Schools that did the best job recruiting Wisconsin in 2020

Taking at look at nine schools who did the best job recruiting the state of Wisconsin during the 2020 recruiting cycle... UW-GREEN BAY The Phoenix landed their guy on Tuesday in [player_tooltip player_id="694793" first="Terrance" last="Thompson"]. The La Crosse Central product gives Linc Darner a nice centerpiece to build around. While Thompson has always been overshadowed some by playing with the Davis brothers, he’s a really strong mid-major prospect with plenty of upside left. The 6-foot-8 forward runs like a deer, has a seven-foot wingspan, can shoot the 3 consistently, and has impressive athleticism for such a strong build. Green Bay also got [player_tooltip player_id="811844" first="Ryan" last="Claflin"] (Southern Door) on a 4-for-5 deal. The state’s No. 19 ranked senior, Claflin emerged last spring/summer and is just scratching the surface. The 6-foot-6 swingman has mismatch nightmare potential, but at his bottom, should be a utility guy who can contribute in a variety of ways. Had it not been for Wisconsin, I think the Phoenix may have gotten [player_tooltip player_id="880970" first="Jordan" last="Davis"] too. WISCONSIN Greg Gard got the guy from in-state that he absolutely couldn’t afford to miss. [player_tooltip player_id="544493" first="Johnny" last="Davis"] (La Crosse Central) gives the Badgers a potential future star at the wing position and somebody that should play right away and have a strong career. The state’s Mr. Basketball, Davis is a tenacious two-way player that can live at the rim or from the free throw line. He’s only getting better and better as a shooter as well. He’s not ranked as such by the major services, but Davis is UW’s best 2020 signee right now. Wisconsin also got a steal by getting [player_tooltip player_id="544505" first="Carter" last="Gilmore"] (Arrowhead) to walk on. One of the state’s most well-rounded and versatile prospects, Gilmore turned down numerous mid-major offers and perhaps even some high major offers if he played things out through his senior season to play for UW. In time, Gilmore will likely earn a scholarship, but you don’t get this type of talent to walk-on very often...if ever. People will have their opinions about [player_tooltip player_id="880970" first="Jordan" last="Davis"] and whether or not his scholarship is really about his brother, but Gard seems convinced that the 6-foot-4 wing can play at the Big Ten level. Davis could be the closest thing that UW has had to Clayton Hanson, who also was a mid-major recruit at UW-Milwaukee before following Bo Ryan to Madison -- a guy who can focus on stopping the other team’s best player and hit open 3’s when the ball is swung his way. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Bryan Mullins has gotten back-to-back big additions from the state of Wisconsin. In 2019, it was Mr. Basketball and former Waupun star Marcus Domask. All Domask did in year one was win Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, averaging 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. I think SIU got another instinct impact and building block piece in 2020 with [player_tooltip player_id="544501" first="Dalton" last="Banks"]. The third-ranked prospect in Wisconsin’s senior class, Banks is a triple-double threat from the point guard spot. A three-level scorer who can take over a game in all sorts of ways offensively, Banks is a pretty complete point guard prospect who can score in a variety of ways, be unselfish and make the right basketball play, defend, run the fast break, and get his guys organized in the halfcourt. WOFFORD When you think about Wofford, you think of sharpshooting guards who high major schools hate facing in the NCAA Tournament because they can ruin your bracket. That feels a lot like [player_tooltip player_id="544541" first="Max" last="Klesmit"] (Neenah). A deadly sniper who can play on or off the ball, Klesmit has the potential to be a star in Spartanburg. A guy I was admittedly off on last spring and had him pegged as a really good Division 2 guard, Klesmit got better and better and rose to the No. 5 spot in the class of 2020 rankings. Looking at the entire 2020 class rankings, I’m not sure there’s a guy that found a better system fit than Klesmit and Wofford. WINONA STATE The Warriors are set to sign three players from Wisconsin in their 2020 class, but you also have to talk about the addition of South Dakota State transfer Alou Dillon. The former Wauwatosa West star has two years left and should be a major addition for Todd Eisner. That 1-2 punch of Dillon and former Whitnall standout Kevion Taylor could be very dangerous. Winona State also got the highest-upside Division 2 prospect in Wisconsin in [player_tooltip player_id="553411" first="Malik" last="Abdul-Wahid"]. The Brookfield Central wing/forward is just scratching the surface and made a huge jump from his junior to senior year. [player_tooltip player_id="811026" first="Carson" last="Arenz"] (Onalaska) and [player_tooltip player_id="880984" first="Carter" last="Lomas"] (Wauzeka-Steuben) help round out the class and are two prospects who will make the Warriors more versatile and provide a strong outside shooting presence. ROCKHURST Two quality guards are set to head to Kansas City next season. [player_tooltip player_id="544519" first="Jake" last="Buchanan"], who I think has D1 skills, is a potential foundation pickup for Rockhurst. I once watched this kid take down a shoe company program featuring a five-star shooting guard with a Duke offer and a kid committed to a Big Ten program like it was nothing. I’ve said this before, if Buchanan was 6-feet tall, he’d have a strong D1 offer list. [player_tooltip player_id="774476" first="Aidan" last="Clarey"] (Brookfield Academy) is also signed to play for the Hawks. A dangerous sharpshooter who can play either guard spot, Clarey has put up big numbers his whole career. Clarey has a knack for making difficult shots on the ball or off the catch. Wouldn’t be surprised if opponents struggle to find ways to take him out of the game in the coming years. Buchanan and Clarey will join former Catholic Memorial standout Rich Byhre, who I thought was one of the better Division 2 prospects in the 2019 class. TRINIDAD STATE The junior college program went and got a nice package deal with [player_tooltip player_id="880978" first="Tyrese" last="England"] (Wisconsin Lutheran) and [player_tooltip player_id="811845" first="Javeon" last="Tolliver"] (Milwaukee Lutheran). The two guards played AAU together and had terrific chemistry. They’ll continue that at the college level. Both England and Tolliver fit the JUCO level very well and in two years could be the radar of Division 1 programs in need of scoring playmakers. Tolliver is more of a pure point guard, but he has excellent size, handles, and a feel for the game. If his outside and mid-range shooting improves, he could be a very hot prospect when his time at the JUCO level is up, especially if he fills out his very raw and lanky frame. England is a terrific isolation scorer. He’s the type of kid you put the ball in his hands and get out of the way. While he’s undersized, England still has the ability to finish at the rim. He has impressive hang time and can adjust in mid-air amongst the trees. UW-STEVENS POINT Bob Semling has reeled in some of the better under the radar prospects in recent memory. And it’s not that big of a surprise since and his staff are often the first to arrive in the gym and the last to leave during the evaluation periods. The Pointers start things off with [player_tooltip player_id="880975" first="Trey" last="Zastrow"] (Manitowoc Lutheran). I’m sure a lot of schools cooled on him because of his size, but Zastrow is a Divison 1 level shooter that simply doesn’t miss rhythm looks. Defenses have to account for him and Zastrow will at the very least opening up driving lanes as you just can’t leave or help off of him. Stevens Point also went up to Northland Pines and got [player_tooltip player_id="881004" first="Ryan" last="Peterson"], who scored 1,400 career points. The Pointers also added some toughness in the form of [player_tooltip player_id="935430" first="Ryan" last="Genrich"] (Mukwonago). Earlier this week, they pulled in sleeper Ethan Breheim (Alma Center Lincoln), who averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds as a senior. Could be a rebuilding season in 2020-21 for Stevens Point, who lost some top seniors, but they’ve got some good, young pieces, including Kaden Clark (Appleton East) and Mayson Hazaert (Wrightstown) from the 2020 class. UW PLATTEVILLE I like the combination of [player_tooltip player_id="880977" first="Ben" last="Probst"] (Madison La Follette) and [player_tooltip player_id="935428" first="Logan" last="Pearson"] (Kimberly). Thought Jeff Gard did one of the best evaluation jobs in the state with Pearson, who was a seldom-used player as a junior, but had a breakout senior season. The Pioneers got a commitment done before that ever happened. Probst has a chance to be a strong two-way player in the WIAC. A blue collar wing who makes shots, defends, and has the clutch gene, Probst should be a multi-year contributor at Platteville. Gard also got a very intriguing forward in Ben Olsen (Holmen). An athletic forward who can run the floor, rebound, and score around the rim, Olsen was one of the best-kept secrets in the state. Olsen should be a junkyard dog-type player in the WIAC, but has the potential to really expand his skillset as well. Wisconsin Dells forward Sam Millard is also part of this group. Millard won a ton of games with the Chiefs over the last couple seasons and has some budding versatility to keep tabs on in the coming years. Others: Michigan Tech, UW-Whitewater, Bradley, Valparaiso, UW-Milwaukee, Minnesota-Crookston, Northern Michigan, UW-La Crosse