2023 Rankings Update: New Additions Part 1

<p>[player_tooltip player_id="1371636" first="Malachi" last="Washington"] | Boys Town</p> <p>Washington should have been ranked after his sophomore season, but better late than never I suppose. He can score efficiently, he shoots it well, he is a capable and willing rebounder, and he can block shots. I only saw him play once this season for Boys Town, and he had 20 points and 16 rebounds rather easily. I'm extremely excited to get a larger sample this summer with ETG Midwest, but what I saw in that one game was enough to put him inside the top 20.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1300956" first="Jeron" last="Gager"] | Ogallala</p> <p>I love Gager's ability to score in imperfect situations. He doesn't need to be perfectly in rhythm. He doesn't need to leap off the same foot or drive one direction over the other. Using euro steps and speed changes, he always seems to find his way into open space. The floater, which he can hit from a variety of spots, is his best offensive weapon. That shot is a tool that every young guard needs to develop and have in their back pocket.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1371638" first="Jalen" last="Lang"] | Lincoln Northeast</p> <p>With Lang, you're getting a steady initiator who takes care of the basketball and works his tail off each possession. He is one of the better rebounding guards you'll find in Class A. His athleticism, sheer will, and ability to anticipate the bounce of the basketball helped him rip down 114 rebounds this season. He could probably score quite a bit more if he set out to do so, but he is most comfortable facilitating for his teammates.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1371634" first="Jeff" last="Rozelle"] | Gretna</p> <p>Gretna had possibly the most impressive season of any Class A team this season when you account for preseason expectations and talent level. I felt they got the most out of their group better than any other program. Rozelle was a key piece for the Dragons, as he provided versatile rim protection and vertical spacing on offense. He has strong hands, good touch around the basket, and relocates well away from the ball on dribble drives, which the smart passing Dragon guards rewarded frequently.</p> <p>Max Nosal | Archbishop Bergan</p> <p>Nosal scores using physicality and aggression over skill and finesse. His go-to move is to drive hard in one direction and spin back to the other when the defender fully commits to the original path. He has a strong torso which helps him initiate contact and bump defenders off their spot, opening up space to finish. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1371633" first="Ruai" last="Lew"] | Omaha North</p> <p>Lew provides the energy that every basketball team desperately needs on the court. He is a terrific rebounder and a threat in transition. The activity on defense doesn't show itself much in steals numbers, but he has tremendous value on that end which comes in the form of denials and deflections. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1306613" first="Christian" last="Winn"] | Lincoln Northeast</p> <p>Winn is one of the more underrated scorers in this class. His first step is very quick. I watched him play against Creighton Prep late in the season and he left the athletic [player_tooltip player_id="1235576" first="Martel" last="Evans"] in his rearview mirror on a few drives. His <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl2KgVxbWEM">stutter rip move</a> (my current favorite in all of basketball) earned him tons of good looks at the rim. He is not just a slasher, though. Winn shot 41% from three and knocked down 75% of his free throws.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1371637" first="Kamron" last="Kasischke"] | Wahoo</p> <p>The Wahoo shooting guard played his role incredibly well for his coaches. He was relied upon as a spot-up shooter, and did very well in that area, shooting 41% on just over 2 attempts per game. As a ball mover, Kasischke proved to be a strong link in the chain. He recognized when an advantage was live and knew where the ball needed to go to maintain it.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1300951" first="Brendyn" last="Ollendick"] | Elkhorn Valley</p> <p>Anticipation and the ability to close space quickly on defense are the two skills I see as Ollendick's strongest. He reacts so quickly to what is going on around him that he often wrecks the play before the offensive player has a chance to even consider a counter. He was overtasked as a scorer and his efficiency did not hold up while carrying that big load, but he was able to lead a winning program with it resting primarily on his shoulders.</p>