Under-the-radar performers from Majerus WBY Shootout

The Prep Hoops Wisconsin Player Rankings will be updated this month and several players currently a bit under-the-radar figure to move up substantially from their present positioning in their respective classes. Here's a look some players from the Rick Majerus Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout who improved their stock.    Playing against a bigger school with a great basketball tradition didn't faze Vandenberg, who scored 27 points in Freedom's 74-58 triumph over Brookfield Central. The sturdy 6-foot-1 shooting guard torched the nets for 17 points in the first half as the Irish took a 35-31 edge into halftime. He then added 10 more in the second 18 minutes to help stave off any potential comeback by the Lancers. Vandenberg made five three-point baskets in the game and also got to the basket to score five additional field goals. He made 10-of-15 shots from the field and added five assists. Vandenberg plays exceptionally well off of two feet, takes good shots and competes with energy and toughness on defense.     A wing guard with size, athleticism and skill, Zawacki is quickly emerging as one of the better uncommitted players in the state's 2026 class. He went for 25 points in Kingdom Prep Lutheran's 74-63 victory over Milwaukee King, sinking three triples, finishing above the rim in transition and making six-of-nine attempts from the foul line. Zawacki also is an active defender, using his length and speed to make things tough on opponents. He teams with [player_tooltip player_id='2832087' first='Ladarius' last='Finkley'] to give first-year coach Chauncey Russell one of the better one-two scoring punches in the Midwest Classic Conference. Zawacki is a player with lots of tools and the potential to put on weight and become an even more effective player going to the basket off the bounce.     At 6-feet, 9-inches and light on his feet, Rasberry brings a defensive presence in the lane to the Arrowhead lineup. And now, the vastly improved big man is also finishing plays near the hoop with baskets. He scored 18 points for Arrowhead in its 71-69 loss to Slinger. He ran the floor exceptionally well, caught the ball in traffic and used the glass well to finish shots in the post. And defensively, Rasberry blocked a few shots and was a threat to block more, making the Slinger players think twice about scoring in the post. Rasberry certainly needs to get much stronger, but he brings qualities to the game that every team could use, particularly on defense.     A potent weapon off the bench for De Pere, Cohen showed the ability to get to the rim and finish while also knocking down some perimeter shots. His length, skill and verticality combination are tough to deal with and he's also aggressive with the ball in his hands, making it tough on opponents. Cohen had 12 points in De Pere's win over Milwaukee Academy of Science and 10 in the overtime triumph over Neenah. His scoring punch in a reserve role figures to be very important for coach Bria Winchester's squad all winter.     Hess doesn't wow you with his size or athleticism or physical strength. But you look up and he's making mid-range jump shots or scoring in transition or knocking the ball away from opponents. His production is solid and a big reason why Kettle Moraine Lutheran went 2-0 at the WBY Shootout with wins over Brookfield Academy and Living Word Lutheran. Hess finished with a team-high 22 points in the 85-70 win over Brookfield Academy, showing the ability to score in transition, in the half court and from outside the three-point arc. Hess' versatility to being able to play different positions also is a big asset for coach Josh Lindner's program.     A NCAA Division I baseball recruit for UW-Milwaukee, Alivo also is a solid basketball performer for St. Thomas More. He scored 16 points and swished four three-point baskets in a 71-65 come-from-behind win over Catholic Memorial. In that contest, Alivo had three triples in the second half to spark the triumph. Against Xavier, Alivo had a team-best 12 points and drilled two more triples. He is a good athlete with a sharp shooting eye, traits that figure to help the Cavaliers compete in the rugged Metro Classic Conference.     Coleman's shiftiness with the ball in his hands keeps defenders on their heels and he knows when to attack and score. He has a nice floater in the lane he manages to get up and over opponents while also hitting some shots from outside the arc. Coleman scored 21 points for University School in its 65-59 loss to Sheboygan Lutheran and helped to keep the Wildcats close throughout the contest. Coleman is averaging 22.8 points per game for coach Andy Fitzgerald's squad.     Bleck's ball skills are huge for Xavier as his ability to make three-point shots or use a ball fake to get to the basket. He helped the Hawks finish 1-1 at the WBY Shootout. Also a good baseball player, Bleck had 16 points and a couple of threes for the Hawks in their overtime loss to Notre Dame Academy before netting 21 in a win over St. Thomas More. Bleck's smooth stroke from deep helps to take some of the pressure off Xavier junior [player_tooltip player_id='2434543' first='Logan' last='Ramczyk'], who always attracts plenty of defensive attention.     [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'], [player_tooltip player_id='2411140' first='Kevin' last='Pittman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194435' first='Max' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2141478' first='Isaiah' last='Fox'] get most of the acclaim for West Allis Central. And all four of those players are outstanding performers for coach Dave Mlachnik. But the Bulldogs have another player vital to their success in Alland-Davis. A wing prospect with length and size, Alland-Davis put in eight huge points for West Allis Central in the Bulldogs' memorable 67-64 win over previously undefeated Wayzata, Minn. He then had 14 points in the 74-72 loss to Appleton North. Alland-Davis can slash to the basket with the best of them, but he can also make long-range jump shots. Defensively, his length and mobility are big assets for the Bulldogs.     Milwaukee Academy of Science didn't beat De Pere, but the Novas put a big scare into one of the state's top WIAA Division 1 teams. And that was largely due to the strong play of Valeri, who came out firing and scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half of the 84-81 setback. Valeri is a confident player with a quick first step and deep shooting range. He knocked down four triples for MAS in the loss to De Pere while also attacking the basket when defenders closed out too hard on him. A gym rat in every sense of the word, Valeri has stepped up his game this winter and become one of the go-to players for the MAS program.

The Prep Hoops Wisconsin Player Rankings will be updated this month and several players currently a bit under-the-radar figure to move up substantially from their present positioning in their respective classes.

Here's a look some players from the Rick Majerus Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout who improved their stock.