2021 GUARDS ON DISPLAY
Chucky Hepburn was one the top known prospects scheduled to be at Wisconsin’s advanced camp, and the 2021 point guard did little to disappoint in front of Greg Gard and his staff. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound rising junior from Nebraska was one of the top overall performers Saturday.
Listing him at 6-foot-1 might be a little generous, but Hepburn is a strong ball handler who sees the floor well. He displayed a good mid- and long-range jumper and also finished at the rim in traffic. If you’re looking for a comparison, former UW lead guard Jordan Taylor certainly comes to mind, especially in his build and the way Hepburn controls tempo and plays under control. Good hands, high IQ and a better athlete than you'd think at first glance... just about everything you're looking for at the position.
"Honestly, I’m hoping for tips on how to become a better point guard because there’s always going to be something I can work on," Hepburn told BadgerBlitz.com prior to camp. "Especially from a college coach because they have more experience than I do.
"I’ve called Coach (Joe) Krabbenhoft a few times and he’s told me that the coaches really like my game. They haven’t seen me in person yet but they have seen film on me and they like the style that I play."
***UPDATE***
Wisconsin offered Hepburn minutes after this original report was published.
In-state lead guard Cameron Palesse also participated in Saturday’s camp. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound prospect from Waukesha West played in front of the coaching staff a few times during the Badgers’ evaluation of 2019 center David Skogman. At camp, Palesse had his moments but probably didn’t shine as much in comparison to Hepburn. He does have a great feel for the game and certainly looks to get his teammates involved.
Palesse, who competes with Wisconsin Playground Club on the AAU circuit, has offers from Milwaukee, UC-Davis, Long Island and Canisius.
Finally, Nicolet’s Kobe Johnson was also a participant at camp. As we’ve said in the past, his body and game are certainly trending in the right direction. There’s the question of his projection in college, and that will depend on how much taller his gets. But at this point, Johnson is comfortable handling the ball as a lead guard. Johnson’s shot needs work, but other areas of his game are beginning to emerge and the future is certainly bright.
The Badgers do not have an offer out to a projected point guard in the 2021 class, which is expected to have as many as five available scholarships.
BADGERS OFFER 2021 BIG MAN
When the camp broke for lunch around noon, Gard used the opportunity to offer 2021 power forward Chris Hodges. A 6-foot-8, 215-pound rising junior from Schaumburg, Ill., Hodges is a nice looking prospect with plenty of room to grow. He’s best - at least right now - around the basket and has good hands and footwork, which was evident in station drills. The upside is there, as Hodges could develop into a powerful post player if he adds the necessary strength.
Hodges’ outside shot needs improvement, but his full body of work, coupled with the available room in the 2021 class, makes this scholarship understandable. Additionally, Gard and his staff have a very good relationship with the Illinois Wolves, Hodges’ AAU program, so they likely had a good body of feedback to work from before seeing Hodges live at camp.
From Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi this spring:
“He's just a pup, but 2021 big man Chris Hodges of the Illinois Wolves has a lot going for him. The 6-foot-8 post has a strong body, very good hands and I was surprised at his feel for passing out of the low post. He was good on the boards and will surely get lots of upper end mid to possibly even high major attention as he gets older.”
Finally, I think Hodges could play well with Matthew Mors, another top target in the 2021 class. Mors is a much better shooter and is more perimeter-oriented in comparison.
FIVE-STAR POPS IN
With a decision expected at some point this summer, five-star Jalen Johnson popped into the Kohl Center about an hour before the camp broke for lunch. Johnson, along with both his parents, were there to watch his younger brother, Kobe, compete at camp.
As soon as Johnson’s father walked into the Kohl Center, he was greeted by assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft. Soon after, Gard joined the conversation, before Krabbenhoft and Jalen Johnson spoke one-on-one for a few minutes.
If one thing is clear it’s that the two sides - Wisconsin and the Johnson family - have a very genuine bond. This has been years in the making and a big reason why UW is still alive in Johnson's recruitment. He is still considering UW, Duke, Kentucky and Arizona.
GILMORE MAKES HIS CASE
If one player stood out from the morning and afternoon session, it was Carter Gilmore, an in-state rising senior from Arrowhead High School. The 6-foot-8 forward was active on both ends during the scrimmage portion of the camp and was able to get the shot he wanted on a consistent basis.
Gilmore, who competes with Phenom University of the EYBL circuit, has been on the Badgers’ radar for some time. In the 2020 class, the Badgers would have one scholarship available if the Davis brothers - Jordan Davis and Jonathan Davis - join guard Lorne Bowman on UW's commit list. That final spot would likely be reserved for Minnesota big man Ben Carlson - the staff would make room for Jalen Johnson, regardless of space - but Gilmore could have elevated himself up Wisconsin’ recruiting board after Saturday’s performance.
He’s not an elite athlete, but Gilmore does just about everything pretty well and with consistency. He currently lists offers from Brown, DePaul, Milwaukee and Southern Illinois, among others.
TWO FROM 2022 TO WATCH
Two known offers are already out in the 2022 class to Minnesota natives Trejaun Holloman and Camden Heide. Saturday, the Badgers got to see two more of their targets in that cycle in Maximus Nelson, an in-state forward from Appleton North, and Javaughn Hannah, a guard from Michigan.
Nelson visited last fall and has good size for his age. He's got the things to work on but the early tools are there. Hannah is a bit more advanced in his development and he handled himself well against older competition. Assistant coach Dean Oliver has been in contact and Hannah is certainly someone who could pull in a scholarship after a bit more evaluation.
You could even add Milwaukee Tech’s Jeffrey Brazziel to the list. The ultra-athlete wing has a lot of tools but needs to work on his consistency.
ODDS AND ENDS
*Will Ryan, the son of former Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan, helped coach the camp. He was most recently on the coaching staff at Ohio University.
*In-state wing Brayden Dailey showed more to his game than just an outside shot Saturday. The 6-foot-5 rising junior is starting to fill out and get stronger, and good sign for college coaches. He has more confidence and is starting to show some of the other tools in his skillset.
*Chase Courbat, who visited this past fall, is someone the staff will continue to monitor after a good performance Saturday. He does a lot of things Wisconsin values well.
*Andrew Morgan is a big man to keep an eye on from Minnesota. His recruitment is still in it’s early stages, but there's a lot to like in evaluating the 6-foot-8 big man.
*High-jump champion Cade Meyer (Monroe) put together a really good camp. The 6-foot-7 wing has a ton of bounce and can get things done on both ends.
*Tony Granato was at the Kohl Center for a bit in the morning and spent some time talking to Gard and Krabbenhoft.
*Senior guard Brevin Pritzl helped with the camp Saturday.
Chucky Hepburn was one the top known prospects scheduled to be at Wisconsin’s advanced camp, and the 2021 point guard did little to disappoint in front of Greg Gard and his staff. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound rising junior from Nebraska was one of the top overall performers Saturday.
Listing him at 6-foot-1 might be a little generous, but Hepburn is a strong ball handler who sees the floor well. He displayed a good mid- and long-range jumper and also finished at the rim in traffic. If you’re looking for a comparison, former UW lead guard Jordan Taylor certainly comes to mind, especially in his build and the way Hepburn controls tempo and plays under control. Good hands, high IQ and a better athlete than you'd think at first glance... just about everything you're looking for at the position.
"Honestly, I’m hoping for tips on how to become a better point guard because there’s always going to be something I can work on," Hepburn told BadgerBlitz.com prior to camp. "Especially from a college coach because they have more experience than I do.
"I’ve called Coach (Joe) Krabbenhoft a few times and he’s told me that the coaches really like my game. They haven’t seen me in person yet but they have seen film on me and they like the style that I play."
***UPDATE***
Wisconsin offered Hepburn minutes after this original report was published.
In-state lead guard Cameron Palesse also participated in Saturday’s camp. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound prospect from Waukesha West played in front of the coaching staff a few times during the Badgers’ evaluation of 2019 center David Skogman. At camp, Palesse had his moments but probably didn’t shine as much in comparison to Hepburn. He does have a great feel for the game and certainly looks to get his teammates involved.
Palesse, who competes with Wisconsin Playground Club on the AAU circuit, has offers from Milwaukee, UC-Davis, Long Island and Canisius.
Finally, Nicolet’s Kobe Johnson was also a participant at camp. As we’ve said in the past, his body and game are certainly trending in the right direction. There’s the question of his projection in college, and that will depend on how much taller his gets. But at this point, Johnson is comfortable handling the ball as a lead guard. Johnson’s shot needs work, but other areas of his game are beginning to emerge and the future is certainly bright.
The Badgers do not have an offer out to a projected point guard in the 2021 class, which is expected to have as many as five available scholarships.
BADGERS OFFER 2021 BIG MAN
When the camp broke for lunch around noon, Gard used the opportunity to offer 2021 power forward Chris Hodges. A 6-foot-8, 215-pound rising junior from Schaumburg, Ill., Hodges is a nice looking prospect with plenty of room to grow. He’s best - at least right now - around the basket and has good hands and footwork, which was evident in station drills. The upside is there, as Hodges could develop into a powerful post player if he adds the necessary strength.
Hodges’ outside shot needs improvement, but his full body of work, coupled with the available room in the 2021 class, makes this scholarship understandable. Additionally, Gard and his staff have a very good relationship with the Illinois Wolves, Hodges’ AAU program, so they likely had a good body of feedback to work from before seeing Hodges live at camp.
From Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi this spring:
“He's just a pup, but 2021 big man Chris Hodges of the Illinois Wolves has a lot going for him. The 6-foot-8 post has a strong body, very good hands and I was surprised at his feel for passing out of the low post. He was good on the boards and will surely get lots of upper end mid to possibly even high major attention as he gets older.”
Finally, I think Hodges could play well with Matthew Mors, another top target in the 2021 class. Mors is a much better shooter and is more perimeter-oriented in comparison.
FIVE-STAR POPS IN
With a decision expected at some point this summer, five-star Jalen Johnson popped into the Kohl Center about an hour before the camp broke for lunch. Johnson, along with both his parents, were there to watch his younger brother, Kobe, compete at camp.
As soon as Johnson’s father walked into the Kohl Center, he was greeted by assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft. Soon after, Gard joined the conversation, before Krabbenhoft and Jalen Johnson spoke one-on-one for a few minutes.
If one thing is clear it’s that the two sides - Wisconsin and the Johnson family - have a very genuine bond. This has been years in the making and a big reason why UW is still alive in Johnson's recruitment. He is still considering UW, Duke, Kentucky and Arizona.
GILMORE MAKES HIS CASE
If one player stood out from the morning and afternoon session, it was Carter Gilmore, an in-state rising senior from Arrowhead High School. The 6-foot-8 forward was active on both ends during the scrimmage portion of the camp and was able to get the shot he wanted on a consistent basis.
Gilmore, who competes with Phenom University of the EYBL circuit, has been on the Badgers’ radar for some time. In the 2020 class, the Badgers would have one scholarship available if the Davis brothers - Jordan Davis and Jonathan Davis - join guard Lorne Bowman on UW's commit list. That final spot would likely be reserved for Minnesota big man Ben Carlson - the staff would make room for Jalen Johnson, regardless of space - but Gilmore could have elevated himself up Wisconsin’ recruiting board after Saturday’s performance.
He’s not an elite athlete, but Gilmore does just about everything pretty well and with consistency. He currently lists offers from Brown, DePaul, Milwaukee and Southern Illinois, among others.
TWO FROM 2022 TO WATCH
Two known offers are already out in the 2022 class to Minnesota natives Trejaun Holloman and Camden Heide. Saturday, the Badgers got to see two more of their targets in that cycle in Maximus Nelson, an in-state forward from Appleton North, and Javaughn Hannah, a guard from Michigan.
Nelson visited last fall and has good size for his age. He's got the things to work on but the early tools are there. Hannah is a bit more advanced in his development and he handled himself well against older competition. Assistant coach Dean Oliver has been in contact and Hannah is certainly someone who could pull in a scholarship after a bit more evaluation.
You could even add Milwaukee Tech’s Jeffrey Brazziel to the list. The ultra-athlete wing has a lot of tools but needs to work on his consistency.
ODDS AND ENDS
*Will Ryan, the son of former Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan, helped coach the camp. He was most recently on the coaching staff at Ohio University.
*In-state wing Brayden Dailey showed more to his game than just an outside shot Saturday. The 6-foot-5 rising junior is starting to fill out and get stronger, and good sign for college coaches. He has more confidence and is starting to show some of the other tools in his skillset.
*Chase Courbat, who visited this past fall, is someone the staff will continue to monitor after a good performance Saturday. He does a lot of things Wisconsin values well.
*Andrew Morgan is a big man to keep an eye on from Minnesota. His recruitment is still in it’s early stages, but there's a lot to like in evaluating the 6-foot-8 big man.
*High-jump champion Cade Meyer (Monroe) put together a really good camp. The 6-foot-7 wing has a ton of bounce and can get things done on both ends.
*Tony Granato was at the Kohl Center for a bit in the morning and spent some time talking to Gard and Krabbenhoft.
*Senior guard Brevin Pritzl helped with the camp Saturday.
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