#PHMadnessInTheMidwest: Mark's Day Two Standouts

Following are some of the standouts from Saturday's action at Prep Hoops Madness In The Midwest at the Community First Champion Center in Appleton.    Taylor's quickness and strong desire to compete yielded some tremendous ball-hawking pressure in the full-court press employed by the [program_tooltip program_id='2839421' first='Milwaukee' last='Young Bucks'] in its win over [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] Gold. Taylor was able to get deflections and steals that he quickly transitioned to layups as his club rallied for the triumph. Taylor, a starter at point guard for Dominican as a junior, also made some three-point shots and get to the basket and finished as he helped his squad to a 4-0 record at Prep Hoops Madness in the Midwest in Appleton.     Nixon, a teammate of Taylor at both Dominican and with the [program_tooltip program_id='2839421' first='Milwaukee' last='Young Bucks'], made some clutch shots late to help his team overcome a second-half deficit against Manitowoc Gold. Nixon is usually at his best around the basket, but he showed he also can step outside and attack the hoop and make perimeter shots. The 6-foot-4 wing averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior, and figures to team with Taylor and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2127267' first='Zaihir' last='Jones'] to give Dominican another potent squad in 2025-26.     The [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] Burton squad had little trouble defeating Minnesota Lace Up Black, and the strong play of Bednar taking the ball to the basket proved to be a big reason for his squad's success. A strong forward who can catch the ball on the perimeter and then get downhill all the way to the basket, Bednar excelled in transition as he ran the floor well and finished above the rim at times. Bednar is coming off a strong junior campaign for Kettle Moraine Lutheran as he averaged 12.0 points and 4.8 rebounds while also making 32 shots from three-point range as the Chargers finished 15-11.     Carini gets the fun job of launching triple after triple for [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] Burton. His catch-and-fire approach was very helpful in his team's win over Minnesota Lace Up Black as he buried several triples in the lopsided victory. Carini can shoot it from well beyond the arc and he doesn't need much time to get his shot off as his quick release often catches defenses a bit off stride.     Jerome is a wing prospect with good physical strength and a deadly mid-range jump shot. He got to his spots whenever he got the ball and made shot after shot from just inside the foul line for MTXE Premier in its competitive loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway']. Jerome has the size and physicality to score at the rim and can also drill some shots from outside the three-point arc. He carried MTXE offensively with his wide offensive arsenal.     Length is always a positive on the basketball court, and when you have it while playing on the perimeter, it's a huge added plus. Think of former Wisconsin prep standouts Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Rohde in that regard. Waterman brings outstanding length away from the basket to the MTXE Premier lineup. He can be disruptive on defense, but he'll need to add some weight and strength to his long frame in order to reach his potential. He figures to do just that over the next two seasons and become a really solid player for MTXE and Catholic Memorial.     Ladron is one of those players you love to put on the court and let him do his thing while making plays for your squad. He fills up the stat sheet night after night despite not being a huge offensive threat. A combination guard with good speed, strength and basketball instincts, Ladron finished with 10 points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and two deflections for [program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] in its victory over MTXE Premier. The son of Beaver Dam coach Tim Ladron, [player_tooltip player_id='2140933' first='Jaxon' last='Ladron'] constantly makes winning plays for his team and for his teammates.     Healy helped the Minnesota Fury - Zurn team to a 4-0 record at Madness in the Midwest with his strong ball handling, his physical defense, his strong court vision and his ability to score off the dribble. Part of a very talented team that is 9-0 on the young club season, Healy fits in perfectly with the Fury squad that boasts plenty of size, talent and grit. Healy was the sixth man for a strong Hudson squad as a sophomore and figures to move into the starting rotation for the Raiders as a junior.     A very good player on both ends of the court, Hendricks' strong play helped [program_tooltip program_id='2078394' first='Team' last='1848'] remain close with Minnesota Fury - Zurn deep into the second half. In fact, his baseline triple tied the game at 36 before the Fury went on a 10-0 run that basically locked up the game. Hendricks has very good ball skills as he can pass, shoot and dribble. And he has the size, lateral movement and length to become a terrific defender. AJ and his twin brother, [player_tooltip player_id='2140873' first='Austin' last='Hendricks'], who also plays for [program_tooltip program_id='2078394' first='Team' last='1848'], are two key returning players for Notre Dame Academy in 2025-26.     In a 61-59 double overtime win over ABC Lions 1, Bookter was simply outstanding. He made shots from deep. He scored from the mid range. He made his foul shots. And he got to the basket. He finished with 24 points in the game and his constant motion on offense and toughness on defense were major reasons why his club got the hard-earned victory. Bookter is the top returning player for the stellar program at De Pere and appears primed to have a big senior season for coach Brian Winchester next year.     You pick your poison with [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] UA Rise when it comes to shutting down shooters. Concentrate on slowing [player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'] and a guy like Misslich will step up and bury shot after shot. Slow Gustafson and Misslich, and [player_tooltip player_id='2391091' first='Tyler' last='Tiutczenko'] will connect from deep time and again. Misslich is wired to score in that he always has an eye toward the basket. Whether he's swishing triples, scoring in transition or attacking in the half court, Misslich can put up points in a hurry.     Cowley and [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] Black lost a tough one to a [program_tooltip program_id='2245199' first='Pride' last='Roc'] Bynum outfit that included several strong class of 2025 players. After trailing by 20 early, [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] came back strong and made it a very competitive game until the end. Cowley's ability to make three-point shots and score in the lane were helpful in United's rally. He also moved the ball well and hit the glass for his squad. Cowley has had a strong spring thus far and figures to get plenty of looks from collegiate coaches in the next couple of months thanks to his size, versatility and ability to make plays.     A physically strong wing with good ball handling and shooting skills, Larson possesses the ability to create separation from defenders with his aggressiveness and physicality. Larson led [program_tooltip program_id='2078394' first='Team' last='1848'] in scoring in its loss to the unbeaten Minnesota Fury - Zurn squad. He continually got around defenders to score in the lane. He also made some mid range jumpers as [program_tooltip program_id='2078394' first='Team' last='1848'] played a high-level team close until the final few minutes. Larson had a strong sophomore year for Brillion, averaging 8.6 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Lions.     The [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] UA Rise squad ranks among the top teams in Wisconsin at the 17U level in part because of the incredible depth on coach DJ Mlachnik's squad. Any number of players in any given game can erupt. Fofana definitely is one of those players as the speedy lead guard gets to the basket and finishes through contact on a regular basis for his team. When his path to the rim is clogged, Fofana does a nice job of tossing the ball out to the perimeter to one of the lethal shooters on his squad. Fofana also can put pressure on opposing guards with his toughness and quickness.     [program_tooltip program_id='2245199' first='Pride' last='Roc'] Bynum used the poise, length, decision making and scoring of Woods to slip past [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] Black in a spirited 17U contest. Woods, a 2025 prospect who recently committed to Illinois Valley Community College, continues to take positive strides in his game. The lanky combination guard is starting to get stronger and fill out a bit, and that has helped him finish in the lane when he gets bumped off stride. With his best basketball still ahead of him, it's nice to see Woods continue to take steps forward with his physical development.

Following are some of the standouts from Saturday's action at Prep Hoops Madness In The Midwest at the Community First Champion Center in Appleton.