Jacob is an unselfish point guard who was constantly looking to get his teammates involved. He excelled out in transition where he could push the pace and dish off well timed passes to teammates. Took a defensive rebound and dribbled the length of the floor before kicking it out to an open shooter in the corner. Less than a minute later Jacob drained a three of his own from the top of the key after his defender overcommitted up the passing lane. Jacob plays with impressive change of speed for a young guard. He displayed some of the best vision at the event as he dished out a number of assists throughout the game.

Altoona is going to be a problem in the Middle Border Conference in 2026-27 with the return of senior guards Graysen Becker Graysen Becker 6'2" | PG Altoona | 2027 State WI and Owen Gunderson Owen Gunderson 6'1" | SG/PG Altoona | 2027 State WI . You can add Jacob Kelbel Jacob Kelbel 6'0" | PG Altoona | 2029 State WI to that list of strong players for the Rails. The gifted outside shooter also flashed the ability to use a ball fake to get defenders out of position before driving hard to score at the rim. Kelbel earned varsity minutes as a freshman and has advanced his game and physicality since the end of last season, making him an important piece for an Altoona team looking to win a league crown and make some noise in March.

Kelbel, a 6-0 guard, out of Altoona was a name that I had not heard off heading into the summer. Having watched some film, and seen his various stat lines, I can firmly saw that he is having a terrific summer for the Wisconsin Playmakers . With a quick release, and a smooth stroke, Kelbel looks like every bit of the player that shot 45.5 % from distance last season. Watching his game further, his complete offensive arsenal stands out including his relentlessness in getting to the rim and finishing through contact while drawing a ton of fouls. Paired with two returning 20 point scorers, I could see Kelbel joining them as a “Big 3” to help the Railroaders over the hump this winter.

Kelbel was a relentless downhill attacker for Team 2, using quickness and a tight handle to get to the rim. His aggressive drives put pressure on defenses and frequently earned him trips to the free throw line. Kelbel showed strong decision-making in traffic and never let up with his motor, making him one of the tougher guards to contain from start to finish.

Kelbel proved to have a good motor. He spaced the floor out in a major major way for team 4. He showed a high level understanding of where to be and get to in the right moment. 

Kelbel is a high IQ guard who ran with Wisconsin Playmakers over the summer. The 5’8 guard was very crafty with the ball in his hands. He possessed high level ball security, and kept defenders at distance on his hip. His movement off of the ball allowed for him to get some very clean looks at the basket from distance. Most impressive was his ability to space the floor overall on the offensive end.

Jacob Kelbel Jacob Kelbel 6'0" | PG Altoona | 2029 State WI showcased a strong ability to pop out to the left wing, where he was consistently open for three-pointers off the catch. Kelbel also showcased the skill to create his own shot by taking his defender to the right before swiftly spinning to his left hand, allowing him a straight-line drive to the rim.

Jacob Kelbel Jacob Kelbel 6'0" | PG Altoona | 2029 State WI showcased a well-rounded scoring arsenal from multiple levels of the floor, both in isolation and within the flow of the game. Proficient from beyond the arc, he could score off the bounce, the catch, or the dribble-handoff with a smooth, high release. His skill set made him effective in the mid-range game, using a creative dribble to pull up smoothly. At the rim, Kelbel played with balanced body control and craftiness, converting shots even against traffic. He drove to the basket with fluidity and finesse, utilizing his off-hand and footwork to maintain space from defenders.