Summer Challenge: Wisconsin Superlatives
In this article:
AURORA, Ill. — Wisconsin superlatives from the 2019 Prep Hoops Summer Challenge…
17U MVP
Brandin Podziemski
Brandin
Podziemski
6'6" | SG
Saint John's Northwestern Academy | 2021
State
#232
Nation
WI
– Wisconsin Rap
Podziemski came up with 29 points against Fundamental U to lead Wisconsin Rap to the 17U title. The SJNMA standout continues to wow us with his ability to dominate at the 17U level. Nobody heard much about Podziemski last season, despite averaging north of 20 points per game and winning Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore. All he’s done since is win and put up big numbers. Up to No. 9 in the class of 2021 rankings, Podziemski has not only earned a top 10 spot, but continued to suggest that he should be even higher.
Runner-Up: Darius Hannah Darius Hannah 6'8" | PF Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2020 State #345 Nation WI – All-In Gold Gauntlet
16U MVP
Hayden Doyle
Hayden
Doyle
6'0" | CG
Brookfield East | 2021
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
Playground Club was the lone Wisconsin team to reach the 16U semifinals. There are a number of players you could pick here, but I thought Doyle found something this weekend in Chicago and made it extremely difficult to take him off the floor — in fact he didn’t in the second half during a slugfest against JH1 Elite, a game PGC doesn’t win without him. Doyle is a gritty, hard-nosed guard that makes toughness plays and rubs off on his teammates. When it was time to hit a big shot, the Brookfield East guard didn’t hesitate and often came through.
Runner-Up:
Cameron Palesse
Cameron
Palesse
6'3" | CG
Waukesha West | 2021
State
#249
Nation
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
15U MVP
Jack Rose
Jack
Rose
6'5" | SG
Westosha Central | 2022
State
#213
Nation
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
Coming into this weekend, I thought I had perhaps over-ranked Rose a bit. He wasn’t a household name in this state and doesn’t have the size/measurables of some of the other top prospects in his class. Then he came out and dominated everyone in his path. Now, I’m starting to think Rose could be a top three player in the 2022 class. The 6-foot-3 wing shot the ball exceptionally well and opened eyes with his ability to school athletic guards and wings off the bounce while hitting shots with his momentum falling away from the basket. The best thing about Rose, however is his motor. The Westosha Central product sprints up and down the floor, battles for every rebound and loose ball, and is a willing defender.
Runner-Up:
Luke Haertle
Luke
Haertle
6'2" | SG
Lake Country Lutheran | 2022
State
WI
/Wisconsin Playground Club
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Darius Hannah Darius Hannah 6'8" | PF Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2020 State #345 Nation WI – All-In Gold Gauntlet
A torn ACL forced Hannah to miss nearly his entire junior season. He wasn’t showing many ill effects in Chicago. The high-upside forward was flashing all sorts of things as All-In reached the 17U quarterfinals before falling in a tight game to Wisconsin Playground Club. At 6-foot-9, Hannah is a scary mismatch nightmare with his ability to handle the ball, shoot from distance, or face-up from mid-range. Given Hannah’s ridiculous length and exciting bounce, he’s likely moving back into the top 10 rankings in 2020.
Runner-Up: Aiden Flynn Aiden Flynn 6'5" | PF Marquette | 2020 State WI – Wisconsin Rap, Jacob Ognacevic Jacob Ognacevic 6'8" | PF Sheboygan Lutheran | 2020 State #413 Nation WI – Wisconsin Playground Club
SURPRISE PERFORMANCE
Josh Crubaugh
Josh
Crubaugh
6'4" | SF
New Berlin Eisenhawer | 2021
State
WI
– JH1 Elite
We went into the 16U quarterfinals ready to watch
Isaiah Hammond
Isaiah
Hammond
6'3" | SG
Msl | 2021
State
WI
and
Owen Meyer
Owen
Meyer
6'2" | PG
Germantown | 2021
State
WI
against Wisconsin Playground Club. We left talking about
Josh Crubaugh
Josh
Crubaugh
6'4" | SF
New Berlin Eisenhawer | 2021
State
WI
. In a high-level contest, Crubaugh connected on five triples, hitting big shot after big shot to keep his team in the game. The New Berlin Eiesenhower standout showed terrific moxy in a packed gym while pressure was mounting with every possession. Playground Club threw a number of different defenders at Crubaugh throughout the game, but it was always pretty much the same result.
Runner-Up: Kai Buliox Kai Buliox 6'0" | PG Milwaukee King | 2020 State WI – Wisconsin Surge
BIGGEST SLEEPER
John Lovelace John Lovelace 6'4" | SF Brown Deer | 2021 State WI – ABC Young Lions
A prospect that just seems to thrive while flying under the radar, Lovelace continues to produce at strong level, despite not getting a ton of notoriety in the state. Lovelace has the size and build to play and defend a variety of positions. Pretty versatile, he’s not limited to being labeled as a slasher, shooter, etc.
Runner-Up: Tyrese England Tyrese England 6'1" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2020 State WI – Wisconsin United
TOP YOUNG PROSPECT
Leon Bond
Leon
Bond
6'5" | SF
Wauwatosa East | 2022
State
#62
Nation
WI
– JH1 Elite
Here, we’re looking at upside and potential more so than all-around performance. Bond may not have had the best weeked in the 15U Division, but may have wowed us the most. A 6-foot-4 combo forward with length and exciting bounce, Bond was special in the open floor and in isolation settings. His jumper definitely needs work, but the Wauwatosa East product has some exciting tools around the basket and plays with high energy on both ends of the floor.
Runner-Up:
Danilo Jovanovich
Danilo
Jovanovich
6'6" | PF
Whitnall | 2022
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
TOP FLOOR GENERAL
Jacob Hefle Jacob Hefle 6'1" | PG Germantown | 2020 State WI – Wisconsin Surge Elite
The Surge weren’t at full strength this weekend, but credit to Hefle, who seemed to elevate the play of those around him. Hefle showcased a lot of high-IQ play over the weekend. The Germantown standout does a great job of putting his teammates into position to succeed. While he’s a pass-first guard, Hefle picks his spots well offensively and can go get a bucket when it’s needed.
Runner-Up:
Casey Verhagen
Casey
Verhagen
6'0" | PG
Sheboygan Area Lutheran | 2022
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club,
Javeon Tolliver
Javeon
Tolliver
6'0" | PG
Milwaukee Lutheran | 2020
State
WI
(Wisconsin United)
TOP POST PRESENCE
Gavin Mcgrath
Gavin
Mcgrath
6'10" | C
Onalaska | 2021
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
McGrath continues to take positive steps in his development. This was a guy that wasn’t getting on the floor in AAU a year ago. Now, he’s starting for one of the top 16U teams in the Midwest. Things are really starting to click for the Onalaska native, who had stretches of dominance on the offensive glass and as a shot blocker. At 6-foot-10, McGrath can move quite well. He’s also much better at establishing position on the block and scoring with his back to the basket than he was even this past spring.
Runner-Up:
Jayquan Hickles
Jayquan
Hickles
6'5" | PF
Milwaukee King | 2022
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
BEST SHOOTER
Zac Johnson
Zac
Johnson
6'3" | SG
River Falls | 2021
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playmakers
A lot of good candidates here, but we’ll go with Johnson for two reasons. First, his short term memory is highly advanced. Johnson can have missed a handful of shots in a row, but his confidence nor shot selection does not waiver. Secondly, the River Falls sniper takes and makes some of the more difficult attempts in the state. He’s not a guy that relies on a lot of screens to get open. Johnson is fine operating with minimal space, sometimes well beyond the arc.
Runner-Up:
Jack Rose
Jack
Rose
6'5" | SG
Westosha Central | 2022
State
#213
Nation
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club,
Arion Burns
Arion
Burns
5'11" | PG
Milwaukee Bradley Tech | 2020
State
WI
– Wisconsin Surge Davis,
Brandin Podziemski
Brandin
Podziemski
6'6" | SG
Saint John's Northwestern Academy | 2021
State
#232
Nation
WI
– Wisconsin Rap,
Parker Nielsen
Parker
Nielsen
6'2" | CG
Prescott | 2020
State
WI
– Minnesota Select,
Owen Ziegler
Owen
Ziegler
6'1" | SG
Mount Horeb | 2020
State
WI
– Wisconsin Hoops Select,
Andrew Alia
Andrew
Alia
6'2" | SG
Kenosha St. Joseph | 2022
State
WI
– Wisconsin Playground Club
