Games to Watch: 11.26-11.30
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The 2019-20 high school basketball season kicks off state-wide on Tuesday. Here are the games we’ll be tracking closely in week one…
TUESDAY
Hustisford at Sheboygan Lutheran
The defending Division 5 state champions get a good test in their opener. No. 1 ranked Sheboygan Lutheran, led by Valparaiso commit Jacob Ognaceivc and 2022 point guard Casey Verhagen host Hustisford, who’s expected to be a challenger in Division 5 behind 2021 forward Dylan Kuehl.
Evansville at New Glarus
Not a lot of people are talking about Evansville heading into the season, but the Blue Devils have an intriguing 1-2 punch in preseason second-team All-State Division pick Sulley Geske and senior guard Davonte McAlister. New Glarus, the defending Division 4 state champions, have some rebuilding to do, but have a nice frontcourt pair in senior Garrett James and junior Mason Martinson.
FRIDAY
Brookfield Academy vs. Milwaukee King (Fresh Coast Classic)
Brookfield Academy is the preseason No. 1 team in Division 4 and reloads behind Rockhurst commit Aidan Clarey. The Blue Knights have one of the best supporting casts in the state, featuring senior Alex Leach and juniors Max Kunnert and Logan Landers. Look for King to potentially surprise in the Milwaukee City Conference this season. The Generals will be strong at guard behind junior Quinton Murrell and senior Kai Buillox.
Menomonee Falls at Pewaukee (Tim Reuter Showcase)
Some of the best young talent in the state will be on display in this one. Menomonee Falls figures to be one of the most improved teams in the state, led by their super sophomore duo of Seth Trimble and Steven Clay, a pair of Division 1 prospects. Despite a young roster, Pewaukee won 20 games last season and feature sophomore point guard Ashton Janowski, who emerged as a top 15 player in the 2021 class over the summer.
SATURDAY
Kenosha Indian Trail vs. Milwaukee Bay View (Oak Creek Classic)
The opener at the Oak Creek Classic should be a doozy. Kenosha Indian Trail, led by junior guard Ezra Stargell, figure to be a top contender in the Southeast Conference this season. Although they lost their top two scorers from a year ago, Bay View could be the favorite in the City Conference and enter 2019-20 as a top five team in Division 2 thanks to senior Shelton Williams-Dryden among others.
Milwaukee Academy of Science vs. Nicolet (Fresh Coast Classic)
Let’s just call this the game of the entire week. The headliner at the Fresh Coast Classic is a loaded matchup. Ranked No. 1 in Division 4, Milwaukee Academy of Science is led by their senior 1-2 punch of Bradley commit Darius Hannah and UW-Milwaukee commit Kaleim Taylor. The defending Division 2 state champs, Nicolet, stands fifth in the preseason rankings. Despite some major off-season losses, the Knights have plenty of talent, including juniors James Graham and Kobe Johnson, who each hold a handful of Division 1 offers.
Racine Case vs. Brookfield East (Oak Creek Classic)
No. 7 in Division 1 (East) meets No. 8 (Case). This might be a tough draw for the Spartans, who had many players participating in the Division 2 football state championship this past weekend. On short rest and practice, East will hope that the likes of Hayden Doyle, Michael Poker, and Sam McGath, who were all just wrapped up their season on the girdiron, can make a quick turn around. Don’t expect the likes of Jakobe Thompson, Amari Jedkins, and Terryon Brumby to show much mercy in what should be a breakout year for the Eagles.
