Wisconsin’s top 17U club teams (Week 4)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARTING FIVE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. [program_tooltip program_id='2076218' first='Wisconsin' last='Playground Club'] UAA (19-3)</strong><br>The offers keep rolling in for Wisconsin Lutheran's [player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'], a 6-foot-7 wing who has led the [program_tooltip program_id='2076218' first='Wisconsin' last='Playground Club'] to a stellar record this spring. The versatility and productivity of Zens has impressed just about every mid major program in the Midwest. Bradley, Drake, Miami (Ohio), Northern Iowa, St. Thomas and Wyoming are the latest to offer Zens, a key player on Wisconsin Lutheran's Division 2 state-title team in 2024 and on the Vikings' Division 1 championship squad in 2025. Brookfield Central forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561913' first='Henry' last='Gruetzmacher'] also is playing well for PGC and recently earned an offer from NCAA Division II Northern Michigan. [player_tooltip player_id='1749722' first='Jakari' last='Smith'] of Milwaukee Bradley Tech is another player on this squad beginning to create some buzz with Division I schools. The Playground Club is off now until the Prep Hoops Tune-Up in Illinois July 5-6.<br><br><strong>2. [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] Nike EYBL (15-10)</strong><br>[program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] went 2-2 over the weekend in EYBL play in Kansas City. Several players played well for [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'], including Wisconsinites [player_tooltip player_id='2045301' first='Vaughn' last='Karvala'] of Oregon, [player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'] of Mount Horeb and [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'] of West Allis Central. The remainder of the team, at this point, is composed of players from other states. [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] is 6-5 on the EYBL circuit and hopeful of qualifying for the Peach Jam event in July. [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] posted an impressive 79-75 win over the Oakland Soldiers on Monday behind 24 points from Karvala, 18 from Jayden Moore of Minnesota and 17 from Manchester. Tyran Stokes, the No. 1-ranked player in the nation in the 2026 class, had 21 points for the Soldiers.<br><strong><br>3. [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] New Balance Prelude 32 (16-3)</strong><br>The Playmakers did not play over the weekend, but are slated to travel to the Milwaukee area for the Midwest Classic on Saturday and Sunday. Outings with [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] North Elite, Darius Garland Elite, Zero Star Basketball and CBA Gold Elite are slated for this squad, which is loaded with scholarship prospects for the NCAA Division II and, possibly, Division I levels. [player_tooltip player_id='2045266' first='Mike' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561874' first='Nathan' last='Ramus'], [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561908' first='Grant' last='Hardy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1973116' first='Bryce' last='Ott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2045262' first='Calvin' last='Anderson'] all own DII offers. And sharpshooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'] of Regis recently picked up an offer from DIII power St. John's, Minn.<br><br><strong>4. [program_tooltip program_id='2076433' first='Kevon' last='Looney Power 5'] 3SSB (9-13)</strong><br>This squad did not compete last week and remains in a bit of transition with its roster. The good news is [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'] of Beloit Memorial and [player_tooltip player_id='1561939' first='Ethan' last='Joling'] of Hortonville are beginning to generate serious interest from a number of NCAA Division I programs. Hereford owns offers from Cal Poly, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and Western Illinois while Joling is picking up steam with Illinois State. Power 5 is hopeful [player_tooltip player_id='1959723' first='LaMont' last='Hamilton'] of Racine St. Catherine's will be healthy when they resume play in July.<br><br><strong>5. [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] Under Armour Rise (15-8)</strong><br>Coach DJ Mlachnik's squad had last weekend off and figures to enter some solid competition this weekend in the Midwest Classic. On Saturday, [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] will match up with Full Package Black out of Illinois and CBA Gold Elite. On Sunday, [player_tooltip player_id='2391091' first='Tyler' last='Tiutczenko'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2677080' first='Zavier' last='Castillo'], [player_tooltip player_id='2500051' first='Omar' last='Fofana'] and Co. square off with Chapman North Elite and [program_tooltip program_id='2563276' first='Jay' last='Academy'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE NEXT FIVE<br><br>6. [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] North Elite (20-5)</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], [player_tooltip player_id='1970502' first='Cade' last='Dirkse'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2117025' first='Jamison' last='Zavatchin'], among others, competed in the Prep Hoops Hard Work Region Finals in the Twin Cities last weekend and went 4-1 to improve their season mark to 20-5. CBA North Elite advanced to the semifinal round of the championship bracket before dropping a 70-49 decision to eventual champion Minnesota Fury -- Antl. CBA North Elite will be in Milwaukee area for the Midwest Classic with a pair of intriguing games against state opponents [program_tooltip program_id='2480703' first='24:' last='UP'] Under Armour Rise and [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] P32.<br><strong><br>7. [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] Gold Elite Puma NXT (16-4)</strong><br>CBA went 4-0 at the Puma event at Homestead, posting wins over Kessell Heat, Quad City Shockers, Get Buckets or Die and [program_tooltip program_id='2139004' first='Team' last='Haliburton']. [player_tooltip player_id='1561963' first='Sam' last='Richter'] of Hartford, [player_tooltip player_id='2498966' first='Darrius' last='Peete'] of Germantown, [player_tooltip player_id='2116495' first='Cahlil' last='Jones'] of Germantown, [player_tooltip player_id='1561962' first='JJ' last='Walters'] of Germantown and [player_tooltip player_id='2500873' first='Marcus' last='Webb'] of Whitefish Bay all had strong moments over the weekend for CBA Gold Elite, which will compete in the Midwest Classic on Saturday and Sunday.<br><br><strong>8. [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'] -- Hibner (17-7)</strong><br>This squad is off now until July, but collegiate recruiters in pursuit of the Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'] of Lakeside Lutheran, [player_tooltip player_id='1561944' first='Jacob' last='Hibner'] of Stoughton, Colin Branch of Milton and Drew Aschilman of Mineral Point can catch those players and all of the others with this talented team with their respective high school teams in June.<br><br><strong>9. [program_tooltip program_id='2512324' first='Wisconsin' last='Legends'] (12-3)</strong><br>The Legends return to action this weekend at Gateway Sports Academy and Homestead after a few weeks off. The Legends will encounter some stiff competition as well as they face off with [program_tooltip program_id='2078394' first='Team' last='1848'] National, [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] -- Spears and [program_tooltip program_id='2245199' first='Pride' last='Roc'] -- Bynum, among others. Those outings will give [player_tooltip player_id='2092138' first='Sawyer' last='Durkee'] of Bay Port, [player_tooltip player_id='2400924' first='Noah' last='Maniscalco'] of De Pere, [player_tooltip player_id='2400483' first='Jack' last='Bookter'] of De Pere, [player_tooltip player_id='2400083' first='Leo' last='Weber'] of Notre Dame and [player_tooltip player_id='2400119' first='Jack' last='Warden'] of Notre Dame an opportunity to prove their status with collegiate scouts.<br><strong><br>10. [program_tooltip program_id='2078835' first='Wisconsin' last='Swing'] Bredesen Recruit Look (12-12)</strong><br>After a weekend off, the Swing get back on the court this upcoming weekend with four games at the Midwest Classic. Coach Matt Bredesen's squad will compete against Hoops4Health out of Illinois, [program_tooltip program_id='2563276' first='Jay' last='Academy'] of Wisconsin, Darius Garland Elite of Indiana, and DistinXion of Indiana. [player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'] of Elkhorn, [player_tooltip player_id='1561900' first='Brody' last='Gilbertson'] of Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln and [player_tooltip player_id='2045300' first='Broker' last='Buschor'] of Darlington have stood out for the Swing this spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->