Boys basketball preview: Conference capsules

CLASSIC 8

2016-17 champion: Arrowhead.

2017-18 favorite: Kettle Moraine.

Other contenders: Arrowhead, Muskego, Waukesha West.

Key players: Catholic Memorial – Rich Byhre, jr., F; C.J. Goetz, sr., F; Ben Nimz, sr., G. Kettle Moraine – Nate Jenkins, jr., G; Michael Payant, sr., G/F; Kyle Abatto, sr., G/F. Mukwonago – Connor Tess, sr., G; Bryce Konitzer, sr., F; John Reardon, sr., G. Muskego – A.J.  Makinen, jr., G; Rob Zolecki, sr., G; Samuel Greenthal, jr., G. Waukesha South - Grayson Cooley, sr., G; Juan Lascano, sr., G; Zach Bauer, jr., F. Waukesha North – Will McDonald, sr., F; Chimere Dike, soph., G; JR Shiddell, jr., F. Waukesha West – David Skogman, jr., F; Rocky Martinez, jr., G/F; Finley Schmacher, sr., F. Oconomowoc – Nate Platter, jr., G; Cameron Briggs, sr., G.

Outlook: Arrowhead and Muskego have been the teams to beat in the league the past few years, but could that change this year. Kettle Moraine is the universal favorite among coaches in the conference. The Lasers, who finished fifth last season, return six of their top eight scorers, a group led by Payant, an all-conference second team pick who averaged 12.4 points per game last season. Waukesha West, which took sixth last season, is another team that could make a big move. Finley, Martinez and Schumacher were double-digit scorers last season. Arrowhead must replace a great senior class. Muskego will remain a threat thanks to great guard play. Makinen is on the short list of top players in the conference.

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GREATER METRO

2016-17 champion: Brookfield Central.

2017-18 favorite: Brookfield Central.

Other contenders: Menomonee Falls, Brookfield East, Sussex Hamilton.

Key players: Brookfield Central – Cole Nau, jr., G; Gage Malensek, jr., G; Andres Peralta-Werns, sr., G. Brookfield East – Patrick Cartier, sr., C; Peyton Simon, sr., F. Germantown – Luke Taylor, sr., F; Jaylen Carter, sr., G. Marquette – Niko Kerschner, sr., F; Mikey Garven, sr., G; Jeremy King, sr., G. Menomonee Falls – Nate Schuster, sr., F. Sussex Hamilton – Tyler Ellingson, jr. G; Patrick Baldwin Jr., fr., G. Lucas Finnessy, soph., F. Wauwatosa East – Jalen Holley, sr. G/F; Deshun Hunter, sr., G. Wauwatosa West – Laron Perine, sr., G; Allen Johnson, jr., G; Aaron Greer, jr.,  G. West Allis Hale – Jevon Taylor, sr., C; Emerald Martin, jr., G; Joe Schultz, sr., G.

Outlook: Central fell one point from reaching the state final last season. Expectation will remain high for the Lancers, who return one of the area’s top backcourt tandems in Malensek and Nau. Their toughest competition could be right down the road. Brookfield East lost six games by less than five points last season. Or it could be Menomonee Falls, which is in Year Two of Steve Showalter’s tenure as head coach. The addition of Baldwin could provide a boost for Hamilton. So could the hire of Marc Mitchell as the coach at Wauwatosa West.

METRO CLASSIC

2016-17 champion: Martin Luther and Racine Prairie.

2017-18 favorite: Martin Luther.

Other contenders: Racine Prairie, Racine St. Catherine’s, Dominican.

Key players:  Catholic Central – Frank Koehnke, sr., G/F. Dominican – Gacoby Jones, sr., G; Abe Scruggs IV, soph., G. Bo Bennett, jr., F. Kenosha St. Joseph –Sergio Nanu, sr., F/C; Max Serpe, sr., G. Martin Luther – Xzavier Jones, jr., G/F; Trequan Carrington, jr., G; Ace Evans, jr., G/F. Racine Lutheran – Ryan Hoover, sr., G; Brett Ogden, sr., G. Racine Prairie – J.C. Butler, sr., G/W; Troy Mikaelian, sr., G; Logan Krekling, sr., G. Racine St. Catherine’s – Quin Cafferty, jr., F; Isaiah Dodd, soph., G; Azarien Stephens, jr., G. Da’Shaun Brown, jr., G..  St. Thomas More – Noah Glembin, jr., G/F; Alex Reinke, sr., G; Eric Williams, jr., G/F. Shoreland Lutheran – Jayke Giese, sr., G; Cooper Kolcer, sr., G.

Outlook: Loaded. Absolutely loaded. That’s the Metro Classic this year. We’ve installed Martin Luther as the favorite, but Prairie, St. Catherine’s and Dominican could emerge. Martin Luther, Prairie and Dominican reached the sectional last season. Four of the other five remaining teams return a double-digit scorers to build around.

MIDWEST CLASSIC

2016-17 champion: University School.

2017-18 favorite: Brookfield Academy.

Other contenders: Lake Country Lutheran, Living Word Lutheran, Messmer, University School.

Key players: Brookfield Academy - Aidan Clarey, soph., G; Jack Cahalane, sr., G; Daniel Halquist, sr. F. Heritage Christian – Brandon Angles, sr., F; Ezra King, jr. ,G/F. HOPE Christian – Tyrik Scott, sr., G; Juan Lean-Guerrero, sr. G; Mario Metcalf, jr., F. Kenosha Christian Life – Chris Liebich, sr., G;  CY Bryan, sr., G.  Lake Country Lutheran – Bryce Haertle, jr.,G; Ethan Adler, sr., F; Jack Schumacher, sr. F. Living Word Lutheran – Jacob Bolwerk,  sr., G; Oliver Krause, sr., G/F; Patrick Cassidy, sr. G. Messmer – Keyron Gouveia, sr., G; Jalen Brown Morrow, jr., G; Ajani Sprewer, sr. F. St. Francis – Nick Blankenburg, sr. , G; Taylor Stidhum, sr., F; Christian Reynosa, sr., F. St. John’s Northwestern – Gerald Gittens, soph., G; James Kelley, jr. G/F. University School – Keegan Kubicki, jr. G; Mike Wilson, jr., G; Sencere Powell, sr., F

Outlook: The race was crazy last season when four teams were in the hunt for the title until the final couple of weeks. Experienced teams fill the league. Brookfield Academy finished one game behind University School and has back the league’s top returning scorer in Clarey. Messmer graduated one player from a team that went 11-4 in the conference. HOPE graduated its top player, Courtney Good, but have back its next four top scorers. Lake Country Lutheran has back two 15-point per game scorers in Haertle and Alder. Living Word can build around one of the league’s top performer in Bolwerk, who averaged 17 points per game last season. And last but not least is University School. The Wildcats graduated the league’s player of the year, Walter Scott, but Kubicki, Wilson and Powell received all-conference recognition.

MILWAUKEE CITY

2016-17 champion: Riverside, Vincent, Washington.

2017-18 favorite: Washington.

Other contenders: Riverside, Bay View, Tech, Hamilton.

Key players: Bay View – Breontae Hunt, sr., G; Deonis Cook, sr., G. Bradley Tech – Mikell Cooper, sr., G; Octavius Bowens, sr.,G; Montavis Henry, jr., F. Hamilton – Keontae White, sr., G; Marquise Barry, jr. G. King – Marcus Kartes, jr., G; Cameron Tolefree, soph., G; Dion Talley, soph., G. Pulaski = Timothy Williams, sr., C; Jamerian Sumler, fr., G. Riverside – Carlos Curtis, sr., G; Montrell Hobbs, sr., G; James Burks, jr.,G. Vincent – Robert Anderson, jr., G; Malik Carter-Moore, sr. ,G; Deandre Magsby, sr., F. Washington – Deontay Long, jr. , G/F; Jordan Dinsmore, sr., G; Michael Foster, fr., F.

Outlook: Washington is loaded with talent and is hungrier than ever after losing in the Division 2 state semifinals in overtime last season. Long is poised for a big season. Dinsmore is a three-year varsity performer and freshman forward Michael Foster and senior Deveron Hierrezuelo, who sat out last year after transferring from West Allis Central, are expected to make an immediate impact. At Riverside, the return of Curtis will help keep the Tigers near the top of the league. The rest of the league is hard to gauge. There are up-and-coming teams like Bay View and Tech that could be in the mix this year that weren’t last season.

MILWAUKEE CITY BLUE

2016-17 champion: Juneau.

2017-18 favorite: Golda Meir

Other contenders: Juneau, Lifelong Learning.

Key players: Arts – Rayshawn Davis, jr., G. Carmen - Armonie Williams, sr., G; Adam Gibbs, jr., G; Ishmeal Bogan, sr., G.  Golda Meir – Brandun Robinson, sr, F; Mario Williams, jr., G; Brandon Harman, jr., F. Juneau – Jarvis Roberts, sr., G; Dominick Snow-Pierce, sr., F. Lifelong Learning - Quan Jackson, soph., G; Johnny Wallace, soph., G.

Outlook: Last year Golda Meir finished two games back of Juneau last year.  This year it might not lose a game. The team lost no players from that team, a group that is led by Robinson, who was one of the area’s top scorer last season at 26.1 points per game.  Juneau’s chance of repeating suffered a blow when Dwayne Walker, who share co-player of the year honors with Robinson, transferred. Watching out for Lifelong Learning, which is in its first year in the league The Wizards are coached by former Milwaukee North coach Billy Harris, who enjoyed success with a high-tempo, high-scoring style.

NORTH SHORE

Grafton, West Bend West, Port, Whitefish Bay,

2016-17 champion: Cedarburg.

2017-18 favorite: Cedarburg.

Other contenders: Nicolet, Whitefish Bay.

Key players: Cedarburg – John Diener, sr., G; Matt Barber, sr., F;  Victor Novy, jr, F. Grafton – Ayden Edmundson, sr., G/F; Alex Huibregste, soph., G. Hartford – Jake Lynch, sr., G/F; Josh Much, sr., G/F; Drew Egan, jr., G.  Homestead – Ryan Waddell, jr., G; Michael Kennedy, jr. F; Declan Ciurlik, soph., G. Nicolet – Jack Brahm, sr., F; Jamari Sibley, soph., F; Jeremy Ninham, sr., G. Port Washington – Adam Baierl, jr., G; Evan Lilly, soph., G/F; Jake Lippe, jr., G/F. Slinger – Derek Sabin, sr., F; Tyler Evan, sr., G/F; Matt Wetherall, sr. G. West Bend East – TJ Simpson, jr., G; Gage Gerrittson, sr., F. Whitefish Bay – Demtrius Johnson, jr., G; Cade Garcia, sr., G; Joe Voit, sr. F.

Outlook: Cedarburg will miss guard Jordan Johnson, but Barber is a skilled big man who could give the team a different look with his ability to play inside and out. And of course, Diener is still around and should reach 2,000 points at some point this season. The league welcomes four former Wisconsin Little Ten schools – Hartford, Slinger, West Bend East, West Bend West – but for the moment the balance of power of the league will lean toward its old guard. Nicolet made a big jump last season and with some of the best size in the league should continue to improve. Bay has been one of the league’s most consistent winners, will be in the mix, too.

SOUTHEAST

2016-17 champion: Oak Creek.

2017-18 favorite: Racine Park.

Other contenders: Franklin, Racine Horlick.

Key players: Franklin – Max Alba, sr., F; Jacob Vonderwell, jr., G; Zak Klug, jr., G/F. Kenosha Bradford – DeMonte Nelson, sr., G; Zach Borden, sr., G; Marshaun Bell, sr., F. Kenosha Indian Trail – Arlind Zemaji, jr., G; Josh Brown, jr., G. Oak Creek – Shamari Easley, sr., F; Quinn Stulo, jr., G. Racine Case – Jaylon Edmonson, sr., G; Owenn Schmidtmann, sr., G. Xavier Carroll, sr., F. Racine Horlick – Marquise Milton, jr., G; Derrick Seay, sr., F; Marcus Caldwell, sr., F.   Racine Park – Nobal Days, jr., G/F/C; Larry Canady, jr., G; Rance Kendrick, sr., G.

Outlook: Last year we picked Park the win the title and the Panthers finished fifth. Another season of experience could be the difference for a team that was largely led by underclassmen last season. So will the continuing development of Days, a high-major prospect who affects the game with his scoring, defense and passing. Park’s top competition will come across town from Horlick or up the highway from Franklin. Horlick returns four starters, including the dynamic Milton, from a team that finished fourth last season. Franklin won nine straight games to close the season, a run that included a victory over Park. The Sabers beat Oak Creek to win the regional title.

SOUTHERN LAKES

2016-17 champion: Westosha Central.

2017-18 favorite: Burlington.

Other contenders: Westosha Central, Wilmot, Union Grove.

Key players: Badger – Austin Flower, sr., G; Lake McGreevy, jr., G; Kyle Rogers, jr., G. Burlington – Nick Klug, sr., G; Brock Halbach, sr., F; Grant Tully, sr., G. Delavan-Darien – Logan Rios, sr., G; Dakota Williams, sr., G/F. Elkhorn – Luke Umnus, jr., G; Quin McDonald, sr., F/C; Vince Umnus, jr., G. Union Grove – Jack Pettit, sr., G; Jacob Ross, sr., G; Riley Hale, sr., G. Waterford – Matt Borchardt, sr., G/F; Will Busch, sr., G/F; Mike Schimelfenyg, sr., G.  Westosha Central – Jaeden Zackery, jr., G; Cooper Brinkman, sr., F; Nic Frederick, sr., G. Wilmot – Latrell Glass, sr., G; Jeremy Burton, sr., G. Kevin Brenner, jr., G.

Outlook: For the first time in four years, the balance of power could be shifting back to Burlington. The Demons return Klug, the league’s top player, plus a core of four other players who helped the team finish second last season. Central won’t give up the title without a fight, though. The Falcons graduated league player of the year Tre Williams but return three of their top five leading scorers.  Wilmot and Union Grove won’t be easy outs, either. Both squads are strong in the backcourt with Wilmot’s tandem of Glass and Burton combining for 30 points per game last season and Union Grove’s backcourt of Pettit, Hale and Ross combining for seven years starting experience, counting this season.

WOODLAND EAST

2016-17 champion: Brown Deer and Whitnall.

2017-18 favorite: Brown Deer.

Other contenders: Whitnall, Milwaukee Lutheran.

Key players: Brown Deer – Jay Gentry, sr., G; Johnny Saengphonphakdy, sr. F; Liam McGuire, sr., F. Cudahy – Isaiah Sartin, sr., G; Cameron Krueger, jr. G. Greenfield – Elijah Rosario, jr. F; Omarion Bartlett, soph., G. Milwaukee Lutheran – Ken Daniel, jr. G; Isaiah Owens, sr. C; JaVeon Tolliver, soph., G. Shorewood – DeAndre Anderson, sr. G; Taylor Canady, sr., G; Chris Farrington, soph., G. South Milwaukee – Austin Konczal, sr., F; Zach Lewkowski, soph., G/F; Nate Sielaf, sr., G. Whitnall = Tyler Herro, sr., G. 

Outlook: Brown Deer has won five straight division titles, a run most coaches in the division believe will continue this year. Brown Deer coach Kelly Appleby likes this team’s experience, heart and desire as well as its versatility on defense. Offensively Brown Deer can lean on Gentry, who averaged 18.7 points per game last season, but there are a number of players on the roster who could emerge as the No. 2 option. With a player like Herro in the fold, you can never disregard a team like Whitnall. Milwaukee Lutheran was realigned into the conference after many years in the North Shore where it routinely held its own against Division 1 programs.

WOODLAND WEST

2016-17 champion: Pewaukee.

2017-18 favorite: Pewaukee.

Other contenders:  Pius XI, Wisconsin Lutheran.

Key players: Greendale – Vlada Zrnic, sr., F; Tanner Sebastian, sr., G; Will Brust, fr., G/F; Sam Sommerfeld, fr., G. New Berlin Eisenhower – Bryce Miller, sr., G; Joe Lang, sr., G/F. New Berlin West – Joe Robey, sr., G; Desmond Polk, soph., G. Pewaukee – Grant Basile, sr., F/C; Jack Gohlke, sr., G. Pius XI – Bilal Shabazz, sr., F; Preston Maccoux, sr., G; T.J. Driver, sr., F. West Allis Central – Jake Fierst, jr., F; Shilo Bowles, soph., F. Wisconsin Lutheran – Brunard Williams, sr., F; Quincy Minor, sr., G.

Outlook: The addition of Wisconsin Lutheran and West Allis Central will be boost to what was already a very competitive division. The balance of power of the West, however, leans toward Pewaukee. Not many teams can boast of a Division I and Division II recruit on the same team as the Pirates have in Basile, who signed with Wright State and Gohlke, who will play at Hillsdale College in Michigan. There isn’t great margin for error, though. Pius has great size and a strong senior class. Lutheran doesn’t have an individual star but like Pius has a strong group of seniors as well as very good depth.