On Sunday, September 6, Madison365 Sports spent four hours at the Prep Hoops Girls Wisconsin Freshman Showcase, getting another extended look at Wisconsin’s Class of 2030.
A large number of players from the TYBC Wisconsin Class of 2030 Top 75 were in attendance, creating an opportunity to watch many of the state’s better freshmen compete in the same gym and, in some cases, directly against one another. The showcase ran from roughly 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., providing four hours of almost nonstop basketball across multiple games and matchups.
That is what makes events like this valuable. Some players confirm what we have seen before. Some show noticeable growth. Others make you look at them differently than you did when you walked into the gym. One showcase does not define a player, but four hours of basketball can tell you plenty if you pay attention.
Here is what stood out to Madison365 Sports.
Top Offensive Performers
Charlee Johnson | Pewaukee | Team Prime
Charlee Johnson played with tremendous confidence on the offensive end throughout the afternoon. What stood out most was how much Johnson trusted her ability to score. She was aggressive without appearing rushed and looked comfortable creating offense when opportunities presented themselves. There was a confidence to her game that showed up repeatedly throughout the showcase.
Young scorers sometimes have the ability but have not yet developed the confidence to consistently use it. Johnson did not have that problem Sunday. Her offensive confidence separated her and made her one of the top offensive performers Madison365 Sports watched at the showcase.
Desyre’ Bundrage | Madison La Follette | Purple Aces
Desyre’ Bundrage may have done more to improve her stock Sunday than anyone in attendance. Her athleticism immediately stands out, but Bundrage showed more than athletic ability. She found ways to score at all three levels and was particularly difficult to contain when the game opened up. Once she got into the open court with momentum, defenders had trouble staying in front of her.
Bundrage played aggressively, used her physical tools and consistently put pressure on the defense. The combination of athleticism, aggression and scoring ability made her one of Sunday’s most difficult players to contain.
Madison Morris | Dominican High School | Team Herro
Madison Morris has an impressive ability to get into the lane and score through contact. Her physicality is a major part of what makes her difficult to defend. She does not need a clean path to the basket to finish and showed Sunday that she can absorb contact while maintaining the strength and control needed to score.
Matchup of the Day: Madison Morris vs. Daly Butler
One of the most entertaining matchups of the afternoon came when Morris went against Daly Butler, who lives in Michigan. Their games have some similarities. Both are physical guards who understand how to use their strength to their advantage. Neither shies away from contact, and both can make defenders uncomfortable because of the physicality with which they play.
When they were matched against one another, there was a noticeable competitive edge to the possessions. It became a game within the game. That is exactly the type of matchup that makes showcases valuable, with two talented players who have similar strengths getting an opportunity to test themselves directly against one another.
It was the best individual matchup Madison365 Sports watched all afternoon. Butler’s performance was worthy of first-team recognition. Because she lives in Michigan, however, she was not included on the Wisconsin All-Showcase teams below.
Biggest Discovery: My’Asia Burns
My’Asia Burns was the biggest discovery of the afternoon for Madison365 Sports. At approximately 6 feet, Burns has an intriguing combination of size, strength and skill. What made her difficult to defend was that she was not simply relying on being bigger or stronger than her opponents. There was legitimate basketball skill accompanying the physical tools.
As the afternoon progressed, Burns continued to demand attention. That is one of the best parts of watching a showcase. There are players you enter the gym already knowing, and then there are players who force you to learn their names. Burns did that Sunday, and her performance earned her a spot on the Madison365 Sports All-Showcase First Team.
Shooter of the Day: Nevaeh Smith
There was not much debate here. Nevaeh Smith can shoot the basketball. When Smith gets a clean look from beyond the arc, there is an expectation that the shot has a good chance of going in. She showed that again Sunday and continues to establish shooting as one of the defining parts of her game.
Payton Luna’s Quickness Stood Out
Payton Luna’s quickness was difficult to miss Sunday. Her ability to get past the first defender looked effortless at times. That is an important trait for a point guard because beating the initial defender changes the entire possession. It forces help, creates driving lanes and can open opportunities for teammates.
The next step for Luna will be becoming stronger and more consistent finishing those plays at the rim. If that part of her game develops alongside her ability to create advantages off the dribble, she has a chance to put herself in the conversation among the top point guards in Wisconsin’s 2030 class.
Xoey Bluth Thrives at a Fast Pace
Xoey Bluth plays extremely fast, and that was especially noticeable in the open court Sunday. When Bluth had the basketball in transition and was able to attack with space, she was difficult to stop. Her pace puts immediate pressure on a defense before it has an opportunity to get organized.
Avery Check Continues to Play Beyond Her Years
Every time Madison365 Sports watches Avery Check, the same qualities continue to show up: confidence, composure and control. Check plays like a veteran. There is not much panic in her game. She appears comfortable with the basketball, understands what she is trying to accomplish and carries herself with a level of confidence that stands out for a freshman.
Reese Brown and the Challenge of Being No. 1
It is not easy being regarded as the No. 1 player in your class. Some players will be intimidated by you. Others will look forward to the matchup because they want the opportunity to test themselves against the player everyone is talking about. That means Brown often enters a gym knowing she is going to get the other player’s best effort. She handled that attention well Sunday.
Brown’s on-ball defense was particularly impressive. She created steals against some talented guards and showed that she can affect the game defensively rather than relying solely on what she provides offensively.
The next challenge for Brown is one that comes with being a highly regarded player: finding the game within the game. Regardless of the opponent, teammates or circumstances, the challenge becomes finding ways to impact winning.
Rylea Kratky Takes a Step Forward
Sunday was the best Madison365 Sports has seen Rylea Kratky play. Her physicality stood out throughout the afternoon. Kratky played with strength and seemed increasingly comfortable using it as part of her game.
The Lee Twins Continue to Defend
Ma’Kenzie Lee and Ma’riah Lee are always fun to watch because both bring a defensive mindset to the floor. At showcases, offense naturally receives much of the attention. Players have the basketball in their hands, shots go in and scoring tends to generate the biggest reactions. Defense requires a different kind of commitment, particularly in a showcase environment. The Lee twins continue to show that side of their games, and their willingness to compete defensively stood out again Sunday.
Stella Yarco Loves to Compete
Stella Yarco never seems to stop moving. There is a competitive chip to the way she plays. She takes possessions seriously and brings an energy that makes it clear how much she loves to compete.
Chesne Fink: Consistency Matters
There is something to be said for knowing what you are going to get from a player. Chesne Fink continues to be one of the more consistent players Madison365 Sports watches in this class. That consistency showed again Sunday.
Laila Rose’s Versatility Continues to Show
Laila Rose’s ability to play multiple positions continues to make her an interesting player to watch. She can be used in different places on the floor and does not have to be confined to one role to contribute. That kind of versatility gives a player more ways to stay on the floor and affect a game.
The next piece of her development will be physical strength. As her strength begins to catch up with her basketball ability and positional versatility, Rose could become increasingly difficult to contain.
Dominican’s Freshman Class Is Loaded
One of the most glaring observations Sunday was not about one individual player. It was about Dominican High School.
Dominican’s freshman class is loaded. Their players competed at a high level throughout the showcase, and collectively the group stood out. When several players from the same freshman class are performing well in an environment filled with talented players from across the state, it gets your attention.
Madison365 Sports All-Showcase First Team
These selections are based strictly on performances Madison365 Sports observed Sunday at the Prep Hoops Wisconsin Freshman Showcase.
Charlee Johnson
Desyre’ Bundrage
Payton Luna
Madison Morris
Xoey Bluth
Nevaeh Smith
Avery Check
My’Asia Burns
Johnson, Bundrage and Morris were the top offensive performers of the afternoon, while Burns emerged as the biggest discovery. Luna’s quickness consistently created advantages, Bluth was dangerous in the open court, Smith’s shooting separated her and Check again displayed impressive confidence, composure and control.
Madison365 Sports All-Showcase Second Team
Reese Brown
Chesne Fink
Rylea Kratky
Stella Yarco
Ma’Kenzie Lee
Ma’riah Lee
Laila Rose
The second team also featured several strong performances. Brown’s on-ball defense stood out against talented guards, while Kratky played the best Madison365 Sports has seen her play and brought noticeable physicality throughout the afternoon. Ma’Kenzie and Ma’riah Lee continued to distinguish themselves defensively, Yarco brought her usual competitiveness, Fink was once again consistent, and Rose showed the positional versatility that continues to make her intriguing.
Four hours of basketball will not tell us everything about Wisconsin’s 2030 class, but Sunday provided another valuable look at a group Madison365 Sports has been following closely. Some familiar names reinforced what we had already seen, several players showed noticeable growth and others gave us reasons to watch them much more closely as their freshman seasons begin.
