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Observations from the WBY Tournament in Kaukauna

07/01/2019, 2:45pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Ninety-five teams took part in the annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Tournament held June 28-29-30 in Kauakuna, Seymour and Stockbridge. 

Following are some observations after watching as many of the 200 games as humanly possible:


Ryan Claflin

Five Breakout Performers

Ryan Claflin, 6-6, Sr., G/F, Southern Door

Claflin is one of the hottest names in the 2020 class in Wisconsin and his showings in upcoming July events figures to determine if he'll garner scholarship offers. Based on his recent showings, including his effort at Kaukauna, it appears very likely scholarship offers will come his way. Claflin combines excellent size, stellar athleticism and very solid skills to make a huge impact on every game he plays. He is an extremely unselfish player who has a very good basketball IQ. And his ability to finish above the rim, make three-point shots and get his teammates involved were all very apparent at the WBY Tournament in Kaukauna. Claflin earned first-team all-Packerland Conference laurels as a junior after averaging 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the league-champion Eagles.


Carson Nell

Carson Nell, 6-0, Sr., G, Winnebago Lutheran Academy
The son of Winnebago Lutheran coach Marty Nell, Carson Nell was outstanding in each and every one of the Vikings' five victories in Kaukauna. An aggressive backcourt player who can score off the bounce, from outside the arc and from the mid range, Nell was at his best in an intense 45-44 victory over a very good Southern Door squad as he scored 31 points, drilled three triples and swished two foul shots with just over one second left and his team down by one. Backcourt play figures to be a major strength for WLA in 2019-20 with Nell and senior Donovan Schwartz (5-10) leading the way for the defending Wisconsin Flyway Conference champions. Nell averaged 13.8 points per game as a junior and earned second-team all-league recognition.


Joe Reuter

Joe Reuter, 6-3, Jr., WG, Chippewa Falls
A smooth, strong and exceptionally skilled wing guard prospect with good size, Reuter drilled 15 three-point baskets in four games and averaged a robust 25.3 points per game as the Cardinals finished 2-2. He torched Wausau East for 37 points and six three pointers while also finishing with at least 20 points in games against Appleton East, Merrill and Wisconsin Lutheran II. A very good student and a hard worker on his game, Reuter averaged 9.5 ppg as a sophomore for coach Jason Proue at Chippewa Falls. Reuter ranks favorably with the other talented class of 2021 prospects in the Big Rivers Conference -- Zac Johnson of River Falls, JT Dougherty of River Falls and Luke Healy of Hudson, among others. 


Peyton Rogers-Schmidt

Peyton Rogers-Schmidt, 6-6, Sr., G, Chippewa Falls
Talk about gifted athletes, Rogers-Schmidt ranks right up there with the best in the state in terms of flying to the basket and finishing with a thunderous dunk. His ability to handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter and also drive to the basket were impressive. Rogers-Schmidt is still developing his overall skill package and could evolve into a monster player with continued physical development. Rogers-Schmidt averaged 23.0 points in four games in Kaukauna and made seven three-point shots. As a junior, Rogers-Schmidt averaged 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists on the way to earning second-team all-Big Rivers Conference laurels.


Jeremy Van Zeeland

Jeremy Van Zeeland, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Wrightstown
A tough-minded, physical wing player who can score inside and from the perimeter, Van Zeeland is a player who simply makes a winning effort and gets positive results each time he steps onto the court. He scored at a high level in Kaukauna, but more importantly, he made clutch plays for the Tigers. That meant he earned key baskets or trips to the foul line, snared big-time rebounds and came up with loose balls to either get or save a possession. Van Zeeland is the type of kid every coach wants on the court because he simply wills his way to a victory by doing whatever is necessary on any given possession. Van Zeeland averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior while helping Wrightstown to a 20-5 record and a share of the North Eastern Conference title along with Denmark and Freedom. He earned second-team all-league recognition in 2018-19.

Results and All-Tournament Teams:

Pool A

Kaukauna I 4-0, Brookfield East 3-1, Plymouth 2-2, Grafton 1-3, Homestead 0-4.

Pool B
Sussex Hamilton 4-0, Kimberly 3-1, Bay Port 2-2, Eau Claire Memorial 1-3, Franklin 0-4.

Pool A-B Championship Game
Sussex Hamilton 98, Kaukauna I 69. Leading Scorers: Tanner Resch (S-H) 38, Patrick Baldwin Jr. (S-H) 23, Jacob Newhouse (K) 23, Logan Jedwabny, (K) 15.

MVP
Patrick Baldwin Jr., 6-9, Jr., G/F, Sussex Hamilton

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Ethan Begotka, 6-3, Sr., F, Bay Port
Cole Booth, 6-1, Sr., PG, Plymouth
Caden Boser, 6-7, Sr., F, Eau Claire Memorial
Jake Buchanan, 6-0, Sr., PG, Kimberly
Bryson Clague, 6-2, Jr., WG, Grafton (moving to Georgia)
Hayden Doyle, 6-1, Jr., G, Brookfield East
Keaton Ferris, 6-0, Sr., PG, Kaukauna I
Jacob Newhouse, 6-6, Sr., F, Kaukauna I
Tanner Resch, 6-0, Jr., G, Sussex Hamilton
Carson Smith, 6-2, Sr., G, Sussex Hamilton

Pool C Standings
De Pere 4-0, Oshkosh North 3-1, Beaver Dam 1-3, Cedarburg 1-3, Wisconsin Lutheran I 1-3. 

Pool D Standings
Merrill 4-0, Appleton East 3-1, Chippewa Falls 2-2, Wausau East 1-3, Wisconsin Lutheran II 0-4.

Pool C-D Championship Game
De Pere 78, Merrill 54. Leading Scorers: Gus Yalden (D) 38, Ethan Hohol (D) 20, Michael Casper (M) 22, Piersen Pyan (M) 10, Bryce Dresen (M) 10.

MVP
Gus Yalden, 6-8, Frosh., F, De Pere

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Nate Abel, 6-1, Jr., G, Beaver Dam
Drew Biber, 6-4, Jr., G/F, Cedarburg
Tyler Borowski, 6-1, Soph., G, Appleton East
Michael Casper, 6-0, Sr., PG, Merrill
Will Dehn, 6-4, Jr., F, De Pere
Josh Dilling, 6-1, Sr., G, Oshkosh North
Evan Glaser, 6-6, Sr., F, Appleton East
Gabe Krueger, 6-5, Sr., F, Wausau East
Joe Reuter, 6-3, Jr., G, Chippewa Falls
Peyton Rogers-Schmidt, 6-6, Sr., G, Chippewa Falls

Pool E Standings
Hortonville 4-0, Medford 3-1, East Troy 2-2, Luxemburg-Casco 1-3, Green Bay Southwest 0-4.

Pool F Standings
Seymour 4-0, Marshfield 3-1, Appleton North 2-2, Manitowoc Lincoln 1-3, Little Chute 0-4.

Pools E-F Championship Game
Hortonville 73, Seymour 63. Leading scorers: Parker Lawrence (H) 18, Cole Warning (H) 10, Riley Murphy (S) 23, Mason Dorn (S) 14, Peyton VanDeiHei (S) 15. 

MVP
Parker Lawrence, 5-11, Jr., G, Hortonville

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Mason Dopirak, 6-1, Jr., G, Manitowoc Lincoln
Peyton Kuhn, 5-11, Jr., G, Medford
Quinten Lottig, 5-10, Sr., G, East Troy
Isaac Meverden, 6-3, Sr., F, Marshfield
Ty Melchert, 6-0, Sr., G, Green Bay Southwest
Riley Murphy, 6-0, Sr., G, Seymour
Max Nelson, 6-8, Soph., F, Appleton North
Jayqon Owens, 6-2, Sr., G, Hortonville
Carter Sewell, 6-3, Sr., F, Luxemburg-Casco
Peyton VanDeiHei, 6-3, Jr., G/F, Seymour

Pool G Standings
Fond du Lac 4-0, Mosinee 3-1, Green Bay West 1-3, Shawano 1-3, Sheboygan South 1-3. 

Pool H Standings
West Bend East 4-0, Oshkosh West 3-1, Ashwaubenon 1-3, Fox Valley Lutheran 1-3, Notre Dame Academy 1-3.

Pool G-H Championship Game
Fond du Lac 48, West Bend East 47, OT. Leading scorers: Mack Sebert (FDL) 14, Alex Rusch (FDL) 10, Keghan Tighe (WBE) 14, Sam Geldnich (WBE) 14. 

MVP
Mack Sebert, 6-3, Jr., G/F, Fond du Lac

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Caleb Fuller, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Oshkosh West
Josh Govek, 6-0, Sr., G, Sheboygan South
Jefferson Cooper-Holmes, 6-4, Jr., F, Green Bay West
Matt Imig, 6-0, Soph., G, Ashwaubenon
Spencer Jens, 6-1, Sr., Fox Valley Lutheran
Cyle Kowalski, 6-0, Jr., G, Mosinee
Chris Mitchell, 5-11, Soph., G, Notre Dame
Alex Rusch, 6-2, Jr., F, Fond du Lac
Keghan Tighe, 6-4, Sr., F, West Bend East
Carter Weisnicht, 6-8, Sr., F, Shawano

Pool I Standings
Roncalli 4-0, Laconia 3-1, Kaukauna II 2-2, Berlin 1-3, Marinette 0-4.

Pool J Standings
Wrightstown 4-0, Mineral Point 3-1, Rhinelander 2-2, Sturgeon Bay 1-3, Two Rivers 0-4.

Pool I-J Championship Game
Wrightstown 48, Roncalli 36. Leading scorers: Matthew Hansen (W) 12, Sam Haese (W) 7, (R) 10, Bryce Pautz (R) 8.

MVP
Jeremy Van Zeeland, 6-2, Sr., G/F, Wrightstown

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Ryan Bartol, 6-2, Sr., G, Berlin
Reed Gunnink, 6-4, Sr., G, Laconia
Alex Klein, 6-1, Sr., G/F, Two Rivers
Tyler Kroes, 5-10, Sr., G, Wrightstown
Isaac Lindsey, 6-4, Sr., G, Mineral Point
Drake Martin, 6-1, Sr., G, Rhinelander 
Bryce Pautz, 6-1, Sr., G, Roncalli
Luke Pautz, 6-2, Soph., G, Roncalli   
Jack Schneider, 5-11, Sr., G, Sturgeon Bay
Jordan Strohl, 5-8, Jr., PG, Kaukauna II

Pool K Standings
Cuba City 3-1, Clintonville 3-1, Edgerton 3-1, Bonduel 1-3, West Bend West 0-4.

Pool L Standings
Xavier 4-0, Denmark 3-1, Marathon 2-2, Eau Claire Regis 1-3, Marshall 0-4.

Pool K-L Championship Game
Cuba City 47, Xavier 44. Brady Olson (CC) 14, Brayden Dailey (CC) 14, Trent Twombly (X) 18, John Bunks Jr. (X) 8.

MVP
Brady Olson, 5-11, Sr., PG, Cuba City

10-Person All-Tournament Team
John Bunks Jr., 6-4, Sr., G/F, Xavier
Brayden Dailey, 6-6, Jr., G, Cuba City
Clayton Jenny, 6-0, Jr., PG, Edgerton
Jack Misky, 6-4, Jr., F, Cuba City
Clarke Mouw, 6-5, Sr., G/F, Marathon
Aiden Polzin, 6-4, Sr., G, Clintonville
Abe Rocksvold, 6-4, Sr., G/F, Eau Claire Regis
Nick Spang, 6-7, Sr., F, Edgerton
Aaron Tennies, 5-10, Jr., G, West Bend West
Trent Twombly, 6-1, Jr., G/F, Xavier

Pool M Standings
Lake Country Lutheran 4-0, Lourdes Academy 3-1, Peshtigo 2-2, Crivitz 1-3, Valders 0-4.

Pool N Standings
Darlington 3-1, Mauston 3-1, Freedom 2-2, Sheboygan Falls 2-2, Winneconne 0-4.

Pools M-N Championship Game
Lake Country Lutheran 71, Darlington 41. Leading scorers: Joey Bratz (LCL) 27, Luke Haertle, (LCL) 13, Zander Mueller (LCL) 12, Cayden Rankin (D) 13. 

MVP
Joey Bratz, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Lake Country Lutheran

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Dawson Andrist, 6-0, Sr., G, Crivitz
Luke Haertle, 6-1, Soph., G, Lake Country Lutheran
Cade Hall, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Mauston
Zechariah Hans, 5-11, Sr., G, Lake Country Lutheran
Carter Lancaster, 6-4, Jr., G/F, Darlington
Zach Mashlan, 6-1, Sr., G, Freedom
Cayden Rankin, 6-5, Jr., F, Darlington
Preston Ruedinger, 6-2, Jr., G, Lourdes Academy
Connor Spielvogel, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Sheboygan Falls
Cade Tackmier, 6-3, Sr., F, Peshtigo

Pool O Standings
Sheboygan Lutheran 4-0, Markesan 3-1, Shiocton 2-2, New Holstein 1-3, Brillion 0-4.

Pool P Standings
Monticello 3-1, Kewaunee 3-1, Richland Center 2-2, Loyal 2-2, Mishicot 0-4.

Pools O-P Championship Game
Sheboygan Lutheran 74, Monticello 46

MVP
Jacob Ognacevic, 6-8, Sr., F, Sheboygan Lutheran

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Kole Bogdonovich, 6-0, Sr., G, Loyal
Ryan Carmichael, 6-2, Sr., F, Kewaunee
Sam Casper, 6-6, Jr., F, New Holstein
Peter Gustafson, 6-3, Jr., G/F, Monticello
Hunter Krepline, 6-0, Jr., G, Brillion
Jacob Schauf, 6-4, Sr., G/F, Richland Center
Max Stellmacher, 6-2, Sr., G/F, Markesan
Austin VanDenBosch, 6-3, Sr., F, Shiocton
Casey Verhagen, 6-0, Soph., PG, Sheboygan Lutheran
Roger Zipperer, 6-5, Sr., F, Mishicot

Pool Q Standings
Winnebago Lutheran 4-0, Southern Door 3-1, Oconto 2-2, Kaukauna III 1-3, Pacelli 0-4.

Pool R Standings
Gibraltar 4-0, Almond-Bancroft 3-1, Westfield Area 2-2, Columbus Catholic 1-3, St. Mary Catholic 0-4.

Pools Q-R Championship Game
Winnebago Lutheran 49, Gibraltar 40. Leading scorers: Carson Nell (WLA) 15, Donovan Schwartz (WLA) 13, Luke Steebs (G) 13, Brady Ash (G) 10.

MVP
Carson Nell, 6-0, Sr., G, Winnebago Lutheran

10-Person All-Tournament Team
Brady Ash, 6-6, Sr., F, Gibraltar
Ryan Claflin, 6-6, Sr., G/F, Southern Door
Derek Drew, 6-3, Sr., F, Westfield Area
Max Griffith, 5-9, Sr., G, St. Mary Catholic
Eden Jacobson, 6-1, Jr., G/F, Columbus Catholic
Matt Lukas, 6-2, Sr., F, Almond-Bancroft
Wes Peplinski, 6-3, Jr., G, Pacelli
Donovan Schwartz, 5-10, Sr., G, Winnebago Lutheran
Luke Steebs, 5-9, Jr., G, Gibraltar
Josh Woller, 5-10, Jr., PG, Oconto

Pool S Standings
Reedsville 4-0, Greenwood 2-2, Stockbridge 2-2, Valley Christian 1-3, Oakfield 1-3. 

Pools S-Runner-Up Pool R Championship Game
Reedsville 45, Almond-Bancroft 45, OT. Leading scorers: Brennan Dvorachek (R) 13, Jonathan Timm (R) 10, Elijah Kollock (AB) 16.

MVP
Brennan Dvorachek, 6-3, Soph., G/F, Reedsville

Five-Person All-Tournament Team
Cooper Bredlau, 5-10, Jr., G, Greenwood
Yianni Giannopulos, 6-0, Sr., G, Valley Christian
Westin Schmitz, 5-10, Jr., G, Greenwood
Zach Seyfert, 6-1, Jr., G, Oakfield
Jake Willett, 6-4, Jr., F, Stockbridge

Thanks to all the coaches, players and fans who made the WBY Tournament in Kaukauna such a success. And a special THANK YOU to coach Jon Murphy of Seymour and the all the fine folks at Stockbridge for making their gyms available over the weekend after weather and wet floors forced us to close down a few gyms.

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark by clicking here.

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