Midwest Showdown: Top Stock Boosters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>APPLETON -- </strong>Breaking down the prospects that helped their cause the most at the 2023 Prep Hoops Midwest Showdown...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1142143' first='Dallas' last='Wallin'] - 2024 - SF - Northwest Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For lack of a better term, Wallin doesn't look "good" when you watch him play. Not talking in terms of his skill or ability, but the way he moves and plays is just unorthodox. Kind of an old school, blue collar prospect, Wallin doesn't have the typical flare you'd see from a top 50-60 player in this state. However, there's a reason why arguably nobody drew more coaches to him throughout the weekend. The 6-foot-5 wing is a do-it-all player that runs his team. You want the ball in his hands offensively and want Wallin carrying the load/being the primary decision maker. The Prescott standout has a great feel at 6-foot-5 and some sneaky athletic ability to blow by people or play above the rim. He'll shoot it well from all areas of the floor, make plays for his teammates, and if you throw extra defenders at him, Wallin will make the opposition pay with the pass. A kid that never takes a play off, Wallin gives the same energy defensively. He can lead a team in rebounds and steals and still have gas in the tank to score 20 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142143"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020cdb4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1970502' first='Cade' last='Dirske'] - 2026 - G - Chapman North Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saw Dirske against [program_tooltip program_id='2076218' first='Wisconsin' last='Playground Club'] and he gave them a lot of problems. The Oostburg product is a strong, skilled guard that can score in a variety of ways. His toughness in the paint definitely stood out. Dirske is going to challenge defenders to square him up and be physical, but he can also counter with an advanced fade away game if Dirske can't get all the way to the rim. Dirke also operated in the pick n' roll well, going shoulder to shoulder with his roll man and putting the defense in less than ideal conditions. Dirkse wants to come downhill, but if you give him space and/or put a hand down, he'll shoot it over the top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561939' first='Ethan' last='Joling'] - 2026 - PG - All-Wisconsin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joling has a chance to end up being one of the top players in Wisconsin's 2026 class. He's got a lot of tools and things you can't teach -- specifically his lanky 6-foot-5 frame as a point guard. Joling has a rare blend of size and ability to play low to the ground. He's a get-it-and-go type guard that wants the rock in his hands and will make good decisions with the basketball. Defensively, Joling has a chance to be special as well. He can already guard three, maybe four positions with that mix of length and lateral quickness. He'll impact things as a shot blocker, playing the passing lanes, and picking his man's pocket. Joling is very raw and not even close to his ceiling yet. He'll be one to closely monitor over the next three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561939"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020ce07"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423668' first='Zadarion' last='Patton'] - 2025 - PG - [program_tooltip program_id='2078838' first='World' last='Hoops Elite']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patton is now on our watch list after showing some flashes in Appleton. He's listed at 5-foot-8, but Patton is a long kid that plays a lot bigger. Handle could be tighter and needs to use his left hand more at the rim, but Patton was pretty shifty against a zone defense played by United as One. Liked how he moved the ball against the zone as well and then relocated -- forcing defenders to communicate rather than just staying stagnant and waiting for the ball to come back his way. That also allowed Patton to get some long offensive rebounds and create second-chance opportunities. Patton is also a presence defensively. He moves his feet really well in isolation situations and will jump the passing lanes when a lazy pass is thrown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='A.J.' last='Bender'] - 2025 - PG - [program_tooltip program_id='2076218' first='Wisconsin' last='Playground Club']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eager to see if Bender takes some of this momentum and translates it to the Under Armour Circuit in July. He's definitely had some tough stretches this spring, but Bender's consistency and value to PGC have gone way up over the last several weeks as he now appears to be finding himself. The Lake Mills guard is a violent slasher that can finish at top-end speed, seeks out contact, and finds ways to get the ball in the hole while seemingly playing out of control. The left is also shooting it well off the catch and with his long, sweeping stroke, looks really good when he catches off dribble penetration and has some time to set his feet. Now that Bender has a better feel for his teammates, you're seeing him be more vocal as he is in high school and figuring out where his guys like the basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1412881"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020ce4e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1258491' first='Carter' last='Combs'] - 2024 - PG - Milwaukee Trailblazers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Combs is a really nice point guard that gets his guys the ball in positions to succeed. Might not take a ton of shots, but Combs is definitely a big part of the offense. The Waukesha West guard plays at a high tempo, pushes the ball up the floor with the pass, not the dribble, and can thread the needle with the basketball. There's really good zip on his passes as well. Combs might be elite in the state when it comes to crosscourt passes and putting it right in the shooting pocket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1258491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020ce90"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1539509' first='Caleb' last='Poling'] - 2025 - F - 24:UP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every time I see Poling, I come away more impressed. The Mukwonago forward got matched up with some high level prospects this weekend and really gave it to them at times. A matchup problem given his outside shooting ability, length, and finesse finishing touch around the rim, Poling makes you chase him around the perimeter and move laterally when he opts to put it on the deck. A long strider, Poling is very smooth and gets to the rim quickly. He can finish at seemingly impossible angles at times and really knows how to evade shot blockers. A sweet shooter from downtown, Poling is very much a factor in the pick n' pop game and will space the floor at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1539509"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020ced0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1887192' first='Walter' last='Berns'] - 2024 - SG - [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a so-so weekend at the Battle at the Lakes, Berns came out and was one of the top players overall in Appleton. One of the best ways to get out of a scoring slump -- focus on every other part of the game and let the offense come to you. Thought Berns did an outstanding job of doing just that. Saw him just flying around defensively, making hustle plays, creating turnovers, and stealing rebounds. All of a sudden, his offense came back to him and Berns was playing with a supreme level of confidence. Going against a lot of the top players in the state, Berns had some of the best spurts of anyone in the field. A skilled, three-level scorer with good size (6-4) and athleticism, Berns is a prototypical D2/D3 shooting guard prospect in a lot of ways. If he plays with this type of energy and effort going forward, he's going to jump in the rankings big time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1887192"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64762f020cf0e"} /-->