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2010 Kaukauna Tourney recap

07/20/2010, 4:25pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Observations from the 8th annual WBY Summer tournament held July 17-19, 2010 in Kaukauna

Observations from the eighth annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held July 17-19, 2010, in Kaukauna:

Pools A-B

Most Valuable Player

Brett VanDenBergh, 6-5, WG, Class of 2012, De Pere


After sitting out the entire 2009-10 high school season due to a knee injury, VanDenBergh is close to fully recovered and he is most definitely making a name for himself this summer with his strong overall play. A physically imposing 6-foot-5 wing player, VanDenBergh competes with heart and energy on both ends of the court. He combines his superior physical strength with a willingness to dive on the floor for loose balls while also mixing it up in the paint against taller opponents. Offensively, VanDenBergh is an accurate shooter from beyond the three-point line and explosive off the dribble. He currently has NCAA Division I scholarship offers from North Dakota State and South Dakota State. With his size, skill, strength and toughness, there is little doubt VanDenBergh will earn additional offers in the next 12 months.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

LaMont Hall, 5-11, WG, Class of 2011, Minneapolis DeLaSalle -- Smart, tough perimeter player who can hit shots from all over the court. Drilled three-point shot after three-point shot all weekend for coach Dave Thorson.

Chris Kading, 6-8, PF, Class of 2011, De Pere -- Kading runs and jumps as well as any other big man in the state. What he does particularly well, though, is play within his limits. Simply put, the North Dakota State recruit doesnt attempt to do things he cannot do and his effectiveness hitting the glass and scoring in the lane is essential to De Peres success.

Logan Monson, 6-2, G, Class of 2011, Ashwaubenon -- Monson led Ashwaubenon to a 3-1 record by making perimeter shots and converting on his foul attempts.

Charles Rushman, 6-2, PG/WG, Class of 2011, Arrowhead -- Rushman competes with an edge on both ends of the court that keeps opponents off balance. His energy and toughness are huge assets for Arrowhead.

Travis Schertz, 6-3, WG, Class of 2011, Wausau West -- An extremely athletic and strong perimeter player who can make mid-range jump shots or get to the basket and either finish or earn a trip to the foul line.

Trent Schmidt, 6-2, WG, Class of 2011, Appleton East -- With senior Johnny Coenen sidelined with a severe ankle injury, Schmidt took over point-guard duties for the Patriots and performed well in leading East to a 2-2 record. Schmidts size, skill and versatility figure to be huge assets for East in 2010-11.

Anthony Smit, 5-11, PG, Class of 2011, Fond du Lac -- Smit ran the show with precision and toughness for an improved Fond du Lac squad. He knocked down three three-point shots in a 54-42 loss to De Pere in the Pool A-B championship game en route to scoring a team-best 13 points. His biggest asset might be on the other end of the floor as Smit defends with the toughness typical of so many outstanding guards to come out of Fond du Lac over the past two decades.

Jonah Travis, 6-5, PF, Class of 2011, Minneapolis DeLaSalle -- Travis is an athletic, physically strong warrior who has excellent footwork in the paint and often finishes above the rim. He has received Division I scholarship offers from a number of schools, including Green Bay. An outstanding student, Travis is also being pursued by a number of Ivy League schools, including Harvard.

Reece Zoelle, 6-4, PG, Class of 2011, De Pere -- With Division II coaches from Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota looking on, Zoelle led De Pere to a convincing 43-23 victory over a very talented Minneapolis DeLaSalle squad, scoring 16 points and drilling a pair of triples. An athletic, scoring lead guard, Zoelle can get to the basket or make perimeter shots, traits that will serve him well at the next level.

Cale Zuiker, 6-9, WF, Class of 2011 Marshfield -- Zuiker did what he does best ? knock down shots from beyond the three-point arc. Fresh off a Division I scholarship offer from Youngstown State, Zuiker displayed his outstanding long-distance shooting form in leading the Tigers past Appleton East. Adding weight and strength, as well as the ability to get places off the dribble, is the next step in the development of this intriguing wing prospect.

Team Champion

De Pere -- The Redbirds looked every bit like a state-title contender in beating Appleton East, Arrowhead, Marshfield, Minneapolis DeLaSalle and Fond du Lac. Coach Brian Winchester has an extremely deep and talented roster loaded with collegiate prospects, size and athleticism. The manner in which De Pere handled Appleton East and DeLaSalle was especially impressive as the Redbirds won both games in extremely convincing style.

Notes

Fond du Lac junior guard Jacob Diener is the nephew of former Fond du Lac and Marquette great Travis Diener ... Ashwaubenon sophomore Bennett Koch (6-4) is the younger brother of former Ashwaubenon standouts Adam and Jake Koch ... Shawano senior Kory Bistoff was impressive in a 44-37 loss to Ashwaubenon as he pumped in a game-high 20 points ... Appleton Xavier has the looks of an improved team as coach Tom Neises squad played with a bit more grit and toughness than a year ago ... Appleton East junior Sam Mader (6-9) impressed onlookers with his passing and footwork, despite not having huge scoring games for the Patriots ... Marshfield senior John Bauer (7-0) had college coaches at the Division II and III levels watching him throughout the weekend.

Pool A Standings -- De Pere 4-0, Appleton East 2-2, Minneapolis DeLaSalle 2-2, Arrowhead 1-3, Marshfield 1-3.

Pool B Standings -- Fond du Lac 4-0, Ashwaubenon 3-1, Wausau West 2-2, Appleton Xavier 1-3, Shawano 0-4.

Pool A vs. Pool B Title Game -- De Pere 54, Fond du Lac 42.

Pools C-D

Most Valuable Player

Alex Anderson, 6-1, G, Class of 2011, Oshkosh North


Oshkosh North remains a work in progress with newcomers and young players expected to make a big impact on the Spartans success in 2010-11. There is no denying the talent and length in the North program, and one player who could emerge as a leader for coach Frank Schade is 6-1 senior guard Alex Anderson. Anderson led North to a 5-0 record and a 43-42 victory over Seymour in the Pools C-D title game by connecting on a baseline three-pointer as the final horn sounded. Andersons game-winner came seconds after sophomore guard Jordan Poydras drilled a three-pointer and Oshkosh North then stole the ensuring inbounds pass. The remarkable six-point rally in the final six seconds of the contest turned a 42-37 deficit into a one-point victory. Alex Anderson scored a game-high 18 points and drained four triples in the title game.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Izaiah Anderson, 6-4, PF, Class of 2012, Oshkosh North -- Anderson is a physical, skilled power player who scored very well with his back to the basket and on spin moves in the lane. He averaged 12.6 points per game in the five games for the Spartans, a figure that could have been higher had he made a higher percentage of his free-throw attempts.

Tyler Forsythe, 6-5, WG, Class of 2011, Northwestern -- Forsythe displayed a soft shooting touch from the perimeter while helping Northwestern to a 2-2 record. Forsythe is a bouncy wing prospect who is beginning to become more aggressive taking the ball to the basket.

Mike Gresl, 5-11, PG/WG, Class of 2011, Manitowoc Roncalli -- Gresl has made himself into an outstanding player over the course of his high school career thanks to his hard work, both in terms of skill development and in the weight room. He buried eight three-point shots in a blowout victory over Fox Valley Lutheran and had another four bombs in a victory over Sheboygan South. His long-distance shooting ability will keep opponents from solely concentrating on teammate Ben Stezler in 2010-11.

Tyler Krause, 5-9, G, Class of 2011, Wauwatosa West -- Krause did an outstanding job of leading Wauwatosa West as the Trojans beat Manitowoc and sustained narrow losses to both Northwestern and Seymour. Krause consistently scored from the perimeter and had three second-half triples in a 39-38 loss to Seymour.

Jason Miller, 6-4, WG, Class of 2012, Kaukauna Black -- Miller is a wing guard with skill, length and explosion. He is a very good perimeter shooter, but he is also strong taking the ball to the basket. He needs to add some weight and strength to his frame and become a bit more aggressive on the offensive end of the court.

Jordan Poydras, 6-2, PG/WG, Class of 2012, Oshkosh North -- Poydras is a transfer student from Georgia who has competed with several different high school teams this summer. He appears to have selected Oshkosh North as his new destination and he was a big part of the Spartans success at Kaukauna. Poydras is a strong perimeter player with good skills and length. He made shots from well beyond the three-point line and has the look of a player who will flourish in Norths trapping defensive scheme.

Phil Romback, 6-7, WF/PF, Class of 2011, Seymour -- Romback was especially impressive in a hard-fought 44-38 victory over Kaukauna, scoring 21 points and connecting on three shots from beyond the arc. Romback has scholarship offers from a few Division II schools, including Michigan Tech, and is a player who hopes to garner attention from Division I recruiters while competing for the Playmakers travel team in Orlando and Kansas City from now until the end of July during the open recruiting period.

Cal Skogman, 6-4, WG, Class of 2011, Seymour -- Skogman once again made shots from beyond the three-point arc, but he also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. He is money from the foul line and has emerged as a true team leader for coach Jon Murphy.

Bobby Slovensky, 6-7, WF, Class of 2011, Wisconsin Rapids -- Slovensky and senior teammates Joe Ritchay and Dylan Lubeck form a solid nucleus for coach Dan Witter at Wisconsin Rapids. Slovensky is a versatile forward who can face up and make shots from downtown or slash to the basket and score off the dribble. He scored all four points in the second overtime of a 38-34 victory over Manitowoc Roncalli in one of the best-played games of the entire tournament.

Ben Stelzer, 6-0, PG/WG, Class of 2011, Manitowoc Roncalli -- Stelzer hobbled around a bit due to some nagging leg injuries, but he still proved to be one of the truly elite players in the entire tournament. In addition to his remarkably consistent long-distance jump shot, Stelzer has an outstanding feel for the game and competes with intelligence and energy on both ends of the court from opening tip to final buzzer. Michigan Tech has made Stelzer a high recruiting priority as coaches from the Division II school have watched virtually every game Stelzer has played the past five months.

Team Champion

Oshkosh North --
This is definitely a team fans will want to watch next season. The Spartans figure to use their trapping zone defense and incredible length to make things difficult for opponents. And the athleticism and strength along the baseline with players such as Izaiah Anderson, Juac Majok and Evan Butts could create matchup nightmares for opposing coaches in the Fox Valley Association. The addition of Poydras to a strong perimeter group that already included Alex Anderson and Walter Woods may push North over the top in its quest to regain the FVA title it won in 2008-09.

Notes

Manitowoc Lincoln went 0-4 in pool play and had just five players for its two games on Saturday. Sophomore Austin Mecca had 15 points in a 47-23 loss to Wauwatosa West ... A player to keep an eye on for the future ? Sandy Cohen, a 6-2 incoming freshman wing guard from Seymour who saw quality minutes for the Thunder all weekend ... B.J. Kiser turned in a couple of strong performances for Fox Valley Lutheran. The versatile 6-4 forward was the leading scorer for the Foxes in a 48-45 loss to Wisconsin Rapids and had 18 points in a victory over Sheboygan South ... Speaking of Sheboygan South, the Redwings played a bit short-handed as forward Riley Tutas did not compete for coach Tim Schultz. Senior guard Ethan Berlin was the most consistent player for South ... Oshkosh North, Manitowoc Roncalli and Wisconsin Rapids each finished 3-1 and Oshkosh North won the second tiebreaker with Roncalli by outscoring the Jets, 188-187, in pool play. Roncalli beat Oshkosh North 37-35 in a hotly contested battle between two of the premier teams in the Fox Valley area.

Pool C Standings -- Seymour 4-0, Kaukauna Black 3-1, Northwestern 2-2, Wauwatosa West 1-3, Manitowoc Lincoln 0-4.

Pool D Standings -- Oshkosh North 3-1, Manitowoc Roncalli 3-1, Wisconsin Rapids 3-1, Fox Valley Lutheran 1-3, Sheboygan South 0-4.

Pool C vs. Pool D Title Game -- Oshkosh North 43, Seymour 42.

Pools E-F

Most Valuable Player

Ethan Guske, 5-10, G, Class of 2013, Sheboygan North


Sheboygan North will boast one of the premier backcourt combinations in the Fox River Classic Conference next winter with the return of point guard Devin Yurk and wing guard Ethan Guske. Guske was the beneficiary of Yurks penetration and passing skills at the WBY Tournament as he continually knocked down open jump shots while leading Sheboygan North to a 4-1 record. Guske knocked down four triples and scored a game-high 16 points in the Golden Raiders 35-24 victory over Amherst in the Pool E-F title game.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Noah Bayrenbruch, 6-0, PG, Class of 2011, River Valley -- Consistency is the key for Baryenbruch, a physically strong and quick point guard. In a 51-40 loss to Valders, Bayrenbruch kept River Valley in the game by draining four three-point baskets en route to 20 points. A few games later, he was held to just one basket in a loss to Sheboygan North.

Steven Egan, 6-5, WF, Class of 2011, Omro -- Egan has had a breakout summer for an Omro program many expect to contend for the title with its move to the Wisconsin Flyway Conference. Egan utilizes his length and skill to score on mid-range jump shots and around the basket. He runs the floor exceptionally well and is a consistent scorer for the Foxes.

Rick Hammen, 6-4, F, Class of 2011, Little Chute -- Hammen took on some of the scoring load created by a recent injury to frontline classmate Nick Aman. Hammen dropped in 15 points in a loss to Kimberly and knocked down three shots from beyond the arc in a loss to River Valley.

Cody Hanke, 6-5, WF, Class of 2011, Marathon -- Hanke often looks for his teammates first, but the versatile forward led Marathon to a 3-1 record by averaging a team-best 14 points per game. Hanke gives 110 percent effort on both ends of the floor and his ability to play facing the basket and with his back to the basket has drawn the attention of college coaches from across the state.

David Klink, 6-1, WG, Class of 2013, Kimberly -- Kimberly figures to have a bit of a rebuilding year in 2010-11, but coach Lucky Wurtz has some talented underclassmen in his program. Klink is definitely one of those players. A quick and skilled wing guard, Klink is aggressive going to the basket and is also a very capable shooter from downtown.

Trevor Krizenesky, 5-9, PG, Class of 2012, Brillion -- Krizenesky and class of 2013 prospect Eric Kittel form a dynamic backcourt duo for Brillion, which finished 2-2 in pool play. Krizenesky connected on 10 three-point baskets for the Lions, who figure to battle Manitowoc Roncalli and Valders for the top spot in the Olympian Conference.

Jordan Lutz, 6-4, WG/WF, Class of 2011, Amherst -- Lutz possesses a great feel for the game and uses his length and skill to create problems for opponents on both ends of the court. Lutz is a capable long-distance shooter, but is probably at his best going to the basket.

Alex Richard, 6-4, WF, Class of 2011, River Valley -- Richards love for the game is apparent as he plays on the travel-team scene in addition to competing for his high school squad. He is a versatile forward with great footwork around the basket and an accurate shot from beyond the three-point arc.

Andrew Schwoerer, 6-4, PF, Class of 2011, Valders -- Like Richard, Schwoerer has a deep love for the game and outstanding footwork in the post. Schwoerer uses his physical size and skill to continually get to the basket, and he has proven time and again he is one of the top finishes in the state.

Devin Yurk, 6-0, PG, Class of 2012, Sheboygan North -- Yurk is an effective point guard because of his ability to create scoring opportunities not only for his teammates, but also for himself. Yurk can carve up a defense with his stop-and-go dribble and aggressiveness, and he can also burn opponents with his perimeter jump shot.

Team Champion

Sheboygan North ?
One of the states winngingest coaches, Sheboygan Norths Tom Desotell, used a pair of contact days to help the Golden Raiders to a 4-1 record and a 35-24 victory over Amherst in the Pool E-F title game. Sheboygan North lacks overall size, but the Golden Raiders feature and outstanding backcourt with Guske and Yurk, and they should challenge for an upper-division finish in the 12-team FRCC.

Notes

Little Chute senior Connor DeBruin is a capable scorer and figures to team with Hammen and Aman to give coach Mickey Martin a potent scoring trio ... Kimberly junior Konor Kulas is the son of ex-Medford and UW-Stevens Point standout Kirby Kulas. Konor Kulas is a 6-4 forward who figures to receive substantial playing time for the Papermakers in 2010-11 ... Altoonas Bo Manor and Trevor Wittwer has some big scoring outbursts, but the Rails nonetheless went winless.

Pool E Standings -- Sheboygan North 3-1, Little Chute 2-2, River Valley 2-2, Valders 2-2, Kimberly 1-3.

Pool F Standings -- Amherst 3-1, Marathon 3-1, Brillion 2-2, Omro 2-2, Altoona 0-4.

Pool E vs. Pool F Title Game -- Sheboygan North 35, Amherst 24.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments