Nebraska Top Sharpshooters

[player_tooltip player_id="1150659" first="Ayden" last="Zikmund"] | 6’3 G | Central City/OSA3SSB 15U <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/IMG_5951-e1595664702497.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1022734 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/IMG_5951-e1595664702497-300x255.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="255" /></a>Already wrote about Ayden in my Sophomore Standout articles, but one thing I didn’t mention was the sophomore’s ability to shoot the ball. At just a sophomore, he’s already leading the whole state in 3 pointers made with 35 total. He is making over 3 threes a game while shooting 39% from beyond the arc, which is top 5 for his class. I believe that the state knows how good of a scorer Ayden is, averaging over 17 points per game he leads his team in scoring and shooting. The sophomore has been dominating his competition this season and the proof is in the pudding. Shooting the ball well all season, dropped 26 points on Ord while shooting 3/7 from the arc, and then lit it up for 23 points in his last two games going 5+ from the arc in each other games. The sophomore I average 10 three-point attempts a game which comes down from that mark with more experience and better shot selection. If stays on this pace Ayden can become the top shooter in his class by his senior year, and that’s saying a lot because there are a lot of good shooters in this class, and for him to be the top sophomore says a lot and coaches should take notice and offers should start pouring in earlier than later. ’     [player_tooltip player_id="981707" first="Carter" last="Sintek"] | 6’0 G | Fremont This isn’t my first time mentioning Carter in an article and there’s a reason why. The kid can shoot as I quote myself from previous articles. Taking just a little over two 3 pointers per game this season, he has already made 30 threes so far from behind the arc, that sits top 5 at the moment in the whole state. The senior guard shot just 53 three-pointers total for the whole last season, if he stays on this pace he will eclipse his previous that season total in no time. Carter is shooting 42% from downtown so far this season which is an improvement from last season he finished last year shooting 38%. Carter is a well capable shooter and can erupt from beyond the arc any given night, proven as he went off for 6 three-pointers on 50% shooting in a loss to Millard West earlier this season. Now a senior and in his final year at Fremont I’m glad to see very great improvement from the senior he has improved in every shooting category and that’s what you want from a 3-year varsity player. Colleges that haven’t taken notice yet will by end of the season as I predict he will continue to be one of the top shooters this season.   [player_tooltip player_id="1131118" first="Alex" last="Wilcoxson"] | 5’11 G | Gretna/NEBRASKA SUPREME UAA 15U <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/14-Alex-Wilcoxson.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1300203 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/14-Alex-Wilcoxson-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>The sophomore guard is easy money from downtown already in his’s first year of varsity play. A dead-eye shooter Alex has been punishing defenses all season long. Most of his 3 pointers are off catch and shoot set shots, as he is able to space out the floor with his ability to knock down the open shot when left open. Making barely under 3 three-pointers a game the guard has already hit a total of 22 3s on 47% shooting while averaging 12 points a game, second on his team. While leading the Dragons in each of those categories, he’s also top 10 in each Class A shooting category. Overall this kid hasn’t even reached close to his peak yet but has already been a force this season and a major contributor to the team’s success. In his first game on varsity was able to pour in 25 points whilst hitting 5-8 of his shots from behind the arc. Wasnt the first time he’s have hit 5+ threes in a game, and if he stays consistent the rest of the season won’t be his last. The sophomore will be needed for a lot of the team’s offensive production, as he has hit 3+ threes in all the wins the Dragons have had this season. This young man is an early radar candidate and schools should already be scouting this young man if they need a shooter in the next few years.         [player_tooltip player_id="1211024" first="Cole" last="Kirschner"] | 6’0 G | Millard West/OSU16U REGIONAL BENEDETTO <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Cole-Kirschner.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1026879 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Cole-Kirschner-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>The junior guard has been lighting up this season for the Wildcats. He’s a sharpshooter who does everything for the team. The junior leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. A chunk of his average comes from the arc as he shoots 2.5 threes a game making 43% of shots. He’s made 20 threes so far this season. Compare to last season he has really made a giant leap from shooting to overall production on the court, and that is what the Wildcats need this season. Having three games where the junior made 4+ threes from the arc does help with a lot of the team’s success. Cole is well capable of taking over a game, this was proven as drops 26 points on Lincoln High while draining 6 out of his 14 threes. The junior has filled some big shoes this season and has paid off for the Wildcats. Top 10 in 3s made and field goal percentage, I see the junior getting more comfortable as the season goes on. With some help, he and the Wildcats can make a push toward some post-season play, if the junior stay consistent in scoring and shooting. Colleges should be taking notice of the junior guard who can pass, run an offense, and most importantly shoot the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id="1152110" first="Alex" last="Draper"] | 6’1 G | Platteview The lefty shooter is a knockdown shooter that moves well without the ball to open spaces on the floor. Second, on his team in scoring ht junior guard has consistently been lighting it up from deep all season. Although shooting 35% from deep, taking away two bad games where his shot didn’t fall he would be leading his class in percentage. Where he does lead his class is in a total of 3 pointers made at 28 so far for the season and taking just under 4 threes a game. The junior has helped his Trojans get off to a great start. In wins, he has averaged hitting 4 threes on 40% shooting. So far this season he has scored a high of 17points while shooting 5 for 9 from beyond the arc. The junior is a more than capable shooter and will be needed for the season as the Trojans make a push for the state’s Class B title. I see the junior still growing and adding a little more size to him, with those intangibles he should be a very polished product by next season and many colleges will be hounding the kid if they are not already.   [player_tooltip player_id="1167645" first="Austin" last="Holtz"] | 5’10 G | Bennington/POWERHOUSE HOOPS 17U SKIERKA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/13-Austin-Holtz.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1071120 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/13-Austin-Holtz-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>The senior leader is balling for the Badgers this season. Averaging 16 points per game he leads his team in scoring in all areas. He’s a scorer with a really nice shoot and confidence to go along with it. Austin is able to shoot off the dribble very well and in catch shoot situations he’s able to knock down the open shot on a consistent basis. The senior guard is averaging just 38% from behind the arc while taking 2.5 threes a game. So far this season he has hit 25 total threes which are tied for third on the Class B list of top shooters. Much of his shooting has remained the same from his previous season last year but much more is called upon from the senior this season, and he’s answered quite a few times. In his season’s high 25 points game against Hastings, the senior pour in 5 threes on 9 shots as he shot the Badgers to a win. The senior guard already has some offers from different schools and looks to get more as the season goes on and he leads the Badgers to more wins.   [player_tooltip player_id="1013230" first="Will" last="Cooper"] | 6’4 F | Millard South/OSA 3SSB 15U <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/IMG_5823-e1594415872734-crop-2202x1446-1616551848.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1155326 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/IMG_5823-e1594415872734-crop-2202x1446-1616551848-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> The sophomore forward is only scratching the surface of his ability. He’s already one of the top 3 shooting sophomores in the state. With size and shooting range, Will is able to get his shot off over just about anyone. Has a great shooting form and squares up to the basket very quickly to get shot off. The sophomore is second on the team in points at 12.2 per game while making 2.4 threes a game on 39% for the season. So far this season he’s hit 22 total threes, top 5 for Class A. Playrrd a great amount of varsity ball his freshman year, Cooper has improved in all phases of shot-making and taking this year. For the Patriots this season he’s been a major key to the success so far this season. He has come up big in a couple of games, draining 6 threes in one game for 24 points against Norfolk and for 15 points, 4 threes against Elkhorn South. The sky is the limit for this kid as his confidence grows on the court I see Will being a top shooter for the state in years to come if not by end of the season.