Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Some observations from the 10th annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout, held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Buuck Fieldhouse on the campus of Concordia University in Mequon:

Five Individual Standouts

Diamond Stone, 6-10, Sr., F/C, Dominican
Stone was dominant in leading the Knights to a victory over Wauwatosa West on the first day of the event, and then he turned in a workmanlike performance in a win over Wisconsin Lutheran on the final day of the Shootout. Stone showed the ability to consistently score in the post, but he also stepped outside and made a pair of three-point shots in the victory over Wauwatosa West. He also made free throws, blocked shots, grabbed rebounds and ran the floor en route to a 29-point outing against the Trojans. The development of his game and the maturity of his body over the last four years has been extremely impressive. Though no collegiate decision appears imminent, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Maryland and Oklahoma State remain options for the state's top-ranked class of 2015 prospect, who is averaging 25.7 ppg for the 6-1 Knights.

Matt Heldt, 6-10, Sr., F/C, Neenah
Heldt scored 28 points and snared 12 rebounds in a 67-63 loss to three-time defending WIAA Division 1 state champion Germantown. That's some pretty good production against the state's best program for the Marquette recruit, who has faced double teams and physical play for much of the season while competing in the Fox Valley Association. Heldt can use either hand in the post, runs the floor very well and gives 110 percent each time he steps onto the court. He has a nice shooting touch out to three-point range and is a very good passer when double teamed in the post. Heldt is averaging 15.9 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Rockets, who take a 5-2 record into their game against Bay Port on Saturday.

Henry Ellenson, 6-10, Sr., F, Rice Lake
It isn't always easy being a big man with a national reputation at the high school level. Opponents often use physical play and employ double- and even triple-teams in an effort to the keep players like Ellenson in check. Though Ellenson was often face-guarded while being bumped and pushed, he still managed some big production for a Rice Lake program coming off a runner-up finish in last year's WIAA Division 2 State Tournament. The Marquette recruit, who is ranked as the No. 4 player nationally by ESPN, scored 24 points in a 43-42 loss to Wauwatosa West and had 16 points and six blocked shots in a 65-57 loss to Kaukauna. His ability to make perimeter shots, bring the ball up the floor and battle in the post makes him perhaps the most versatile frontline player to ever come out of Wisconsin. 

Brevin Pritzl, 6-3, Sr., WG, De Pere
Pritzl is a good athlete and terrific perimeter shooter, but the thing he does better than any other player in Wisconsin is earn trips to the foul line. He uses and effective ball fake and explosive first step on the offensive end of the court to get to the line. He had 21 foul shot attempts in two games at the WBY Shootout. The University of Wisconsin recruit made 19 of those attempts in helping the Redbirds to victories over Mount Horeb and Arrowhead. He finished with 22 points after a slow start against Mount Horeb and added 32 points and a pair of three-point baskets against Arrowhead. Pritzl is off to a very good start for a rather young De Pere squad as he is averaging 27.2 points per game while helping the Redbirds to a 7-2 record. 

Trevor Anderson, 6-2, Jr., G, Stevens Point
Top-ranked Stevens Point led highly regarded Oshkosh North by four at the end of the first period, by nine at half and by 16 at the end of the third period on the way to a convincing 74-59 victory. Anderson's steady play and offensive explosiveness were big reasons behind the Panthers' triumph. The physically and mentally tough combination guard scored 27 points while also finding his talented teammates with solid passes for high percentage shots. Anderson is a bulldog off the dribble and, like Pritzl, gets to the foul line a lot and converts. Anderson has matured physically and emotionally for a Stevens Point team many believe will play for the Division 1 state championship in March.

Five Emerging Prospects

Garrison Goode, 6-8, Sr., F, Dominican
Goode's strong showing for Dominican caught the attention of the NCAA Division I coaches in attendance as the physically strong and athletic forward showed he could guard on the perimeter, score inside and outside, and use his athleticism to snare rebounds in traffic. After playing at Milwaukee Marquette through Christmas of last season, Goode is able to play his natural forward spot with Stone also in the Dominican lineup. He opened the Knights' victory over Wisconsin Lutheran with a one-handed monster jam on the way to scoring 13 points. He had 21 points in the victory over Wauwatosa West. Milwaukee and Sam Houston State have extended scholarship offers and more figure to come Goode's way over the next couple of months. 

Juwan McCloud, 5-11, Jr., PG, Germantown
Few guards in Wisconsin compete with a higher basketball IQ than McCloud, who runs the show with precision, intelligence and a high skill level for coach Steve Showalter and the Warhawks. One of the state's top class of 2016 prospects, McCloud led five Germantown players in double scoring figures with 16 points in the Warhawks' impressive 67-63 victory over Neenah. He did an excellent job of not turning the ball over while converting at a high percentage on his shot attempts. McCloud has led Germantown to a 7-0 record and currently owns Division I scholarship offers from Milwaukee and Northern Iowa. 

Te'jon Lucas, 6-0, Jr., PG, Milwaukee Washington
The transfer from Shorewood was outstanding in leading the Purgolders to an 81-60 victory over Whitefish Bay. He showed the ability to push the ball in transition, put consistent pressure on the ball defensively, and make difficult shots, both from beyond the arc and off the dribble. Lucas scored 29 points for coach Freddie Riley and used his speed, quickness and skill to repeatedly get open for his field-goal attempts. IUPUI and Milwaukee have extended DI offers to Lucas, who figures to receive additional offers in the near future.

James Batemon, 6-0, Sr., PG, Milwaukee Riverside
One of the best unsigned class of 2015 players in the state, Batemon led Riverside to victories over Shorewood and Wisconsin Lutheran with his excellent court sense, physical strength and ability to get by defenders. Physically and mentally tough, Batemon scored 17 points and made all five of his foul shots in a 94-75 win over Shorewood before scoring 10 points and running the offense in the Tigers' 67-53 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran. Several DI schools continue to show interest in Batemon, who can defend the full 94 feet. 

Ethan Bublitz, 6-1, Sr., G, Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Bublitz was a bit passive in the Chargers' 43-35 loss to an unbeaten and defensively solid Pius XI squad, but he erupted for 32 points in KML's 74-60 victory over Waupun in a battle of very strong D3 programs. Bublitz has good size and strength for a combination guard and can score in a variety of ways. He had three baskets from three-point range, went 9-of-10 from the foul line and had several impressive drives to the basket en route to scoring his team-high 32 points. Bublitz is receiving strong recruiting interest from several Division II programs and his strong showing at the WBY Shootout should only enhance his chances of landing a scholarship.

Five Class of 2017 and 2018 Prospects To Remember

Jordan McCabe, 5-11, Frosh., PG, Kaukauna
Simply put, McCabe's incredible showing in the Ghosts' victory over Rice Lake was the talk of the entire Shootout. The ball-handling whiz finished with 26 points in that contest and engineered Kaukauna's impressive running game by keeping his head up and either pushing the ball or passing ahead in transition. His ball-handling skills are second to none and his shot-making ability was also highly impressive. McCabe plays with confidence not found in many freshmen and his future, along with that of the Kaukauna program, appears exceptionally bright.

Joey Hauser, 6-6, Frosh., F, Stevens Point
Like McCabe, Hauser competes with extreme confidence and a skill level that belies his youth. At 6-6 and with an already developed frame, Hauser can score from the perimeter and in the lane. He buried a pair of three-point baskets early against Oshkosh North and finished with 15 points to help the Panthers to their victory. The younger brother of stellar Stevens Point junior Sam Hauser, Joey Hauser is definitely among a handful of big-time collegiate prospects in Wisconsin's class of 2018.    

Alou Dillon, 6-7, Soph., F, Wauwatosa West
Dillon had the best game of his high school basketball career in the Trojans' 43-42 upset victory over Rice Lake. The smooth and athletic wing forward scored 17 points in the contest and showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and get around defenders who either mid-range jump shots or layups. He also hit a three-point shot and made both of his free-throw attempts. Dillon has an excellent basketball frame and may have helped his stock with collegiate recruiters more than any other prospect in the 2017 class at the WBY Shootout. 

Terrence Lewis, 6-4, Soph., WF, Milwaukee Riverside
Lewis is a long, athletic and smooth wing player who can score in the open court and from outside the three-point arc. Though still growing into his body, Lewis nonetheless has the ball-handling skill and length necessary to get around his defender off the dribble. He finished with 14 points in the Tigers' win over Wisconsin Lutheran and had 18 in the triumph over Shorewood.

Adam Smith, 6-1, Soph., WG, Kaukauna
Smith was outstanding in the Ghosts' 71-56 victory over Mount Horeb. The smooth, skilled and athletic wing player attacked the basket, made shots from deep and found open teammates when his driving lanes were cut off. He finished with 22 points in the game and helped Kaukauna turn a 32-28 halftime lead into a 51-43 advantage heading into the final quarter with 10 third-period points. 

Five Lasting Impressions of the 10th annual WBY Shootout

1) Steffan Brown's game-winning tip-in. Wauwatosa West was expected to compete for the title in the Western Division of the Woodland Conference. And the Trojans could very well end up battling Pius XI and Pewaukee for the crown. But coach Chad Stelse would be the first to say his club got off to a slow start in 2014-15 as the Trojans entered the WBY Shootout with a 3-4 record, including a 2-2 league mark. After getting thumped by Dominican and Stone Monday, West squared off against Ellenson and Rice Lake Tuesday. The Trojans had a strong gameplan in place and executed it with efficiency. Wauwatosa West led throughout the game until Rice Lake got some free throws from Ellenson to take a 42-41 lead with under a minute left. With the clock winding down, Tosa West got off a shot that was off the mark, but senior guard Steffan Brown got in the lane, tipped the offensive rebound up and it went through the hoop with just seconds left, giving the Trojans an exciting 43-42 victory that could wind up being a season changer for Stelse and his squad. 

2) Germantown keeps winning. For those expecting Germantown to come down to Earth a bit this season, don't look know but the Warhawks are 7-0 and appear more than capable of capturing their fourth consecutive D1 state title. Germantown defeated Neenah 67-63 in its toughest test of the year. Not bad for a program that lost all five starters from a year ago, including three Division I players in Lamonte Bearden (Buffalo), Jake Showalter (North Dakota State) and Evan Wesenberg (North Dakota State). Germantown hasn't missed a beat in cruising to its strong start under coach Steve Showalter. McCloud handles things at point guard while seniors Dwayne Lawhorn (6-4), Brian Studer (6-2) and Kyle Theis (6-2) provide leadership and experience on the wing. Junior forwards Max Keefe (6-7) and Conner Edmonds (6-5) are versatile performers who can score. The grittiness and toughness of the players in this program is a direct reflection of the Warhawks' head coach and those positive traits haven't changed one iota from the past. 

3) Kaukauna's running game. Kaukauna has a team that loves to run. With four talented guards in the starting rotation, coach Mike Schalow has put a running game into place that overwhelmed both Mount Horeb and Rice Lake at the WBY Shootout. McCabe, Smith and seniors Carter Belling and Derek Hansen can score off the bounce and from deep and make the Ghosts' transition game an asset along with senior forward Nic Patterson (6-3), who plays bigger than his height and often triggers the Ghosts' running game with excellent outlet passes. Kaukauna improved to 8-0 with its two impressive victories, but the Ghosts figure to get plenty more challenges the rest of the way while competing against the likes of Neenah, Kimberly and Oshkosh North in the Fox Valley Association.

4) The strong play of Mukwonago senior Dane McDermott. Like Wauwatosa West, Mukwonago came into the WBY Shootout with a few bumps and bruises on its resume. The Indians lost four of their first six games and coming off consecutive trips to the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament, that 2-4 start raised more than a few eyebrows. But coach Jim Haasser's club rode the strong and smart play of senior guard Dane McDermott to impressive victories over Messmer and Oshkosh North at the WBY Shootout. McDermott didn't score at an extremely high level -- he averaged 10.5 ppg in the two games -- but he controlled things for Mukwonago and made excellent passes over North's 1-3-1 zone defense for layups in the Indians' upset win over the Spartans. McDermott is a tough, smart and physically strong point guard who definitely caught the attention of college coaches in attendance.

5) The impressive showing of Ashwaubenon and senior Kyle Monroe. Manitowoc Roncalli boasts, without question, one of the premier basketball programs in Wisconsin. Coach Joe Rux has built a dynasty at the Division 3 school and most expect the Jets to contend for the Olympian Conference title with Valders, Wrightstown and Brillion this winter. But Roncalli was absolutely no match for Ashwaubenon and senior standout Kyle Monroe on Wednesday. Still smarting from a 48-42 loss in Green Bay to Shawano on Tuesday evening, the Jaguars took out their frustrations from that loss on Roncalli. Ashwaubenon led 18-9 after the first period and it played even better the rest of the way in notching an eye-popping 64-32 victory. Monroe, a skilled left-handed wing player headed to Division II power Michigan Tech, finished with 20 points for coach John Miron. The returning Player of the Year in the Fox River Classic Conference is a joy to watch because he makes the right play on almost every possession. 

State Championship Outlook

Over the past three seasons, 11 of the 15 eventual WIAA state champions competed in December at the WBY Shootout.

Last season, Germantown (Division 1), Wisconsin Lutheran (Division 2) and Dominican (Division 4) competed at the WBY Shootout and then late won state titles.

This time around, the best bets for potentially winning a state championship at the Kohl Center in March include Stevens Point, Germantown, Neenah and Milwaukee Riverside in Division 1; Milwaukee Washington, Kaukauna, Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Lutheran, Rice Lake and Pius XI in Division 2; Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Waupun and Roncalli in Division 3; Dominican and Regis in Division 4; and Catholic Central in Division 5.

A few others who played well

A quick shout-out to the following players, who also played well for their respective teams at the WBY Shootout...

Bryce Beekman, 6-2, Jr., Wauwatosa East
Carter Belling, 6-1, Sr., Kaukauna
Levi Bradley, 6-7, Sr., Pius XI
Tywon Bressler Jr., 6-3, Sr., Domincan
Andre Carroll, 6-1, Sr., Wauwatosa West
George Dixon, 6-3, Soph., Milwaukee Riverside
Mason Domask, 6-4, Sr., Waupun
Trevor Entwisle, 5-11, Sr., Neenah
Philip Flory, 6-4, Soph., Oshkosh North
Drew Fredrickson, 6-2, Sr., Mount Horeb
Evan Ganther, 5-11, Soph., Lourdes Academy
Derek Hansen, 5-11, Sr., Kaukauna
Sam Hauser, 6-6, Jr., Stevens Point
Jared Henning, 6-4, Sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Chris Howard, 5-10, Jr., Messmer
Max Keefe, 6-7, Jr., Germantown
Jamison Kryshak, 5-9, Sr., Stevens Point
Blake Marquardt, 6-4, Sr., Oshkosh North
Jordan McGinnis, 6-1, Jr., Waupun
Austin Moutry, 5-9, Sr., Dominican
Cory Nies, 5-10, Sr., St. Mary's Springs
Bryce Nze, 6-6, Jr., Arrowhead
Keishon Parker, 6-3, Jr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Logan Rohrscheib, 6-2, Jr., Regis
Miles Sigh, 6-3, Sr., Whitefish Bay
Demetris Tillman, 6-1, Sr., Milwaukee Washington
Aaron Vopal, 6-7, Soph., De Pere
Billy Wampler, 6-6, Sr., Regis
Ben Widdes, 6-0, Sr., Rice Lake
Turner Wittig, 5-10, Jr., Ashwaubenon

A few final thoughts ...

* Thanks to the athletic administration and men’s basketball program at Concordia University in Mequon for again providing outstanding facilities and hospitality for the WBY Shootout. 

* Thanks to the athletic department, administration and basketball program at Dominican High School for again serving as the host school for the WBY Shootout. 

* Thanks to all the workers and volunteers who annually help to make the WBY Shootout one of the premier events in the state. 

* Thanks to the fans who attended the WBY Shootout and again supported the greatest game in the country – high school basketball. 

* Thanks to the players, coaches, fans and parents of all 29 participating teams. 

* Thanks to all my family members who continue to give up their time to help run the event. 

* Thanks to Aurora Sports Medicine Institute for providing training services throughout the 24 games. 

* Thanks to the outstanding officials who worked the games at the WBY Shootout. The three-man crews once again did an outstanding job. 

* Next year's dates -- December 28-29-30 at Concordia.