2020-21 Preview: Big Eight
Looking ahead to the 2020-21 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference… PRESEASON PREDICTIONS 1. Sun Prairie 2. Janesville Craig 3. Madison La Follette 4. Madison Memorial 5. Madison East 6. Janesville Parker…
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Continue ReadingLooking ahead to the 2020-21 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference…
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
1. Sun Prairie
2. Janesville Craig
3. Madison La Follette
4. Madison Memorial
5. Madison East
6. Janesville Parker
7. Madison West
8. Verona
9. Middleton
10. Beloit Memorial
THE FAVORITE – SUN PRAIRIE
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 Ben Olson Ben Olson 6'4" | SF Dmc | 2022 State WI . Consistently a top contender in the Big Eight, Sun Prairie will find a way to be in the hunt come March.
TOP CHALLENGER – JANESVILLE CRAIG
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 Marshaun Harriel Marshaun Harriel 5'11" | PG Janesville Craig | 2022 WI and Angelo Rizzo Angelo Rizzo 6'3" | SG Janesville Craig | 2021 State WI , two reigning all-conference players.
DARK HORSE – JANESVILLE PARKER
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 Sam Bess Sam Bess 6'3" | SF Janesville Parker | 2023 WI can make a big jump, Parker can finish top five in the league.
PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
G Arhman Lewis Arhman Lewis 5'9" | PG Madiosn Laffollette | 2023 State WI – So. – Madison La Follette
G Marshaun Harriel Marshaun Harriel 5'11" | PG Janesville Craig | 2022 WI – Jr. – Janesville Craig
G Robert DeLong – Sr. – Janesville Parker
G Angelo Rizzo Angelo Rizzo 6'3" | SG Janesville Craig | 2021 State WI – Sr. – Janesville Craig
G James Jacobs James Jacobs 6'3" | SG Stevens Point | 2022 State WI – Jr. – Madison West
F Ben Olson Ben Olson 6'4" | SF Dmc | 2022 State WI – Jr. – Sun Prairie
F Jevan Boyton Jevan Boyton 6'5" | SF Madison East | 2021 State WI – Sr. – Madison East
F Kyle Yu Kyle Yu 6'5" | SF Madison Memorial | 2021 State WI – Sr. – Madison Memorial
SECOND TEAM
G Junior Mitchell – Sr. – Madison Memorial
G Braylen Blue Braylen Blue 6'3" | PG Madison Memorial | 2023 State WI – So. – Madison Memorial
G Gavin Farrell Gavin Farrell 6'2" | SG Verona Area | 2023 State WI – So. – Verona
G Brenden Weis – Sr. – Janesville Craig
G Michael McIntosh – Sr. – Madison East
G K’Shawn Gibbs – Jr. – Madison La Follette
F Juok Riak Juok Riak 6'5" | PF Madison Lafollette | 2022 State WI – Jr. – Madison La Follette
F Christian Bell – Sr. – Beloit Memorial
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — BEN OLSON
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.
SLEEPER TO WATCH – ARHMAN LEWIS
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.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – GAVIN FARRELL
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.