2020-21 Preview: Midwest Classic

<p>Looking ahead to the 2020-21 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Midwest Classic Conference...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH</strong></p> <p>1.  Saint  John’s NW Military Academy</p> <p>2.  Lake Country Lutheran</p> <p>3. Brookfield Academy</p> <p>4. Hope Christian</p> <p>5. University School</p> <p>6. Living Word Lutheran</p> <p>7. Saint Francis</p> <p>8. Messmer</p> <p>9. Heritage Christian</p> <p>10. Kenosha Christian Life</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - SJNMA</strong></p> <p>Even without [player_tooltip player_id="694801" first="Gerald" last="Gittens"], the Lancers have plenty of talent and the best 1-2 punch in the league in [player_tooltip player_id="804898" first="Brandin" last="Podziemski"] and [player_tooltip player_id="879998" first="Brennan" last="Timm"]. </p> <p><strong>TOP CONTENDER - LAKE COUNTRY LUTHERAN</strong></p> <p>Tough call here, but the Lightning are probably hungry after finishing just a game out of first place last season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="761407" first="Luke" last="Haertle"] has  his hands full with a depleted scoring cast, which will make it tough to catch SJNMA this season. </p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - HOPE CHRISTIAN</strong></p> <p>Hope Christian went 12-12 last season, but might be the deepest team in the conference. The Hawks have their top four scorers back from a year ago, all of which averaged at least nine points per game. This is a high-scoring team that put up 80 points in 10 games last season, including four 100-point efforts.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <p>G Chris Buchanan - Sr. - Hope Christian</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="804898" first="Brandin" last="Podziemski"] - Sr. - SJNMA</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="879991" first="Max" last="Kunnert"] -  Sr. -  Brookfield Academy</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="761407" first="Luke" last="Haertle"] - Jr. - Lake Country Lutheran</p> <p>G Mason Martinez - Jr. -  Living Word Lutheran</p> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id="938222" first="Aaron" last="Hawthorne"] -  Sr. - Messmer</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="879998" first="Brennan" last="Timm"] - Sr. - SJNMA</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="880005" first="Jeremiah" last="Burke"] - Sr. - Saint Francis</p> <p><strong>SECOND TEAM</strong></p> <p>G Tyler McKnight-Hoaglund -  Jr. - Living Word Lutheran</p> <p>G Jamaree Jackson-McLemore - Sr. -  Hope Christian</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="980995" first="Deshawn" last="Webb"] - So. -  Living Word Lutheran</p> <p>G Cordarius  Gandy -  Sr. - Hope Christian</p> <p>G Isaac  Kallas - Sr. -  Heritage Christian</p> <p>G Elijah Flowers - Jr. - Living Word Lutheran</p> <p>F Chris Powell - Sr. - University School</p> <p>F Kai Bartl -  Sr. - University School</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR - BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI</strong></p> <p>Should be a runaway favorite for the award. Podziemski led the conference in scoring last season at 27.6 ppg and split the award  with [player_tooltip player_id="774476" first="Aidan" last="Clarey"]. The 6-foot-5 senior is one of the state’s top shooters and combined with his improving athleticism and ability to attack the rim, has landed himself scholarship offers from Marquette, Kansas State, Arizona State, Boise State, Rice, and others.</p> <p><strong>BREAKOUT PLAYER -  DESHAWN WEBB</strong></p> <p>Living Word Lutheran was 5-10 in the league last season with a young roster. One of their many players expected to make a big jump is Webb. The 6-foot-4 guard did average 15.6 points per game as a freshman, but still has a ton of room for growth, including adding a consistent jumper to his game and developing his feel as a point guard.</p> <p><strong>SURPRISE PLAYER -  JEREMIAH BURKE</strong></p> <p>With Isaiah Duncan graduated, Burke will have to carry Saint Francis this season. The 6-foot-6 combo forward looked vastly improved over the summer. A  long and strong senior with a sweet shooting stroke, Burke can knock down shots from all over the floor. He’s developed a nice face-up game from mid-range and should improve on his 16.6 ppg from a year ago.</p>