2020-21 Preseason Top 10: Division 2

The 2020-21 season will get underway later this month with actual competition kicking off on Dec. 1. Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in Division 2 with our preseason top 10 teams…   <h4>1. Nicolet</h4> 2019-20 Record: (22-3, 16-2 North Shore) Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="929231" first="Kobe" last="Johnson"] (20.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="804897" first="James" last="Graham"] (20.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="865841" first="Donovan" last="Sparks"] (11.5 ppg), Darrius Bolden (5.4 ppg) Notable Losses: [player_tooltip player_id="544492" first="Jalen" last="Johnson"] (25.2 ppg) The Knights were strong favorites to win the Division 2 state championship last season prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Nicolet won’t be able to claim a three-peat, but can perhaps settle for a repeat in Madison. Johnson, a USC commit, and Graham, a Maryland commit, are the best 1-2 punch in the state. Look for sophomores Treshawn Jones and [player_tooltip player_id="1041690" first="Miles" last="Nation"] to emerge in some form this season as well.   <h4>2. Pewaukee</h4> 2019-20 Record: 15-9 (9-3 Woodland West) [caption id="attachment_1033587" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Ashton-Janowski.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1033587" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Ashton-Janowski-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="761419" first="Ashton" last="Janowski"][/caption] Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="953944" first="Milan" last="Momcilovic"] (15.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="761419" first="Ashton" last="Janowski"] (12.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="801168" first="Josh" last="Terrian"] (12.3 ppg) Notable Losses: Travis Bentley (12.5 ppg) Might be a surprise here to some, but this was a young team last season that has a chance to take a big step forward. The Pirates also didn’t have a healthy Janowski during the second half of the season, but still managed to win five of their last six games and clinch a share of the Woodland West title. Momcilovic is the top ranked player in the 2023 class. Terrian is a blue-collar wing that produces in a variety of ways and will do so consistently.   <h3>3. Onalaska</h3> 2019-20 Record: 23-2 (12-0 Mississippi Valley) Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="879989" first="Sam" last="Kick"] (9.4 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="880003" first="Victor" last="Desmond"] (6.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="764106" first="Gavin" last="McGrath"] (6.0 ppg) Notable Losses: [player_tooltip player_id="811021" first="Tyrell" last="Stuttley"] (14.2 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="811026" first="Carson" last="Arenz"] (13.3 ppg) This team loses quite a bit of firepower from last season in a pair of Division 2 players. Being one of the best-coached teams in the state, you can still expect Onalaska to keep trucking along. Desmond is expected to be one of the most improved players in the state. Kick provides valuable experience at the point guard position and someone who knows how to win. McGrath, a North Dakota commit, is a late blooming big man who’s still just scratching the surface.   <h4>4. River Falls</h4> 2019-20 Record: 18-6 (9-3 Big Rivers Conference) [caption id="attachment_1030869" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Zac-Johnson-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1030869" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Zac-Johnson-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="804899" first="Zac" last="Johnson"][/caption] Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="804899" first="Zac" last="Johnson"] (20.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="879999" first="Jameson" last="Dougherty"] (10.2 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="880013" first="Liam" last="Dougherty"] (6.0 ppg) Notable Losses: Mike Johnson (10.4 ppg) Johnson, an Augustana commit, leads the charge for the Wildcats, who finished second in a very competitive Big Rivers Conference last season. Army commit [player_tooltip player_id="879999" first="Jameson" last="Dougherty"] has shown significant progress over the last several months. Along with twin brother [player_tooltip player_id="880013" first="Liam" last="Dougherty"], River Falls has a long, athletic frontcourt that’s tough to match up with.   <h3>5. Monroe</h3> 2019-20 Record: 18-6 (11-3 Badger South) Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="701965" first="Cade" last="Meyer"] (18.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="801151" first="Carson" last="Leuzinger"] (14.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="801147" first="J.T." last="Seagreaves"] (11.2 ppg), Max Golembiewski (8.0 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A The Cheesemakers fell a bit short of expectations last season. The good news? Just about everything is back, including their top five leading scorers from 2019-20. Meyer, a UW-Green Bay commit is coming off a breakout junior season. Monroe has two other guys who can act as go-to scorers as well in Leuzinger and Seagreaves.   <h4>6. Cedarburg</h4> 2019-20 Record: 14-9 (10-8 North Shore) [caption id="attachment_1019216" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Drew-Biber.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1019216" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Drew-Biber-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="879984" first="Drew" last="Biber"][/caption] Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="879984" first="Drew" last="Biber"] (20.3 ppg), Matthew Pilch (8.5 ppg) Notable Losses: Jake Leir (10.5 ppg), Nick Johnson (10.3 ppg) This might take some time to come together, but the 1-2 punch of Biber, a Purdue football commit, and Brookfield Academy transfer [player_tooltip player_id="879982" first="Logan" last="Landers"] (18.8 ppg) could be a scary duo. While Biber has chosen the gridiron over the hardwood in college, he was a mid-major prospect with a handful of offers. A 3-and-D wing with toughness, he’ll pair nicely with Landers, a stretch forward who can put together dominant streaks.   <h3>7. Ashwaubenon</h3> 2019-20 Record: 15-8 (14-4 Fox River Classic) Key Returners: Kyle Kreuger (16.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="865854" first="Marcus" last="Tomashek"] (12.7 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="865851" first="Matt" last="Imig"] (12.4 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A Think this could be one of the biggest sleepers in Division 2. The Jaguars won 15 games last season, including 14 in a strong and deep Fox River Classic Conference. Ashwaubenon also didn’t lose much and their top three scorers Krueger, Tomashek, and Imig all showcases substantial gains in the off-season.   <h4>8. Wisconsin Lutheran</h4> 2019-20 Record: (16-8, 9-3 Woodland West) Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="951467" first="Prentice" last="Young"] (10.8 ppg), Jordan Glenn (10.4 ppg), Jonah Rindfleisch (9.9 ppg), Isaiah Hopf (8.9 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="963145" first="Landon" last="Key"] (4.9 ppg) Notable Losses: [player_tooltip player_id="880978" first="Tyrese" last="England"] (17.9 ppg) Despite the loss of England, Wisconsin Lutheran shouldn’t have too many problems rebuilding. The rest of the core was quite young last season and the late bloomer Rindfleisch could help replace the firepower lost in the scoring department. Young is a top 2-3 prospect in the 2023 class and a versatile, high-IQ weapon for the Vikings. Key, Glenn, and Hopf are all expected to make gains in 2020-21 as well, rounding out a deep and talented roster. <h4> </h4> <h4>9. Waukesha West</h4> 2019-20 Record: 13-12 (9-7 Classic Eight) [caption id="attachment_1017793" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200704_2207170.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1017793" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200704_2207170-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="830582" first="Cameron" last="Palesse"][/caption] Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="830582" first="Cameron" last="Palesse"] (24.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1036045" first="Sam" last="Ziebell"] (6.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1029763" first="Cal" last="Krohn"] (6.3 ppg) Notable Losses: Avery Owusu (5.3 ppg) The Wolverines showed a lot of fight and heart last season. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing four starters, including three college prospects, Waukesha West still won 13 games and were above .500 in the always-tough Classic Eight Conference. They were also a couple of breaks away from reaching the sectional finals. Led by the Valparaiso commit Palesse, West most of its core back and should be ready for another run.   <h4>10. Westosha Central</h4> 2019-20 Record: (15-9, 12-2 Southern Lakes) Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id="727964" first="Jack" last="Rose"] (17.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="945811" first="Kenny" last="Garth"] (12.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="865852" first="Bradley" last="Bell"] (5.8 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A The Falcons over-achieved last season despite a young roster and earned a share of the Southern Lakes title. Central now reloads with its top five scorers from a year ago, including Rose, a Division 1 recruit with multiple scholarship offers. Garth was one of the biggest surprises in the state last season and will build on a promising sophomore campaign. Juniors Bell and Devin Griffin are also talented players to watch.   Honorable Mention: Catholic Memorial, New Berlin Eisenhower, La Crosse Central, New Richmond, Hortonville, Grafton, Whitnall, Milwaukee Bay View, Wauwatosa West, Whitefish Bay, Elkhorn, Milton, Stoughton, DeForest, Luxemburg-Casco, Plymouth, Seymour, Kaukauna, Milwaukee Vincent, Burlington