Midwest Showdown: Opening Night Standouts
APPLETON — Breaking down the top individual performances on opening night of the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown… Drew Edmond Drew Edmond 6'0" | PG Brookfield Central | 2023 State WI – 2023 – PG – Kevon Looney Power 5…
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Continue ReadingAPPLETON — Breaking down the top individual performances on opening night of the Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown…
Drew Edmond Drew Edmond 6'0" | PG Brookfield Central | 2023 State WI – 2023 – PG – Kevon Looney Power 5
A name that might not be known right now, Edmond has been behind the scenes for a talented Brookfield Central program and should start to make noise in 2021-22. The sophomore point guard is a highly skilled, intelligent, playmaker that can make a lot of things happen with the ball. A pass-first facilitator, Edmond probes in high percentage areas, forces extra defenders to come his way, and makes terrific decisions with the basketball. Playing with his eyes, using ball fakes, Edmond just had defenders jumping everywhere and trying to guess during Friday’s win over World Hoops Elite .
Devon Fielding Devon Fielding 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2022 State WI – 2022 – PG – Wisconsin Playmakers South Showcase
Fielding was in complete control during a blowout win over All-In Athletics. The La Crosee Central guard came out and scored 16 of his team’s first 18 points and assisted on the other bucket. Fielding finished with 31 points and four assists in a performance that definitely wasn’t stat-padding. Fielding was red hot, but still played within the system and got his teammates involved. As usual, Fielding shot the ball well off the catch, but he did some stuff we had not seen before. The La Crosse Central lead guard casually threw down some one-hand tomahawk dunks in transition, showing some hidden explosive athleticism. A kid that’s playing with sky-high confidence this spring, Fielding’s stock is rising fast.
Marcus Hall – 2023 – F – Wisconsin Playmakers Wausau
Hall had some dominant stretches in Friday’s win over Crossfire. The D.C. Everest forward caused a lot of problems with his versatility. At 6-foot-5, Hall can play inside and out. He can set up shop on the block, has a soft touch, and knows how to use the rim to shield defenders. Hall will also step out and shoot the ball occasionally. He’s got the handles to pull bigs away from the rim and take them off the bounce. Liked his activity on the offensive glass as well. Hall works hard to establish position and if he can’t get to the ball, tries to tip it back into the backcourt.
Tristian McRoberts – 2022 – W – Wisconsin Playmakers South Showcase
A prospect I could see jump into the rankings this summer, there’s a lot to like about McRoberts. The Melrose-Mindoro wing is a smooth and confident scorer. At 6-foot-4, McRoberts has good positional size and some serious length. The lefty has a sweet mid-range game and can also play above the rim in transition. McRoberts is a natural scorer with a good feel when he’s pulling up off the dribble. At his size and length, defenders struggle to really take him out of a rhythm and McRoberts can generate clean looks in the 12-18 foot range consistently.
Isaac Seidel Isaac Seidel 6'2" | SG Newman Catholic | 2023 State WI – 2023 – SG – Wisconsin Playmakers Wausau
Seidel got hot in the second half to help the Playmakers blow open the game against Crossfire. The 6-foot-2 sniper has a good looking stroke from 3-point range. He’s a threat to bring the ball up the floor and launch 3’s if defenders are giving him too much space or scrambling to get back. Seidel looks deceptively athletic as well. He was able to get coast-to-coast a few times with the basketball. Hailing from Newman Catholic, Seidel led his team in scoring as a sophomore at 15 ppg.
Will Starks Will Starks 6'4" | SF Kenosha Tremper | 2023 State WI – 2023 – W – World Hoops Elite
Every time I looked over, Starks was doing something positive. The Kenosha Tremper wing just seemed to live at the rim and the free throw line during Friday’s loss to Kevon Looney Power 5. Starks seemed to have a scoring mentality and a killer instinct, never letting his foot off the gas pedal. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is one of the best slashers in the state with just a rare knack for getting to the bucket. Starks relies a lot on his athleticism, but he’s got some added skill, especially when he’s maneuvering in traffic. A high-upside prospect that’s likely going to develop late, Starks’ best days are still ahead of him.
Andrew Verhelst Andrew Verhelst 6'3" | SF Sheboygan Lutheran | 2023 State WI – 2023 – F – Wisconsin Crusaders
PGC just didn’t have an answer for Verhelst on Friday. The Sheboygan Lutheran product did a little bit of everything and had a huge surge in the second half to put the game away. Verhelst is one of the top unsung hero prospects in the state. The 6-foot-5 forward does just about everything — scores, defenders, rebounds, facilitates, and makes hustle plays. A built, but also athletic combo forward, Verhelst plays extremely hard, competes for every second he’s on the floor, and he’s also the first guy to congratulate a teammate when they make a big play.