The Platform: Wisconsin Standouts

<p>While the home state of Illinois certainly defended their home court in regards to providing top performers. The northerly neighbors from Wisconsin were a close second. Following is a list of six standouts that caught my eye broken down by grade level.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2027 </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2508476' first='Oliver' last='Evans'] <strong>6-9 Fort Atkinson</strong> I'm not one for declarative statements on a big tournament. That being said, if there was a better big man prospect in Chicago this weekend. I did not see him. Led [program_tooltip program_id='2517147' first='Wisconsin' last='Breakaway'] to perfect 4-0 record. Evans is an old school back to the basket big man, with new school tendencies mixed in. With his wide and strong frame. Establishing deep post position was not a problem. Seemed to know what he was and was and did not spend "needless" time out on the perimeter. Sought out contact and aggressively sealed defenders down on the block. Good hands on the catch and showed a soft touch around the basket. Notice I put needless in quotations above. That was intentional. Evans was skilled enough to play away from the basket as well. An exceptional passer out of the high post and showed good ball skills. Not an explosive athlete vertically but showed serviceable lateral quickness. If the overall athletic profile can improve this could be a late blooming post prospect. The talent is already fully there. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2028 </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423628' first='Grady' last='Elliason'] <strong>6-7 Pewaukee </strong>Kind of the opposite prospect of Evans (see above) Very effective and skilled post who led [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] to an unblemished 5-0 record. That is where the similarities end though. Elliason is very thin with a long lanky frame. Used this to be major matchup problem. Easily shot over smaller players in the post. Showed a wiry strength to get "mouse in the house" advantages on the block. If a stronger player was switched onto him. Had the quickness and ball handling to just drive around them. Accordingly showed the outline and potential to be a big wing. Was far from just glued to the low block. Moved well off the ball and showed the ability to get open. Wanted the ball in his hands late and in clutch situations. Still has two years to develop and fill out his frame. If he does this could easily be a next level player. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2613967' first='Kendall' last='Newman'] <strong>6-0 Wisconsin Lutheran</strong> Part of very guard dominant MGC Elite Basketball unit. Newman showed a good ball handling skill set that allowed to get to his spots on the perimeter. Also used it to be a strong penetrator. Not a skinny small guard. Had a thick upper body that allowed to absorb and finish through contact. Really stood out in a Saturday victory over a good Breakaway Gold (IL) squad. Put up 15 points in that victory. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2029 </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2828841' first='Alliance' last='Willis'] <strong>5-10 Kenosha Indian Trail</strong> (pictured) Diminutive but very good floor general for a [program_tooltip program_id='3648551' first='Milwaukee' last='Basketball Club'] that went 4-0 on the weekend. Willis looked every bit of a 2029 prospect... until the ball tipped. Played like a seasoned veteran in pick and roll situations. Seemingly always made the right decision. Did not over penetrate which was important with his smaller frame. Kept bigger defenders from smothering him on high hedges with his quickness and ability to turn the corner off a ball screen. You couldn't sag or go under screens with his deep range from the perimeter. Many of his passes were bullets that came off the live dribble. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2828846' first='Clay' last='Tithof'] <strong>5-10 Kenosha Indian Trail</strong> As an out of state scout, I wasn't surprised to see that Tithof and Willis were regular season teammates as well. Stayed in motion off the ball seemed to know where to go so Willis could find him. Caught the ball in the shooting motion and got it up very quickly. Very little wasted motion on a fundamentally sound release. Saved his best for last in a win against undefeated (to that point) Breakaway Gold (IL) squad. Hit five threes on his way to a 17 point outing. Showed versatility, as he was also a good ball handler who could play the point in a pinch. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2920007' first='RJ' last='Place'] <strong>6-8 Marquette University School </strong>A little more projection is needed here. Place is not a finished product but has physical upside you just can't ignore. Has eye opening size. I think 6-8 might be selling him short (pun intended) While he has a bulky and thick frame. He carries it well and appeared to be light on his feet. The lefty showed the ability to finish over his right shoulder. Fought hard for post position and was difficult to move off his spot. Played well against a Zero Fears (IL) squad that featured a big frontline. </p>   <p></p>

While the home state of Illinois certainly defended their home court in regards to providing top performers. The northerly neighbors from Wisconsin were a close second. Following is a list of six standouts that caught my eye broken down by grade level.