Season Preview: Division Two’s Top Backcourts
The bonfire of hype that was surrounding Wisconsin’s Division Two last year has been doused with water following the transfers of Jalen Johnson, Jamari Sibley, and Michael Foster Jr. Division Two may no longer be the top division to watch…
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Continue ReadingThe bonfire of hype that was surrounding Wisconsin’s Division Two last year has been doused with water following the transfers of Jalen Johnson, Jamari Sibley, and Michael Foster Jr. Division Two may no longer be the top division to watch the state’s premier talent, but it still is host to some great backcourts.
Let’s take a look at five of the best backcourts that Division Two has to offer.
Keaton Ferris, Logan Jedwabny, Chris Morgan (Kaukauna)
The trio of Ferris, Jedwabny, and Morgan will look to help return Kaukauna to its former glory days. Jordan McCabe will not be breaking ankles and drilling threes in a Ghost uniform again, but Mike Schalow should still feel very confident in his backcourt. Ferris will likely take the reigns of the offense as the team’s true point guard. The 5-foot-10 prospect fits this role perfectly. He is a great facilitator — if someone is open, the ball won’t stay in Ferris’ hands for long. Jedwabny, a 6-foot-2 SG, will benefit from his teammate’s hard-wired passing skills. When he is in a shooting zone, it almost looks as if Jedwabny can will the ball into the rim. Chris Morgan doesn’t have the playing experience that Ferris or Jedwabny have, but his skill matches right up. He is a great playmaker who will be able to lift some of the weight off the shoulders of Kaukauna’s star guards.
Sam Kick, Victor Desmond, Dakota Mannel (Onalaska)
Carson Arenz and Tyrell Stuttley will garner most of the attention for this Onalaska team, and rightfully so. Arenz and Stuttley led their squad in scoring last season, combining for over 30 points per game. The Hilltopper’s 3rd leading scorer was Sam Kick, who put up a respectable seven PPG as a sophomore. Dakota Mannel was right behind Kick with 6.6 points per contest. Victor Desmond was a couple of points behind Kick and Mannel, as he averaged four points per bout. Arenz and Stuttley will still be at the helm of the ship, but Kick, Mannel, and Desmond could prove to be valuable navigators for the Hilltoppers in the 2019-20 season.
Kobe Johnson, Donovan Sparks, Darrius Bolden (Nicolet)
The myriad of transfers that took place this offseason hit Nicolet the hardest. The Knights were supposed to be one of the greatest Wisconsin high school basketball teams ever assembled. Instead, the departures of Jalen Johnson and Jamari Sibley took the wind out of Nicolet’s sail. A team that was extremely reliant on their two frontcourt prospects will now be forced to turn to their backcourt for answers. Kobe Johnson was a great third option last year, but he will now look to make this team his own. Donovan Sparks is undoubtedly one of Wisconsin’s top guards in the 2022 class. The final piece of Nicolet’s backcourt is Darrius Bolden. Bolden may not standout on the stat-sheet, but expect him to provide the Knights with some solid defense and toughness.
Owen Stieber, Ty Melchert (Green Bay Southwest)
Green Bay Southwest piggybacked on the success of Will Pytleski and Lucas Stieber in their run to the Sectional Finals. Now that Pytleski and Stieber have both graduated, the majority of the pressure will now pivot over to Southwest’s backcourt. Specifically, Owen Stieber, the younger brother of Lucas, and Ty Melchert will be tasked with the duty of leading their team to success in 2019-20. Stieber and Melchert put up respectable numbers last season, as the two guards averaged a combined 16.4 points per game. However, if the Fighting Trojans are to be as good as they were last year, Stieber and Melchert will need to step up their production.
Jeffery Brazziel, Tonnie Gregory (Milwaukee Madison)
This Milwaukee Madison backcourt is primed to buck convention in the 2019-20 season. Jeffery Brazziel is a long, athletic prospect who is on the fringe of even being considered a guard. Tonnie Gregory is the exact opposite of his teammate. Gregory stands at just 5-foot-10 and has a stocky, muscular build. Brazziel and Gregory definitely don’t make up a typical backcourt, but both players get the job done. Brazziel thrives as a slasher when attacking the rim. He can use his length to swoop into the paint for an easy layup. Gregory, who averaged 10.5 points per game last year, has made his moniker for being a knockdown three-point shooter. In the upcoming season, expect this backcourt to give opposing teams a lot of trouble.