PLAYGROUND ELITE 2016 Record: N/A Director: Duane ‘Ike’ Wilson Head Coach: Duane ‘Ike’ Wilson
P
layground Elite will be returning to the NIKE EYBL after sitting out the 17U circuit in 2016. Wisconsin’s Elite Youth Basketball representative as reloaded in a big way, assembling a deep, talented group of players that will be looking to make noise in their return. PGE will be dependent on a guard-heavy rotation, however they will feature more than enough bulk on the interior to compete in a loaded Division A. Obtaining a Peach Jam bid is the goal for this squad, and at least on paper, they have a great chance to make it happen.
THE BACKCOURT
Playground’s backcourt should run six deep, and they’ll be led by an absolute gamer in junior Tyler Herro (ESPN No. 23). A 6-foot-4 guard committed to Wisconsin, Herro is a crafty scorer that can score at all three levels. He’s a developing facilitator, and that progression should only continue to trend upward. A trio of juniors - Greg Foster Jr, Keshawn Justice and Carlos Curtis - will play major minutes for Director Duane Wilson and company, and should complement Herro very nicely. Diminutive out-of-state guard Chase Adams, who hails from Marian Catholic in Illinois, will be a major spark-plug off the bench.
THE FRONTCOURT
Five players figure to see time in Playground’s frontcourt, and they’ll feature the tallest player on the 2017 circuit. 7-foot-3 Adam Trapp, who stars for Esko (MN) during the high school season, will man the middle for PGE. Trapp (ESPN 3-Star) will be a problem for opposing offenses, especially after putting on over 40 pounds in the last year. Dual-sport athlete Jack Plumb, who stars on the gridiron as well, will be a physical force alongside Trapp. Juniors Dontia Johnson, Bilal Shabazz and Will McDonald round out a solid rotation of forwards. Expect a couple of their larger guards - specifically Foster and Justice - to play the small forward spot when PGE goes small.
THE STAR TYLER HERRO
H
erro is the star of the group, although the talented junior dealt with a knee injury during the 2016-17 season for Whitnall (WI). All healed up, Herro still managed to average 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Falcons, proving to be one of the top players in the midwest. Playground will desperately need his scoring to remain consistent, as the rest of the lineup will likely go through some growing pains adjusting to competing against EYBL competition. The Badgers commit will be a threat to earn All-Session honors with every circuit stop, giving Wisconsin fans assurance that their future is in good hands.
THE SLEEPER COMMITTEE
F
oster, Justice and Curtis were mentioned before, and all three enter the EYBL with a huge opportunity. Not only do they get a chance to improve their stock on the biggest stage possible, PGE’s criminallyunderrated trio will have a chance to help Playground Elite win plenty of games. Curtis (6-foot-3) and Foster (6-foot-5) are true point guards, while Justice (6-foot-6) does most of his damage behind the arc. Justice has had a terrific early spring as Playground played without Herro, and there’s no reason to think he won’t keep it up on the circuit.
12