Cream City Collision: Saturday's 16U standouts

A quick look at some of the individuals who had strong performances at the 16U level on Saturday at the Prep Hoops Cream City Collision at the OAW Indoor Sports Complex in New Berlin.    A strong-bodied wing who can score from the high post with physical moves to the basket, Kuehl is a solid all-around player for [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last=''] -- Simpson. His ability to move opponents with his impressive lower body strength often gives him the separation needed to finish off his drives to the basket with short bank shots. Kuehl is part of a loaded Appleton North program, but he did earn significant playing time as a sophomore and likely will be in coach Chris Kellett's rotation again next winter. He was definitely one of [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last='']'s top players in its 60-37 victory over [program_tooltip program_id='2347629' first='Wisconsin' last='PHD'].     Frelich is another wing on the All-Wisconsin -- Simpson squad who makes things happen in a positive way for his team. A very good shooter from deep, Frelich is always a threat to bury three-point jump shots. ANd he did so several times in All-Wisconsin's win over [program_tooltip program_id='2347629' first='Wisconsin' last='PHD']. But, like most players from De Pere, he also is sound in other facets of the game as well. His defense, shot selection and team play were all positives for All-Wisconsin. Frelich played on the JV1 squad at De Pere last winter and is hoping to earn a spot on the varsity team for one of Wisconsin's elite programs come November.     The [program_tooltip program_id='2496167' first='Pro' last='Lane'] -- Walz squad is a pleasure to watch because they share the ball, defend as a team, space exceptionally well and are held accountable for mistakes. In addition, any one of the seven players on the squad can lead the team in scoring in any given contest. In a win over [program_tooltip program_id='2852049' first='Foundation' last='Athletics'] South, Schaefer was the guy for [program_tooltip program_id='2496167' first='Pro' last='Lane'] as he finished with 18 points, including 16 in the second half. The lanky wing from Pewaukee buried three shots from outside the arc, but he also moved into gaps in the opponent's defense and benefited from some excellent passes from his teammates to score in the lane. His high basketball IQ and ability to make shots could very well be big assets for coach David Burkemper and the Pirates in 2025-26.     Wickersham has a basketball build. At 6-foot-3, he can play either guard position and also play the small forward role for his team. He can score facing the basket from deep and off of drives to the basket. He swished two triples in the second half of his squad's loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2496167' first='Pro' last='Lane'] -- Walz, and did a solid job of handling the ball in the half court and being patient in his shot opportunities. He led Evansville in scoring as a sophomore at 13.8 points per game while also contributing 4.5 rpg and 2.3 apg. With continued development on his perimeter shot and increased physical strength, Wickersham figures to be a handful to deal with the next two seasons.     Although on the small side, Weah played big for [program_tooltip program_id='2852049' first='Foundation' last='Athletics'] South in its loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2496167' first='Pro' last='Lane'] -- Walz. Each time it appeared [program_tooltip program_id='2496167' first='Pro' last='Lane'] was about to break loose for a big win, Weah would step forward and drill a big three-point shot and come up with a steal for his club. He finished with 13 points and made three triples, but also did a nice job of orchestrating the [program_tooltip program_id='2852049' first='Foundation' last='Athletics'] offense. He figures to be one of the key players in the Sun Prairie West backcourt over the next two seasons after competing for the Wolves' JV1 program this past season.     Gogin had sat out the past couple of weeks with an injury, but he made his presence felt in a big-time way for MTXE in its overtime loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] South Black. He scored 15 points in the game and made shots from well beyond the arc. His first three baskets were all triples, but he showed after burying those distance attempts that he is improving at getting into the lane and either scoring or getting fouled and earning trips to the foul line. A key player off the bench for Wauwatosa West's WIAA Division 2 state-title team this past winter, look for Gogin to move into the Trojans' starting rotation as a junior.     A workhorse who plays much bigger than his 6-foot-0 height, Springfield found openings in the MTXE defense to the tune of scoring 24 points to help [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] South Black record its overtime victory. Springfield used his physical strength and jumping ability to score near the basket. He also was difficult to slow off the bounce as he finished in the lane and also drew fouls throughout the contest. Springfield played with intensity, high energy and purpose on both ends of the court for the entire contest, and he figures to challenge for a spot in the Pius XI Catholic playing rotation in 2025-26 after playing for the Popes' JV1 squad last winter.     Cook plays the game in a manner that almost always helps his teams win. Whether he's making an extra pass, knocking down outside jump shots at an, at times, alarming rate or playing strong perimeter defense, Cook understands what it takes to win games. He finished with four triples and 14 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] Under Armour Rise in its win over the [program_tooltip program_id='2076027' first='Wisconsin' last='Blizzard']. His point total could have been higher, but he spent a good chunk of the game looking for his teammates and getting them the ball in scoring position. The son of New Berlin West coach Scott Cook, [player_tooltip player_id='2371703' first='Jayce' last='Cook'] is one of the more accurate shooters in Wisconsin in the 2027 class and a solid all-around player who has very strong basketball instincts.     Once he got his confidence in high gear, Fait emerged as one of the best players on the floor in [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP']'s win over the [program_tooltip program_id='2076027' first='Wisconsin' last='Blizzard']. He came off the bench to score a game-high 26 points, hitting five three-point baskets while also scoring on aggressive moves to the basket. An extremely bouncy and long wing-guard prospect, Fait can get up for rebounds, defend with his length and swish shots from the perimeter. He is a willing passer as well as he had several nice assists in the contest. Fait put up huge scoring numbers as a sophomore at Catholic Central in Burlington, and he is starting to adapt well to the speed and athleticism he is encountering each weekend with the very good [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] club program.     Kell and [program_tooltip program_id='2076027' first='Wisconsin' last='Blizzard'] teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2381932' first='Kyle' last='Bergsbaken'] of Shiocton were the top performers for their team in a loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] UA Rise. Both Kell and Bergsbaken were able to score from the mid range, from outside the three-point arc and from the foul line. Kell is a left-handed combination guard who consistently got into the paint to score or drop down a pass to rugged forward [player_tooltip player_id='2381933' first='Brett' last='Singler'], also of Shiocton. His ball handling, passing and scoring were instrumental in keeping the contest competitive.

A quick look at some of the individuals who had strong performances at the 16U level on Saturday at the Prep Hoops Cream City Collision at the OAW Indoor Sports Complex in New Berlin.