2020-21 Preview: Big Eight

<p>Looking ahead to the 2020-21 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>PRESEASON PREDICTIONS</b></p> <p>1.  Sun Prairie</p> <p>2.  Janesville Craig</p> <p>3.  Madison  La Follette</p> <p>4. Madison Memorial</p> <p>5. Madison East</p> <p>6.  Janesville Parker</p> <p>7.  Madison West</p> <p>8. Verona</p> <p>9.  Middleton</p> <p>10. Beloit Memorial</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - SUN PRAIRIE</strong></p> <p>Not sure there really is a favorite. The Big Eight looks wide open and 1  through 5 all have a valid case.  Sun Prairie loses a ton from last season, but so does pretty much everybody else. The Cardinals also have arguably the biggest breakout player in the league in [player_tooltip player_id="950101" first="Ben" last="Olson"].  Consistently a top contender in the Big Eight, Sun Prairie will find a way to be in the hunt come March. </p> <p><strong>TOP CHALLENGER -  JANESVILLE CRAIG</strong></p> <p>Thought Janesville Craig was quietly one of the best teams in Southern Wisconsin that people weren’t talking about last season. The Cougars finished fifth in a very deep league. They took regular season champion La Follette down to the wire twice, had a win over Sun Prairie, and lost three other league games by one possession. That said, Craig wasn’t that far from being  12-6 in the Big Eight versus 7-11.  The Cougars returns a dangerous 1-2 punch in the backcourt in [player_tooltip player_id="950644" first="Marshaun" last="Harriel"] and [player_tooltip player_id="994505" first="Angelo" last="Rizzo"], two reigning all-conference players.</p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - JANESVILLE PARKER</strong></p> <p>This is the team people might not see coming. Parker finished last in the Big Eight in 2019-20, but are now in year three of their head coach. The Vikings have their top two scorers --  Robert DeLong and Brenden Weis -- back this season, both of which averaged double figures in scoring. If sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="981194" first="Sam" last="Bess"] can make a big jump, Parker  can finish top five in the league.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1028255" first="Arhman" last="Lewis"] - So. - Madison La Follette</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="950644" first="Marshaun" last="Harriel"] - Jr. - Janesville Craig</p> <p><strong>G Robert DeLong - Sr. - Janesville Parker</strong></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="994505" first="Angelo" last="Rizzo"] - Sr. - Janesville Craig</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="761416" first="Jerome" last="Jacobs"] - Jr. - Madison West</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="950101" first="Ben" last="Olson"] - Jr. - Sun Prairie</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="880032" first="Jevan" last="Boyton"] - Sr. - Madison East</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="880031" first="Kyle" last="Yu"] - Sr. - Madison Memorial</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SECOND TEAM</strong></p> <p><strong>G Junior Mitchell - Sr. - Madison Memorial</strong></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="951132" first="Braylen" last="Blue"] - So. - Madison Memorial</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="981039" first="Gavin" last="Farrell"] - So. - Verona</p> <p><strong>G Brenden Weis - Sr. - Janesville Craig</strong></p> <p><strong>G Michael McIntosh - Sr. - Madison East</strong></p> <p><strong>G K’Shawn Gibbs -  Jr. - Madison La Follette</strong></p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="950098" first="Juok" last="Riak"] - Jr. - Madison La Follette</p> <p><strong>F Christian Bell - Sr.  - Beloit Memorial</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- BEN OLSON</strong></p> <p>If this summer was any indication, Olson is in store for a big junior  season. As Sun Prairie's third option in 2019-20, Olson averaged 11.5 points per game for a team that won 17 games.  Ready to be 'the guy' for the Cardinals, Olson is a very competitive wing who can slash and shoot it from mid-range. He's got a great motor defensively and in the open floor.</p> <p><strong>SLEEPER TO WATCH - ARHMAN LEWIS</strong></p> <p>Given everything the Lancers had at the guard position last season, Lewis wasn't on the varsity squad. However, it wouldn't be surprising if La Follette handed the sophomore guard the keys to the car in year two.  Lewis fits the Lancers perfectly as an uptempo guard who can break people down and play at a fast-pace for 40 minutes. Lewis was very impressive this summer and could come out of nowhere to surprise the Big Eight Conference.</p> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - GAVIN FARRELL</strong></p> <p>Farrell has shown some good stuff over the summer and he could be poised for a nice jump during his sophomore season. As a freshman, Farrell averaged just shy of four points per game. A hand-down, man-down shooter, Farrell has terrific range and consistency from long range.  Farrell will be leading a relatively young team without much senior leadership. That said, look for his numbers to  jump in 2020-21.</p>