Another group of players from the Midwest region who have continued to greatly grow their game but remain under the radar. All five of these players had standout grassroots season and are ones to watch in their upcoming junior and senior high school season.

Jayden Dozie – 2028 – PG – Greater Purpose Athletics

Dozie played up a level during the grassroots season at the 17U level and still had a very strong summer. This included being one of the top point guards at the NY2LA Grassroots Invitational last month. He’s such a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands with a great ability to get plenty of paint touches with his lightning quickness along with his shiftiness. He excels on the attack as a skilled passer while maneuvering through the defense and being able to finish amongst size around the paint, but also shoots it well off the dribble from the mid-range and outside.

Nico Kleist – 2028 – PG – 24UP

While he saw limited minutes in his sophomore season as part of one of the top backcourts in all of Wisconsin for Wauwatosa West last winter, Kleist showed his true abilities this summer. This included having one of the top games of the entire NY2LA Summer Jam tournament scoring 33 points in a single game. Kleist showcased a great ability to create off the dribble with tight handle and court vision. This includes both with a good ability to create his own shot as well as getting into the paint. In his 33-point performance he shot the ball at a very high percentage even while hitting tough shots including multiple step back threes.

Liam Laidig – 2028 – SF – Kessel Heat

Laidig is a player who has continued to really progress his games throughout his high school career. From a very good sophomore high school season with Woodstock, he was even better throughout the entire spring and summer with Kessel Heat. He was one of the most consistent and impactful 2028 wing forwards on the NY2LA Association throughout the season. He is a versatile 6’5” junior who plays with good energy and toughness along with his athleticism. Laidig is very tough defensively with his intensity who plays well both inside and on the ball. He uses his size aggressiveness to be a strong scorer playing big all around the paint but has also continued to show a growing perimeter ability handling the ball.  

Luke Schelle – 2027 – PG – Refined Indiana

With what he showed this summer, Schelle is a player who needs to be on college coaches’ radars. This included his performance at the NY2LA Grassroots Invitational during the first of the July live period leading his team to a 4-0 record. Not only is he a skilled scorer who had himself games of 22 points and 20 points in the tournament but also has good point guard tools. This was highlighted by his great outside shooting ability as Schelle can really shoot the three. He is also a skilled distributor who passes it well on the moves with good court vision seeing the whole floor.  

Jeremiah Vann – 2027 – G – Gxfted Elite

There is much to like from the game of Vann with all his translatable tools that college coaches will want to see. He has good positional size as a 6’3” combo guard along with being a versatile player on both ends. This includes being an extremely tough on ball defender with his length, defensive intensity, and his athleticism being able to defend both guards and wings very effectively. Though the game of Vann goes much further with his great versatility and highly impactful play as he can also run the point and passes it well, has proven to be a consistent three-point shooter, rebounds very well as a guard, and has a high basketball IQ.