Neenah's Brady Corso chosen Post-Crescent player of the year in boys basketball for the Appleton area

NEENAH − Brady Corso's penchant for doing the right thing at the right time in critical game situations was made through hard work and repetition.

Whether it's a key steal, a thread-the-needle assist or a clutch jumper or 3-pointer, Corso always seems to be at his best when the lights are brightest. And his development into one of the state's most complete and underrated players is the biggest reason why he has been chosen The Post-Crescent's player of the year in boys basketball this season.

The 6-foot-1 senior guard helped propel Neenah to its third consecutive state tournament appearance. The Rockets took top-seeded Hartland Arrowhead to the limit, battling the Warhawks to four overtimes before succumbing, 99-95.

Corso scored 30 points in that game and was also clutch during key moments. That was his strength throughout the past three seasons in the playoffs, including Neenah's run to the WIAA Division 1 state championship in 2022.

"I feel like growing up, we would always just do that '5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1' right down to the buzzer," Corso said. "Always practicing game situations, end-game situations. Like 'what do we do here? And what will we do there?' I feel like the practice is what gets you prepared for those types of moments, because the mind can’t go where the body hasn’t been. Just kind of taking those step-by-step practices and times in a game like game situations and big scenarios in games. Every single second in a game is a big-time moment. Just really putting yourself in that situation to know that you’ve been there before."

Neenah coach Lee Rabas had a front-row seat to Corso's development the past few seasons.

"Every year that he was with us he improved in some area or facet of the game," Rabas said. "This year he really just met expectations in all facets on the court, in the locker room, in the community. He just was a really good role model and really good leader for us on and off the court. And obviously the production on the court was a huge part of our success."

From sophomore contributor to senior leader

Corso is a three-year letter winner and played a key role in helping the Rockets win the state title two years ago.

As a junior he teamed with Cal Klesmit to lead the Rockets back to the state semifinals and this season he led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Corso's evolution included the intangibles.

"I would say taking on a bigger role (as a leader)," Corso said when asked what changed the most from his sophomore to senior seasons. "As a sophomore, I would look up to the seniors like Chevalier Emery. He was always giving me advice and telling me what to do and how to be a great leader. My junior year with Cal Klesmit, he filled those shoes and I was looking up to him. Now I'm just filling in the shoes as a senior and taking on that leadership role and setting an example for some of the younger guys, the sophomores on our team. That's what Neenah basketball is all about."

Corso's production on the court also took the next step, according to Rabas.

"He was a catalyst whether he was scoring or creating for others," Rabas said. "He did a lot of things on the defensive end as well. Near the end of the season he was playing 36 minutes a game. He was a one-man press break. And he was shooting over 90% from the free throw line. And that wasn't on a few attempts, but a lot of attempts. His ability to seal games for us was critical to our success this year."

A look back and forward

Corso said he will relish the opportunities he had to perform on the state level.

"It’s not every single day that you get to play on the Kohl Center floor and I was really fortunate enough to be able to get there three times," Corso said. "And I couldn’t have done it – in my opinion – without the best coaching staff in the state and the best head coach in the state, coach Lee Rabas. We were representing such a great program. All the guys on my team throughout my three years on varsity, their work ethic was through the roof. They always had a winning mentality and they were always super confident and we always came together and picked each other up."

Corso will take his talents next season to St. Leo University (Fla.), a Division II program coached by former Oshkosh West coach Lance Randall and with former area players Owen Pawlikowski (Kimberly) and Alex Sherwood (Xavier) on the roster.

"I think a big part of what St. Leo focuses on is the family aspect and I felt it was pretty similar to what Neenah High School is all about," Corso said. "A big part of the team is chemistry and everybody next to you is your brother or your family member and something that the St. Leo coach said was that you want to have a coach that you can turn to and be able to give them a hug whenever. You like to know that they're there for you and I feel that's one of the big things that stood out to me as far as their program."

Post-Crescent All-Area Boys Basketball

First team

Brady Corso, sr., Neenah: Player of the year. The 6-1 guard was first-team all-Fox Valley Association. Also a first-team WBCA all-state pick in D1 and a fourth-team AP all-state selection. Averaged 22 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals leading the Rockets to the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals. Finished second on Neenah's all-time boys scoring list with 1,394 points. Will play collegiately at St. Leo (Fla.).

Joey La Chapell, sr., Appleton East: The 6-1 guard was first-team all-FVA and honorable-mention WBCA all-state in D1. Also an honorable-mention selection to the AP all-state team. Averaged 26.3 points and 5.4 assists. Finished with 1,474 career points.

Adam Loberger, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran: The 6-4 guard was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference and the league's player of the year. Was a first-team WBCA all-state pick in D2 and AP all-state honorable mention. Averaged 22.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Keegan Van Kauwenberg, jr., Kaukauna: The 6-3 guard was a first-team all-FVA pick. Averaged 18.7 points and 4.3 assists. Shot 46% from beyond the arc (86-of-187). Was honorable mention on the WBCA all-state team in D1 and the AP all-state team.

Tyler Brightman, sr., Xavier: The 6-6 forward was a unanimous all-Bay Conference selection and the league's player of the year. Was honorable mention on the WBCA all-state team in D3 and on the AP all-state team. Averaged 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Grady Geiger, sr., Brillion: The 6-6 forward was a unanimous first-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference selection. Was honorable mention on the WBCA all-state team in D3 and on the AP all-state team. Averaged 19.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Second team

Donovan Davis, fr., Freedom: The 6-7 forward averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 steals. A first-team all-North Eastern Conference selection. Also honorable mention on the WBCA all-state team in D3.

Thomas Meyers, sr., Kimberly: The 6-1 guard was a first-team all-FVA selection. Averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 64-of-147 from beyond the arc (43.5%).

Ethan Joling, so., Hortonville: The 6-6 wing was a first-team all-FVA pick. Averaged 16.1 points and 2.7 assists. Was also honorable mention on the AP all-state team.

Sam Ferge, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran: The 6-4 guard was an all-NEC first-team pick. Averaged 18.6 points and five rebounds. Also honorable mention on WBCA all-state team in D2.

Jon O'Neill, sr., Kaukauna: The 6-10 forward earned second-team all-FVA honors and was also an AP all-state honorable-mention pick. Averaged 13.7 points and shot 67% from the field (158-of-237). Also averaged 11.3 rebounds. Will play collegiately at New Hampshire.

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Honorable mention

Brayden Arndt, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Riley Bechard, sr., Waupaca; Braeden Brenn, sr., St. Mary Catholic; Sam Pfefferle, sr., Xavier; Nathan Gorman, sr., Manawa; Zac Halbach, sr., Chilton; Grant Hermus, sr., Little Chute; Andrew Jensen, so., Kaukauna; Luke Jung, jr., Neenah; Drew Kortz, jr., Freedom; Fisher Mackenzie, sr., St. Mary Catholic; Kyler Marks, so., Seymour; Riley Mueller, jr., Hortonville; Ashton Peterson, sr., Freedom; Hayden Quimby, sr., Xavier; Nathan Ramus, so., Appleton North; Jonah Schlueter, sr., New London; Will Sweeney, so., Appleton North; Charlie Wunderlich, sr., Neenah; Jack Yaeger, sr., Clintonville.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah's Corso boys basketball player of the year in Appleton area