Recap: Rock Spring Classic Day 2
STOUGHTON — Day two of the 2018 Rock Spring Classic featured the end of pool play and the beginning of bracket play. Taking part in one of the Midwest’s fastest growing events, the Playground Warriors won their pool with two solid wins on Saturday…
Dalton Banks – 2020 – PG – D1 Minnesota
Banks can push the tempo and dish the ball in transition. The 6-foot-1 guard has a strong handle and a built upper body that sheds and pushes aside contact in the open floor. Around the rim, Banks can hang and finish against contact. He displayed great body control after taking some big shots around the rim. Banks doesn’t settle for shot. He’s always looking to get to the rack, but can knock down his open jumpers consistently. Getting some mid-major interest this spring, Banks has some Division 1 qualities that will keep schools watching throughout the next year or longer.
Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – Playground Warriors
Davis is a relentless and tenacious prospect on both ends of the floor. Even if he’s not shooting well, this is the type of player that doesn’t let it affect the other parts of his game. First and foremost, Davis is going to shut down the other team’s best player and create havoc defensively. A long, 6-foot-4 wing, Davis gets after people and plays the passing lanes exceptionally well. Davis works the offensive glass with a ferocity. He believes every 50-50 ball is his and few can match his will. Improving offensively, Davis now has a consistent mid-range game. He’s always been a strong slashing presence, but continues to work on that jumper and expand his range. He had two double-figure scoring efforts on Saturday as PGC won their pool.
Donovan Ivory – 2019 – F – Wisconsin Blizzard – Ivory
A key member of Kaukauna’s state championship squad from this past season, Ivory affects the game in a variety of ways. A rim protector, Ivory blocks and alters a handful of shots each time out. The 6-foot-6 forward has intriguing length and times shots very well. He’ll get up and down the floor and doesn’t seem to tire, even if he’s not getting a ton of shots. Ivory makes his living on the offensive glass, gathering second chance opportunities and keeping plays alive for himself.
Gabe Madsen – 2020 – SG – Playground Warriors
Coming off a fantastic end to July, Madsen picked up where he left off. The sharpshooter was hitting all sorts of ridiculous shots on Saturday. Not only can defenders not give Madsen an inch of space to work with on the perimeter, but now he’s got the handles to shake defenders who try and crowd him and his quick, effortless stroke makes contesting his shots nearly impossible. The former Bloomer standout is taking on more of a primary role offensively on this year’s PGC squad. He scored 21 points in a win over Greenwood Elite and registered 11 in the victory against Young & Reckless. Madsen has appeared to have added some size and explosiveness. He’s now pushing 6’5″ and threw down a one-hand dunk in transition on Saturday, making it look easy.
Mason Madsen – 2020 – PG – Playground Warriors
Madsen was always a junkyard dog on defense. This spring, he looks much more confident in his offense. Madsen had a clutch 25-point effort to help rally the Playground Warriors past Illinois Young and Reckless Saturday afternoon. With quicker handles, a more reliable jumper, and some added strength around the rim, Madsen has definitely boosted his stock. The former Bloomer standout, now at Rochester Mayo (MN), had 36 points in two games on Saturday.
Will Mahoney – 2019 – PG – Ray Allen Select
A top 40 prospect in the state of Wisconsin, Mahoney came out on fire Saturday morning. There was no way of knowing he and Ray Allen Select tipped off at 8 a.m. as Mahoney was draining jumpers at a high clip. A good off the ball shooter, Mahoney is more of a point guard, but thrives on the perimeter as a catch and shoot threat. Mahoney scored 10 points right out of the gate and by then RAS was well in the driver’s seat. Also a strong ball handler with some burst, Mahoney can play in the open floor. He pushes the tempo and makes good decisions with the basketball and can get coast-to-coast.
Gage Malensek – 2019 – PG – Iowa Barnstormers
Malensek gave the Iowa Barnstormers a nice boost off the bench in their win over D1 Minnesota on Saturday. The junior guard hit some tough, contested shots and was also able to live at the rim down the stretch as the Barnstormers held on for a win. A speedy floor general that plays with really good tempo, Malensek puts a ton of pressure on the defense. He loves to work his way into the paint and either get all the way to the basket or probe and find open cutters/shooters. Drawing a handful of mid-major interest this spring, Malensek is surely a Division 2 prospect with the chance to play his way to the highest level.
Rocky Martinez – 2019 – SF – Young Legends
Martinez continues to show he’s one of the top sleepers in the state of Wisconsin. After another strong performance Saturday night, Martinez proved his Friday night effort which caught our attention wasn’t a fluke. The 6-foot-4 wing shoots it very well from the outside. He’s got a smooth stroke and isn’t fazed by tight coverage. While he’s pretty smooth and more of a finesse player, Martinez put the ball on the deck and finished off some strong drives on Saturday, almost welcoming contact with his rather thin frame.
Reed Miller – 2019 – SF – Playground Warriors
Miller is a sniper that shot the ball well on Saturday. At 6-foot-6, Miller stretches the floor and is a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc. Miller can boost his stock if he develops his handles and ability to drive to the rim — something he does show in spurts. A long, raw prospect, Miller has a chance to develop into a mismatch problem offensively. Division 2 schools will want to monitor his progress closely this spring/summer.
Cole Nau – 2019 – PG – Ray Allen Select
Continue to be impressed by the all-around ability of Nau. If you need a bucket, he’ll deliver. If you need him to be a facilitator, few do it better around the state. If you need a floor general to get people organized and runs sets to perfect execution, Nau gets his guys in line. On top of all that, this one of the most sound perimeter defenders in the Midwest. Nau just doesn’t give up buckets. Division 1 schools are eyeing Nau going into the spring. He’d be a great fit in the Ivy or Patriot Leagues.
Luke Taylor – 2019 – PF – Wisconsin RAP
We’ve been talking about Taylor for months now. On Saturday, he had yet another strong performance in a win over Illinois Attack. A skilled, versatile big man, Taylor is a mismatch problem with his ability to handle and shoot the basketball as well as score from all areas of the floor. No matter where Taylor catches the basketball, he’s a problem. On the block, Taylor is comfortable with his primary and secondary moves. He’s a terrific passer out of double teams and can find his shooters. From the high post, Taylor can slash or create easy buckets with his high-low passing. The 6-foot-7 forward will also step out and shoot the basketball and knock down triples consistently or take slower bigs off the dribble. Getting some Division 2 interest, Taylor feels like a scholarship player at the next level.