Five early season stock boosters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a few weeks into the 2025-26 season, several players from across Wisconsin have stated their case in emphatic fashion as it relates to potentially moving up in the Prep Hoops Wisconsin Player Rankings when they are next updated in early January. <br><br>Here is a look at five players who have gotten off to torrid starts to the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2423423"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69386ecd0a923"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Through three games, Backaus is averaging a robust 42.7 points per game. The athletic 6-foot-1 combination guard had 38 in a win over Coulee Christian/Providence, 44 in a loss to Ellsworth and 46 in a win over Tomahawk. He is shooting 58 percent from the field, 31 percent (9 of 21) from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. Currently ranked No. 47 in the junior class, Backaus' verticality, energy on the floor and ability to find the basket are huge assets for Black River Falls. The schedule for the Tigers picks up a bit in the coming weeks so it will be interesting to see if Backaus can keep up his production and help his team to some Coulee Conference victories. But he's off to a tremendous start for the upstart Tigers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140997"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69387f5ce45cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of two returning starters from Racine Park's squad that went 27-3 and finished second in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament last March, Gwinn has been on fire for the Panthers during their impressive 3-0 record to date. He has grown a couple of inches from a year ago and is scoring at a very high clip, averaging 26.0 points for coach Casey Robbins' team. Gwinn also is contributing a team-best 8.6 rebounds per outing. He had 18 in an impressive win over over state-ranked Waterford, 43 in a win over city-rival Racine Horlick and 17 in a win over Sun Prairie West. Gwinn's size and athleticism figure to attract the attention of scholarship coaches in the spring and summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2117025"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938855a9b5d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Now the all-time leading scorer in the history of one of Wisconsin's more storied programs, Zavatchin is a steal for NCAA Division III Bethel University. He combines aggressiveness and strength with a very high skill level. Once Zavatchin gets downhill on drives to the basket he is virtually impossible to stop due to his athleticism, strength and nose for the basket. Zavatchin, a home schooled student who can play for Oostburg under WIAA rules because he lives in the district, has helped coach Kevin Bruggink's squad to a 3-0 record and a top 10 ranking among WIAA Division 3 schools in the WBCA/Prep Hoops Wisconsin poll. Zavatachin is averaging 36.0 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Flying Dutchmen. He had 33 points in a win over St. Mary's Springs, 45 points in a win over New Holstein and 30 in a win over Kewaskum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1858222"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938876255eba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The son of Parkview coach Mary Crane, [player_tooltip player_id='1858222' first='Aiden' last='Crane'] is a skilled, shifty and confident combination guard for the Vikings. He is averaging 31.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists as Parkview is off to a 2-1 start. Aiden, who can let fly from well beyond the three-point arc, had 37 in a close loss to Pecatonica, 21 in a big league win over Abundant Life Christian and 37 in another conference win, this time over Williams Bay. He is shooting 41 percent from three-point range on 15 of 37. Crane is a good ball handler, aware passer and big-time scorer. He remains open at this point as to where he will play college basketball, but is open to just about every level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561878"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69388db7c33d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Although somewhat small in stature, Schwartz's play on the basketball court always looms large. A physically strong and extremely point guard with very deep shooting range to go along with the ability to zoom past defenders with his speed, Schwartz is averaging 31.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists for Winnebago Lutheran. He went for 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a win over state-ranked Sheboygan Lutheran before tossing in 38 points, snaring six rebounds and handing our four assists in a loss to another state-ranked team, Wisconsin Flyway Conference rival Lomira. Schwartz is a very good leader in addition to his being one of the more consistent performers in the state's 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->