The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017).
The WSN15 boys' basketball series continues with the Top 15 Players of the WSN Era.
Over the past several weeks we have been profiling the Top 15 Boys Basketball Players during the WSN Era (2003-2017). It was incredibly difficult to pare down the outstanding athletes. Following is the full countdown of the Top 15.
WSN15 Top Players Countdown:
#15 - J.P. Tokoto, Menomonee Falls
#14 - Keaton Nankivil, Madison Memorial
#13 - Trev Anderson, Stevens Point
#12 - Sam Hauser, Stevens Point
#11 - Bronson Koenig, Aquinas
#10 - Jerry Smith, Wauwatosa East
#9 - Tyler Herro, Whitnall
#8 - Jordan McCabe, Kaukauna
#7 - Jeronne Maymon, Madison Memorial
#6 - Wesley Matthews, Madison Memorial
#5 - Henry Ellenson, Rice Lake
#4 - Kevon Looney, Milwaukee Hamilton
#3 - Diamond Stone, Dominican
#2 - Sam Dekker, Sheboygan Lutheran
#1 - Brian Butch, Appleton West
Below are the other players that we considered in producing our Top 15 list.
CLASS OF 2004
Greg Stiemsma, 6-11, C, Randolph -- Though never a big scorer, Stiemsma's size, strength and ability to block and alter shots were huge factors in his success on the basketball court. After attending Wisconsin on a basketball scholarship, Stiemsma ended up playing 203 games with four different teams in the NBA from 2012-15.
Kyle Weaver, 6-4, G, Beloit Memorial -- After helping Beloit Memorial to the WIAA State Tournament as a senior, the versatile and athletic Weaver had a very productive four-year career at Washington State playing for coaches Dick and Tony Bennett. He went on to play 73 games over three seasons (2009-11) in the NBA and remains an active player today in Germany.
CLASS OF 2005
Marcus Landry, 6-6, F, Milwaukee Vincent -- An athletic and skilled wing forward who helped Milwaukee Vincent to state tournament berths as a junior and senior, Landry had a strong four-year career at Wisconsin and had several preseason stints in the NBA. He remains an active player in a professional league in Italy.
Ryan Tillema, 6-7, F, Randolph -- The first player in WIAA history to play on four consecutive boys' basketball state-championship teams, Tillema was a very good shooter who could also score in the lane. He went on to play four very solid seasons at UW-Green Bay.
CLASS OF 2006
Trevon Hughes, 6-0, G, Delafield St. John's Military Academy -- The New York native attended St. John's Military Academy for high school and was outstanding in helping the Lancers to their first and only state tournament appearance in 2006. Hughes then play four years for coach Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, and averaged 15.4 points and 4.6 rebounds as a senior in 2009-10. He remains active in basketball as a player in Turkey.
CLASS OF 2007
Scott Christopherson, 6-2, G, La Crosse Aquinas -- Shared the Mr. Basketball award with Keaton Nankivil of Madison Memorial as a senior after helping Aquinas to a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 3 State Tournament. Played one year at Marquette and three at Iowa State.
Diante Garrett, 6-4, G, Milwaukee Vincent -- A stellar backcourt performer for coach Tom Diener at Milwaukee Vincent. Helped Vincent to a second-place showing in the 2007 WIAA Division 1 State Tournament before excelling at Iowa State. He went on to play 90 games in the NBA from 2012-14.
CLASS OF 2008
Korie Lucious, 6-0, G, Milwaukee Pius XI -- After playing at Milwaukee King as a freshman and sophomore, Lucious opted to transfer to Pius XI for his final two years of prep basketball. He later played college basketball at both Michigan State and Iowa State.
CLASS OF 2009
Jamil Wilson, 6-8, F, Racine Horlick -- A stellar athlete with very good basketball skills, Wilson led Horlick to a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament as a senior. After playing at Oregon as a freshman, Wilson transferred back home and played three years at Marquette under coach Buzz Williams. Wilson averaged 7.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 15 games this season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
CLASS OF 2010
Vander Blue, 6-3, G, Madison Memorial -- One of the quickest and more athletic backcourt players in the WisSports.net Era, Blue played in three straight WIAA Division 1 state-title games for Memorial and helped the Spartans capture the 2009 crown with a victory over Racine Horlick. He went on to play three years at Marquette and helped the Golden Eagles to the Elite Eight in 2013. Blue has appeared in 10 NBA games over the past five seasons while also spending the majority of his time in the G League.
Josh Gasser, 6-4, G, Port Washington -- Gasser helped Port Washington to a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament as a freshman and enjoyed a very productive four-year varsity career with the Pirates. He went on to play at the University of Wisconsin and was a vital cog to many successful teams, including the Final Four squads in 2014 and 2015.
CLASS OF 2011
Paul Jesperson, 6-8, G/F, Merrill -- A terrific shooter with deep range and very good passing ability, Jesperson helped Merrill to a second-place finish in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament as a senior. He went on to play two years at Virginia and two at Northern Iowa, and currently is playing professionally overseas.
CLASS OF 2012
Zak Showalter, 6-2, G, Germantown -- An athletic, relentless competitor who helped Germantown to the WIAA Division 1 state title in 2012, Showalter went on to play four years of college basketball at the University of Wisconsin.
CLASS OF 2013
Matt Thomas, 6-4, G, Onalaska -- The owner of one of the sweetest jump shots in state history, Thomas led Onalaska to the WIAA Division 2 state title in 2012. He went on to play four years at Iowa State and currently is playing professionally in Spain.
Duane Wilson, 6-2, G, Dominican -- A super aggressive guard who could finish drives above the rim while also making three-point shots, Wilson helped Dominican to WIAA Division 4 state titles in 2012 and 2013. He played three seasons at Marquette before finishing his collegiate career as a grad transfer this past winter at Texas A&M.
Luke Fischer, 6-11, C, Germantown -- The strong interior presence on Germantown's WIAA Division 1 state title teams in 2012 and 2013, Fischer played one semester at Indiana before returning home and playing two and a half years at Marquette. He now is playing professional basketball in Spain.
Deonte Burton, 6-5, G/F, Milwaukee Vincent -- A combination of pure strength, eye-popping athleticism and super aggressiveness, Burton played one and a half years at Marquette before transferring to Iowa State. He currently is playing in the G League.
CLASS OF 2017
Kobe King, 6-5, G, La Crosse Central -- An athletic and instinctive player who helped La Crosse Central to the 2017 WIAA Division 2 state title, King is playing at the University of Wisconsin. He started his freshman year strong for the Badgers, but went down with a season-ending injury in December. He is expected to receive a medical redshirt and have four years of eligibility with the Badgers beginning in 2018-19.
CLASS OF 2018
Joey Hauser, 6-8, F, Stevens Point -- A key member of Stevens Point's WIAA Division 1 state championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, Hauser missed all but one game as a senior after undergoing ankle surgery, otherwise he most definitely would have been included in the Top 15. The versatile player with the ability to score inside and outside joins older brother, Sam, at Marquette and will be a freshman in eligibility in the fall of 2018.
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.
Tag(s): News Archive BBB News Mark Miller WSN15