Prep Hoops 2K25: Friday's Wisconsin standouts

Got a chance to catch a couple of games featuring Wisconsin teams at the Prep Hoops 2K25 event at Wayzata High School in Minnesota on Friday evening. Will watch more state teams on Saturday, but here are some standouts from Friday.    If Wisconsin had an all-state squad for most effective head fakes with the ball, Marks would be a serious candidate for Player of the Year. The bouncy 6-foot-5 forward from Seymour scored well in the lane on Friday during a 75-70 loss to Minnesota Rise. He went up against a 6-foot-10 player with NCAA Division II scholarship offers in Logan Junkermeier and still managed to free himself with his head fakes, excellent pivoting and patience. Marks scored 20 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last=''] to help keep his squad in the game until the closing seconds. He did step outside to make a three-point shot, but his bread-and-butter remains getting the ball in the lane and then taking a hard dribble or two toward the basket, and using his pivoting and head fakes to shed defenders and score with his soft shot.     Sherman scored just two points in the first half Friday as he was content to use his passing ability and court vision to set up his teammates. But in the second half, Sherman got it going offensively. And when that happens, it usually means making shots from deep. The backcourt ace from Shorewood did just that, swishing four big shots from outside the arc to help All-Wisconsin rally from a double-digit deficit to close within a couple of points late. Sherman, who can play either guard spot but seems to be trending toward being a true point guard, finished with 18 points.     Hibbler remains uncommitted for the fall so he continues to play club ball even though he's a 2025 graduate of Menasha. He said he is looking at some possible junior colleges and, after his performance against Minnesota Rise, junior colleges in the Midwest should definitely give him a look. Hibbler scored a team-best 22 points and found the bottom of the net off the bounce, from the foul line and from three-point range. Hibbler has good size, excellent strength, good athleticism and is confident taking the ball to the basket.     A vastly improved player in all aspects of the game, the Verona senior guard can defend and get to the basket both in transition and off the dribble in the half court. He also can get off his feet for rebounds. In a 69-59 loss to Sanford Sports North Dakota White, Ayite Atayi finished with 14 points, several steals and a couple of assists. His ability to defend and rebound will help him get more playing time for Verona next winter after he was a reserve for the Wildcats as a junior.     Hermsen continues to show improvement in his game as he had several steals, a few assists, a handful of rebounds and 15 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2076031' first='Wisconsin' last='Hoops Select'] in its loss to a solid squad from Sanford Sports out of North Dakota. Hermsen has a soft shooting touch from both mid range and from outside the three-point arc. He also is good at getting to the basket and the foul line. He went five-of-six from the foul line Friday evening.

Got a chance to catch a couple of games featuring Wisconsin teams at the Prep Hoops 2K25 event at Wayzata High School in Minnesota on Friday evening. Will watch more state teams on Saturday, but here are some standouts from Friday.