Your official guide to the 10th annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout Presented by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, scheduled for December 29-30-31 at Concordia University in Mequon:
Five Things To Watch …
1. Neenah vs. Germantown – A rematch of last year's WIAA Division 1 title game won by Germantown, 48-42. Neenah returns two starters and its top two reserves from that game in 6-foot-10 Marquette recruit Matt Heldt, Minnesota-Duluth recruit Trevor Entwisle and seniors Adam Pronschinske and Ty Hegg. Germantown, on the other hand, lost all but two points from its title-game production. But don't let that lack of returning scoring fool you. The Warhawks are not three-time defending D1 state champions for nothing. Coach Steve Showalter has a very talented lineup, led by outstanding junior point guard Juwan McCloud, sharpshooting senior wing Brian Studer and defensive senior forward Dwayne Lawhorn Jr. Look for juniors Conner Edmonds (6-5) and Max Keefe (6-6) to battle Heldt in the paint while Entwisle and McCloud square off on the perimeter. Two of the elite teams and programs in Wisconsin going head-to-head. Should be a dandy.
2. The three-headed monster of Stone/Ellenson/Heldt – You have to go all the way back to the graduating class of 1990 to find a year with three stellar frontcourt prospects like we have this year in Diamond Stone (6-10) of Dominican, Henry Ellenson (6-10) of Rice Lake and Matt Heldt (6-10) of Neenah. That 1990 class featured Jim McIlvaine (7-1) of Racine St. Catherine's, Marquette University and the NBA, Kevin Rankin (6-10) of De Pere Abbot Pennings and Northwestern University, and Damon Key (6-8) of Milwaukee Marquette and Marquette University. The 2015 class might be even better as both Stone and Ellenson are potential McDonald's All-American performers who are ranked among the top 10 players nationally while Heldt is also considered a Top 100 recruit. Stone, Ellenson and Heldt each will play two games at the WBY Shootout. Get out and enjoy the talents of this three-headed monster as it likely won't come our way for another 25 years or so.
3. Stevens Point vs. Oshkosh North – Top-ranked Stevens Point rarely gets challenged while competing in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. In six games this season, Stevens Point has won by 51, 40 twice, 33, 30 and 15 points. It's unlikely Stevens Point will have such an easy time against Oshkosh North, a team with plenty of length, size, skill and experience. The Spartans will employ their trademark 1-3-1 zone defense in an effort to slow down junior stars Trev Anderson (6-2) and Sam Hauser (6-6) of Stevens Point. North features the state's top-ranked sophomore in Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln transfer Philip Flory (6-4) while Stevens Point has the top two class of 2016 players in Hauser and Anderson. The two teams compete in the same Division 1 sectional so this game has added meaning for seeding purposes.
4. Billy Wampler – Few players in Wisconsin have improved more over the course of the past four years than Wampler, who signed a letter of intent in November to play at NCAA Division I Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. A gym rat in the mold of former Wausaukee star Anthony Pieper, Wampler can got off for 20 or more points in any given quarter. He has scored more than 1,380 points in his four-year prep career and can drill three pointers in the blink of an eye. At 6-foot-6, Wampler also has the size to go into the post and do major damage. Perhaps the best player to ever play for coach Bill Uelmen, who has been a fixture at Regis since the late 1970s. Wampler is definitely worth the price of admission. Tremendous competitor who has made himself into a big-time player.
5. Brevin Pritzl – The 6-4 senior wing guard from De Pere figures to be a fixture in the University of Wisconsin lineup over the next four years. That's because he is an intense competitor with tremendous ball handling, shooting and passing skills. He can score at a high rate and plays with incredible confidence. Pritzl is the main star on a young De Pere team so he'll likely put up some eye-popping numbers for coach Brian Winchester this year. The Redbirds have two tough opponents at the WBY Shootout in Mount Horeb and Arrowhead, but with Pritzl in the lineup, De Pere always has a shot at victory.
15 Players To Watch …
Trev Anderson, 6-2, Jr., Stevens Point -- Prolific scoring combination guard who competes with a razor-sharp edge and an intense desire to win, Anderson is currently averaging 22.8 ppg for the top-ranked Panthers. The son of Stevens Point coach Scott Anderson, himself a former standout player at Auburndale High School and UW-Stevens Point, Trev Anderson has NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Drake, Lehigh and South Dakota State.
James Batemon, 6-0, Sr., Milwaukee Riverside -- Quick, attacking lead guard who can push the ball in transition and get around defenders in the halfcourt with his speed, Batemon is a returning first-team all-league performer for coach Tyrone (Rock) Lewis. He is currently averaging 17.9 ppg and is receiving recruiting interest from a number of Division I schools.
Levi Bradley, 6-7, Sr., Pius XI -- The son of former Milwaukee Bay View star of the same name, Levi Bradley is a mobile, athletic and versatile wing player who is averaging 25.0 ppg for coach Joel Claassen and the unbeaten Popes. -- Committed to Northern Illinois
Mason Domask, 6-3, Sr., Waupun -- The son of Waupun coach Dan Domask, Mason Domask is an aggressive, athletic wing player who loves to get to the basket and foul line. Mason Domask is also an improved perimeter shooter who scored 52 points in a victory over Sheboygan Falls earlier this season and is currently averaging 30.2 ppg. -- Committed to Winona State
Henry Ellenson, 6-10, Sr., Rice Lake – One of the elite frontline prospects in America, Ellenson is currently averaging 34.2 points and 14.0 rebounds per game for Rice Lake. The McDonald's All-American candidate and Marquette recruit can hurt opponents from the perimeter with his shooting and passing skills, and in the post with his size and physical strength. -- Committed to Marquette
Philip Flory, 6-4, Soph., Oshkosh North -- The son of ex-Rhinelander High School and Marquette University forward Mike Flory, Philip Flory is the top-ranked sophomore in the state by WisSports.net and is averaging 14.9 ppg for Oshkosh North. Quick off the bounce and a solid long-distance shooter, Flory had given a verbal commitment to attend Marquette, but recently re-opened his recruitment.
Sam Hauser, 6-6, Jr., Stevens Point -- The top-ranked class of 2016 prospect in the state by WisSports.net, Hauser can score, defend and rebound. He is averaging 20.2 ppg for the unbeaten Panthers and owns scholarship offers from Creighton, Marquette, Northern Iowa and Richmond, among others.
Matt Heldt, 6-10, Sr., Neenah – A skilled big man who showed the ability to make perimeter shots over the summer, Heldt can finish with either hand in the lane and runs the court exceptionally well for a 6-foot-10 forward/center. He is currently averaging 13.6 ppg and 9.0 rpg for Neenah, which finished second to Germantown in last year's WIAA Division 1 State Tournament. -- Committed to Marquette
Terrence Lewis, 6-4, Soph., Milwaukee Riverside -- One of the top prospects in the state in the class of 2017, Lewis is the son of Riverside coach Tyrone (Rock) Lewis. He is currently averaging 20.6 ppg for a Riverside squad that has won six of its first seven games.
Te'jon Lucas, 5-11, Jr., Milwaukee Washington -- A scoring point guard who can also locate open teammates with his passing ability, Lucas earned Player of the Year honors in the Eastern Division of the Woodland Conference as a sophomore. He opted to transfer to Washington over the summer and is receiving recruiting interest from a number of Division I programs.
Juwan McCloud, 5-11, Jr., Germantown -- A very skilled and intelligent point guard who can score, run a team and make big shots, McCloud is averaging 13.5 ppg for the unbeaten and three-time defending Division 1 state champion Warhawks. He owns Division I scholarship offers from Milwaukee and Northern Iowa.
Kyle Monroe, 6-5, Sr., Ashwaubenon – Hard-working wing player who has added the ability to make three-point jumpers to his always-effective off-the-dribble game. Currently averaging 21.2 ppg for coach John Miron at Ashwaubenon. -- Committed to Michigan Tech
Brevin Pritzl, 6-4, Sr., De Pere – Tough, aggressive wing player who attacks the basket and can finish through contact and get to the foul line, Pritzl is the leader for a talented but young De Pere squad. A solid athlete with deep shooting range, Pritzl is currently averaging 27.3 ppg. -- Committed to Wisconsin
Diamond Stone, 6-10, Sr., Dominican – Stone has played a huge role on three straight Division 4 state championship teams at Dominican. One of the elite post prospects in the country and a McDonald's All-American candidate, Stone has narrowed his list of potential colleges to Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Connecticut and Maryland. The smart money is on Wisconsin for Stone, who is averaging 26.8 ppg.
Billy Wampler, 6-6, Sr., Regis – After averaging a robust 25.5 ppg as a junior, Wampler again is putting up huge numbers for the Ramblers. The Drake recruit is netting 30.3 ppg while helping his team to an unbeaten record. He can score in multiple ways and has improved in virtually every aspect of the game over the past 12 months. -- Committed to Drake
Others To Keep An Eye On …
Nick Bauer, 5-8, Sr., Oshkosh North
Carter Belling, 6-2, Sr., Kaukauna
Zac Brandrup, 6-4, Sr., Regis
Tywon Bressler Jr., 6-2, Sr., Dominican
Steffen Brown, 6-1, Sr., Wauwatosa West
Ethan Bublitz, 6-1, Sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Demetrian Carr, 5-7, Sr., Pius XI
Andre Carroll, 6-1, Sr., Wauwatosa West
Anthony Carver, 6-3, Sr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Austin DeNoyer, 6-0, Jr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Conner Edmonds, 6-5, Jr., Germantown
Trevor Entwisle, 5-11, Sr., Neenah
Drew Fredrickson, 6-2, Sr., Mount Horeb
Garrison Goode, 6-8, Sr., Dominican
Ben Heiligenthal, 6-3, Jr., Catholic Central
Ty Hegg, 6-2, Jr., Neenah
Jared Henning, 6-4, Sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Nate Hubbard-Cole, 6-0, Sr., Milwaukee Washington
Isaiah Johnson, 6-4, Sr., Whitefish Bay
Max Keefe, 6-6, Jr., Germantown
Dwayne Lawhorn, 6-4, Sr., Germantown
Quinn Lesar, 6-0, Sr., Mount Horeb
Blake Marquardt, 6-4, Sr., Oshkosh North
Andrew Mattes, 6-2, Sr., Rice Lake
Dane McDermott, 6-1, Sr., Mukwonago
Jordan McGinnis, 6-1, Jr., Waupun
Logan McShane, 6-4, Sr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Max Meylor, 6-3, Jr., Mount Horeb
Jack Mihelich, 6-1, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Elijah Moore, 5-10, Jr., Whitefish Bay
Austin Moutry, 5-9, Sr., Dominican
Derek Nesheim, 6-6, Jr., Mount Horeb
Deonte Newsome, 6-1, Sr., Messmer
Cory Nies, 5-10, Sr., St. Mary's Springs
Bryce Nze, 6-6, Jr., Arrowhead
Brennen Ottery, 6-2, Sr., St. Mary's Springs
Collin Ottery, 6-0, Sr., St. Mary's Springs
Cal Ozanick, 6-5, Sr., St. Thomas More
Keishon Parker, 6-3, Jr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Paris Perkin, 6-5, Sr., Shorewood
Ray Pierce, 6-1, Sr., Messmer
Zack Rabas, 6-5, Jr., De Pere
Logan Rohrscheib, 6-2, Jr., Regis
Andrew Ruzek, 6-6, Sr., Stevens Point
Sam Scheer, 6-2, Sr., Roncalli
Miles Sigh, 6-3, Sr., Whitefish Bay
Avery Smith, 5-11, Sr., Messmer
Brian Studer, 6-2, Sr., Germantown
Kevin Taylor, 5-10, Sr., Shorewood
Seth Taylor, 6-1, Sr., Oshkosh North
Logan Theisen, 6-4, Sr., Roncalli
Demetris Tillman, 6-1, Sr., Milwaukee Washington
Ben Widdes, 6-0, Sr., Rice Lake
Spencer Wilker, 6-3, Sr., Catholic Central
Brian Wilman, 6-6, Jr., Arrowhead
Turner Wittig, 5-10, Jr., Ashwaubenon
Sophomores To Watch …
Kyle Clow, 6-3, Soph., Germantown
Trevell Cunningham, 5-10, Soph., Arrowhead
Alou Dillon, 6-7, Soph., Wauwatosa West
George Dixon, 6-3, Soph., Milwaukee Riverside
Evan Ganther, 5-11, Soph., Lourdes Academy
Mikael Green, 5-10, Soph., Shorewood
Brandon Hau, 6-5, Soph., Mukwonago
Joe Jung, 6-0, Soph., Neenah
Jason Klatt, 5-9, Soph., St. Thomas More
Melvin Lee, 5-9, Soph., Milwaukee Riverside
Cody Osborn, 5-10, Soph., Regis
Adam Smith, 6-1, Soph., Kaukauna
Aaron Vopal, 6-7, Soph., De Pere
Freshmen To Watch …
Tyrese Haliburton, 6-1, Frosh., Oshkosh North
Joey Hauser, 6-6, Frosh., Stevens Point
Jordan McCabe, 5-11, Frosh., Kaukauna
Brunard Williams, 6-3, Frosh., Wisconsin Lutheran
WBY Shootout Notes …
There will be no pre-sale tickets. All tickets for the WBY Shootout will be sold at the door. The Buuck Fieldhouse can accommodate around 2,000 fans so plan to arrive early to make sure you can purchase a ticket.
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Parking for the WBY Shootout is free.
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Ticket prices are $5 for students and senior citizens and $10 for adults. The tickets are good for the entire day.
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High quality WBY Shootout T-shirts will be sold at the event for $10.
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Copies of the 336-page 2014-15 Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook will be available for purchase for $30.
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Game programs, which includes rosters and other information for all 29 teams, will be sold for $3.
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The Concordia University basketball team will sell concessions throughout the event.
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Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will broadcast two games live – both on Tuesday, December 30.
Bob Brainerd and Shannon Smith will be calling the games pitting Rice Lake against Wauwatosa West at 6 p.m. and Neenah against Germantown at 7:30 p.m.
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Following is the schedule of games for the WBY Shootout …
Monday’s Games (December 29)
At Concordia University (Mequon)
9:00 a.m. – Lourdes Academy vs. St. Thomas More
10:30 a.m. – Messmer vs. Mukwonago
Noon – Pius XI vs. Kettle Moraine Lutheran
1:30 p.m. – Waupun vs. Wauwatosa East
3:00 p.m. – Mount Horeb vs. De Pere
4:30 p.m. – Arrowhead vs. Neenah
6:00 p.m. – Dominican vs. Wauwatosa West
7:30 p.m. – Shorewood vs. Milwaukee Riverside
9:00 p.m. – Milwaukee Washington vs. Whitefish Bay
Tuesday’s Games (December 30)
At Concordia University (Mequon)
9:00 a.m. – Catholic Central vs. Regis
10:30 a.m. – St. Mary's Springs vs. Messmer
Noon – Waupun vs. Kettle Moraine Lutheran
1:30 p.m. – Kaukauna vs. Mount Horeb
3:00 p.m. – Milwaukee Riverside vs. Wisconsin Lutheran
4:30 p.m. – De Pere vs. Arrowhead
6:00 p.m. – Rice Lake vs. Wauwatosa West
7:30 p.m. – Neenah vs. Germantown
9:00 p.m. – Oshkosh North vs. Mukwonago
Wednesday’s Games (December 31)
At Concordia University (Mequon)
9:00 a.m. – Regis vs. St. Thomas More
10:30 a.m. – Roncalli vs. Ashwaubenon
Noon – Rice Lake vs. Kaukauna
1:30 p.m. – Stevens Point vs. Oshkosh North
3:00 p.m. – Dominican vs. Wisconsin Lutheran
4:30 p.m. – Wauwatosa East vs. Whitefish Bay
Tag(s): WBY Shootout