong ball-handling abilities. One of the premier players for Milwaukee Audubon Technology, Boyce is poised for a breakout season.     One of the more pleasant surprises of the Expo, Brown is a super bouncy wing with deep shooting range and the ability to soar well above the rim on drives to the basket. The always moving Brown is a solid rebounder and defender, both in the post and on the perimeter. He's one of those players who always seems to be in on the play as he constantly is in motion. Brown recently committed to NCAA Division III St. Scholastica in nearby Duluth, Minnesota, and is primed for a huge senior season at Grantsburg.     Colbert was definitely one of the most impressive players at the Expo. The sturdy 6-foot-0 point guard picked up his opponent in the backcourt and hounded him while getting into a goods stance on defense. And on offense, the super explosive backcourt prospect used his burst to get around defenders. He had several crowd-pleasing two-handed dunks and ran his team with precision. Colbert is a returning starter for an up-and-coming Golda Meir program, and he is coming off a strong spring/summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'].     Gilberton has sprouted up an inch or two while maintaining his physical strength and basketball skill. The 6-foot-4 junior can play either guard position, defends with a purpose and can push the ball in transition. Gilbertson is equally effective knocking down three-point jump shots or using a ball fake and zooming to the basket. He elevation off the bounce allows him to score with regularity at the rim.     An improving big man who can handle the ball, score in the post with a baby hook shot and step outside the three-point line and bury triples, Grabner played very well in Appleton. He was aggressive with the ball and did a nice job of snaring rebounds and altering shots. The son of former Appleton East and Northern Illinois forward Mike Grabner, [player_tooltip player_id='2224502' first='Ben' last='Grabner'] definitely is one of the most improved frontline prospects in Wisconsin's 2025 class and is a player who figures to make a big impact for first-year Kimberly coach Freddie Owens this winter.     Schlaefer continues to get bigger and stronger, and that has helped to elevate his overall game. At the Expo, the quick and speedy point guard repeatedly zipped through the defense to either finish near the rim or kick the ball out to an open shooter. He also got to the foul line often, and knocked dowm some perimeter shots. Already a two-year varsity performer for Assumption, Schlaefer figures to be one of the top backcourt players in the always competitive Marawood South Conference the next two seasons.     Thompson is effective on the basketball court for many reasons, but the overriding factor in his success is his aggressive nature. Once he gets the ball on the wing or on the top of the key, he attacks. And he will do that to opponents all game. Attack, attack and then attack some more. And the results are usually positive. Thompson is able to use his 6-foot-5 frame, strength and jumping ability to finish over taller defenders or draw a foul. Thompson also can knock down perimeter shots, but he's at his best when he attacks the basket.     Travis might be just 5-foot-8 on the basketball court, but he stands tall while virtually always making the correct basketball play. A high IQ prospect who never seems to tire, Travis runs a team with intelligence and a true point-guard mentality. His physical strength is an absolute strength as is his ball handling and passing skills. Travis is a key returning player for a West Allis Central squad expected to challenge Pewaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran for the title in the Woodland West Conference in 2024-25.     Tyler is an experienced junior as he has played the past two years for the varsity squad at Milwaukee Juneau. His past performances have almost always been impressive. Sunday, Tyler continued to prove he is one of the top point guards in Wisconsin's 2026 class. His speed with the ball in the open court is outstanding. And his quickness and shiftiness in the half court helps to make him a very tough cover. Tyler is a more than capable scorer, but also a true pass-first lead guard. Defensively, Tyler moves well and has quick hands for steals and deflections.     Woods is a player who grows on you. Watch him once and you might think he's just too thin to make a real difference in a game. Watch him again and come away thinking, he's much better than I originally thought. Watch him a third and fourth time, and you quickly realize he is a player with a smooth jump shot, impressive length, a willingness to defend, and an improved passing game. In short, Woods is a player who does a bit of everything. He is still slight of frame, but as the 6-foot-3 combination guard continues to fill out, he is going to become an even better player as he will be able to absorb physical contact better. Woods teams with [player_tooltip player_id='2496089' first='Kaleb' last='Colbert'] to form an stellar backcourt duo at Golda Meir.

The Prep Hoops Wisconsin Expo was held Sunday at the Community First Champions Center in Appleton. Following are profiles of 10 players who grabbed by attention with their strong play at the event. Players are listed in alphabetical order.