2029 Player Rankings: McMullen, Jackson, Knueppel on top of list

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The updated class of 2029 Player Rankings on Prep Hoops Wisconsin released today include some familiar names from powerful high school programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sitting at the top of the rankings are three players who figure to project to the NCAA Division I level in [player_tooltip player_id='2853467' first='Max' last='McMullen'] of Brookfield East, [player_tooltip player_id='2369939' first='Jayden' last='Jackson'] of Monona Grove and [player_tooltip player_id='2402478' first='Kash' last='Knueppel'] of Wisconsin Lutheran. <br><br>All three played at the varsity level as freshmen last winter and all three turned in solid spring/summer showings with [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] and their respective high school programs. <br><br>McMullen, a skilled and athletic 6-foot-0 point guard, is ahead of others in the class in terms of his poise, confidence and skill level. He doesn't back down from a challenge and his production almost always is of very high value. He averaged 18.0 points anbd 4.4 rebounds as a freshman on the way to earning first-team all-league honors in the extremely competitive Greater Metro Conference.<br><br>The 6-foot-8 Jackson is an intriguing prospect because of his combination of size, length and athleticism. He came off the bench and started games for Monona Grove a year ago while averaging 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds. He joined both McMullen and Knueppel on the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] 15U squad coached by former Stevens Point High School star Trevor Anderson. <br><br>Knueppel, the fourth of five boys in his uber-talented family that also includes Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, Duke recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2140949' first='Kager' last='Knueppel'] and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2613959' first='Kinston' last='Knueppel'], figures to take on a bigger role for three-time defending WIAA state champion Wisconsin Lutheran this winter. Kash is a bit shorter at this point that his brothers at 6-foot-4, but he figures to grown some over the next couple of years. Ge did get some varsity minutes a year ago while helping Wisconsin Lutheran to a 30-0 record. <br><br>Other [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] players to make the Top 10 in 2029 include No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='2884244' first='Gibran' last='Spector'] (6-4) of Wauwatosa East, No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='2795366' first='Karti' last='Calvert'] (6-6) of Catholic Memorial, No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='2436991' first='Drew' last='Lenz'] (5-10) of Winneconne and No. 9 [player_tooltip player_id='2402423' first='Ben' last='Pritzl'] (6-3) of DeForest. <br><br>Spector is a player with immense promise as he is an elite defender and passer who competes with passion and tremendous energy. His offense is a bit behind players like McMullen and Lenz at this point, but that figures to come as he gains maturity, confidence and additional skill. <br><br>Calvert is a massive 6-foot-6 small forward in that he has a smooth three-point jump shot to go along with his physical nature around the basket. He may end up needing to choose between football and basketball in the future, but there is no denying his ability to help his hoop teams at [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] and Catholic Memorial win games.<br><br>To use a term favored by young players these days, Lenz counts as an absolute bucket as his shooting and body control/ability to finish drives to the basket are extremely advanced. He can put up 20-plus points in any single game in the blink of an eye, but he is far from a selfish player as he sees the court well and is a willing passer. <br><br>Pritzl brings plenty of versatility, toughness and skill to the court as a 6-foot-3 guard. He played major minutes for DeForest as a freshman and also was a key contributor for [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro']'s squad this year. Pritzl averaged 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman for the Norskies.<br><br>Non-[program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] players in the Top 10 for 2029 include No. 4 [player_tooltip player_id='2402510' first='Drew' last='Bowers'] (6-2) of Kaukauna, No. 8 [player_tooltip player_id='2850492' first='Logan' last='(Bear) Collins'] of Wauwatosa West and No. 10 [player_tooltip player_id='2396705' first='Parker' last='Klein'] (6-4) of Middleton. <br><br>Bowers might be the best shooter not only in his class but the entire state, although Lenz might give him a run for his money in a three-point shooting contest. Still, Bowers has a high release on his long-distance bombs and is very quick to let go from deep. The son of Kaukauna coach Ryan Bowers, [player_tooltip player_id='2402510' first='Drew' last='Bowers'] is most effective with his perimeter shooting, but the 6-foot-2 wing guard also has a strong feel for the game and isn't afraid to mix things up for a rebound or loose ball. Bowers averaged 11.2 points per game as a freshman playing in the rugged Fox Valley Association and shot 46 percent from deep, making 87 triples on the season for the Ghosts.<br><br>Collins is a quick, strong and aggressive backcourt performer who competed at a high level for Wauwatosa West as a freshman. He averaged 10.8 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Trojans and joins Wisconsin recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2288469' first='Jalen' last='Brown'] (6-5), sharpshooting senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2423561' first='Max' last='Gogin'] (5-10) and improved senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2642391' first='Kason' last='Mangum'] (6-6) to provide a solid core for Wauwatosa West in 2026-27.<br><br>Klein, a skilled combination guard with size, saw his playing time at Middleton increase as the season progressed last season and he averaged 4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds. He then had a very strong showing on the club circuit with the [program_tooltip program_id='2078835' first='Wisconsin' last='Swing']. Klein figures to be one of the elite players in the Big Eight Conference over the next three seasons as he can shoot, defend, rebound and set up teammates with his ball handling, passing and vision. <br><br>The Prep Hoops Player Rankings for the class of 2029 extended to the top 70 this time around, and the list will grow even further in the future. And the rankings figure to change a great deal over the next three seasons, although the top 10 players highlighted above have all earned their spots to this point and appear to be locks as top prospects in the class now and going forward. <br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->