2021-22 Season Preview: Big Eight Conference

Evan Flood

August 31, 2021 @ 01:47 PM

Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference...   <h3>PROJECTED STANDINGS</h3> 1. Madison La Follette 2. Middleton 3. Sun Prairie 4. Madison Memorial 5. Beloit Memorial 6. Janesville Craig 7. Verona 8. Madison East 9. Janesville Parker 10. Madison West   [caption id="attachment_1028297" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Ahrman-Lewis.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1028297 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Ahrman-Lewis-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> Ahrman Lewis[/caption] THE FAVORITE -- Madison La Follette There’s not a clear-cut favorite heading into the season. The Lancers also didn’t play in 2020-21, which further complicates things. However, on paper, La Follette appears to have the most in its arsenal. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1028255" first="Arhman" last="Lewis"] was ready to break out last season, but had to put his coming out party on hold. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1089686" first="Quinton" last="Lomack"] is one of the top players in his class. The Lancers also have some terrific toughness and athleticism up front with [player_tooltip player_id="950098" first="Juok" last="Riak"] and Cameron Yahnke, who can control the glass and generate second-chance points. TOP CONTENDER - Middleton The Cardinals get their leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id="1270264" first="Logan" last="Raffel"] (13.4 ppg) back. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1141638" first="Gavyn" last="Hurley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="986200" first="Kaden" last="Fosdick"] are also both coming off good summers to give Middleton a strong trio. Nick Meinholz also played big minutes as a junior. The Cardinals were just 4-7 last season, but came close against powers such as De Pere, Monroe, and Edgerton, dropping all of those games by six points or less. DARK HORSE - Sun Prairie On paper, Sun Prairie doesn’t have the same depth and talent as some of the other teams beyond [player_tooltip player_id="950101" first="Ben" last="Olson"], but the Cardinals always seem to find guys who buy in and make a difference as upperclassmen.   <h3>PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE</h3> First Team G [player_tooltip player_id="1028255" first="Arhman" last="Lewis"] - Jr. (Madison La Follette) G [player_tooltip player_id="1274622" first="Clevon" last="Easton"] - Fr. (Madison East) G [player_tooltip player_id="1141638" first="Gavyn" last="Hurley"] - Jr. (Middleton) G [player_tooltip player_id="950644" first="Marshaun" last="Harriel"] - Sr. (Janesville Craig) G [player_tooltip player_id="951132" first="Braylen" last="Blue"] - Jr. (Madison Memorial) G [player_tooltip player_id="988699" first="Jerome" last="Jacobs"] - Sr. (Madison West) W [player_tooltip player_id="950101" first="Ben" last="Olson"] - Sr. (Sun Prairie) F [player_tooltip player_id="1274607" first="Carlos" last="Harris"] - Sr. (Beloit Memorial) F [player_tooltip player_id="1200543" first="Jacob" last="Naber"] - Sr. (Janesville Parker) F [player_tooltip player_id="950098" first="Juok" last="Riak"] - Sr. (Madison La Follette)   Second Team G Da’Marcus DeValk - Sr. (Janesville Craig) G [player_tooltip player_id="1270264" first="Logan" last="Raffel"] - Sr. (Middleton) G [player_tooltip player_id="1037091" first="Jonah" last="Anderson"] - Sr. (Verona) G <a href="https://www.wissports.net/roster_players/40129543?subseason=688781">[player_tooltip player_id="865853" first="Massimo" last="Malterer"]</a> - Sr. (Madison East) G [player_tooltip player_id="981039" first="Gavin" last="Farrell"] - Jr. (Verona) G [player_tooltip player_id="1089686" first="Quinton" last="Lomack"] - Sr. (Madison La Follette) G [player_tooltip player_id="1089724" first="K’shawn" last="Gibbs"] - Sr. (Madison La Follette) G [player_tooltip player_id="1203012" first="Faizon" last="Farr"] - Jr. (Beloit Memorial) G [player_tooltip player_id="1156904" first="Drew" last="Murphy"] - Fr. (Verona) F [player_tooltip player_id="986200" first="Kaden" last="Fosdick"] - Jr. (Middleton)   PLAYER OF THE YEAR - [player_tooltip player_id="950101" first="Ben" last="Olson"] Olson averaged 18.6 points per game as a junior. He’s also the top returning scorer in the league. The 6-foot-4 wing is a physical, athletic prospect who can score inside and out and a slasher and 3-point marksman. [caption id="attachment_1190406" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/20210507_1850210.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1190406 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/20210507_1850210-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1274607" first="Carlos" last="Harris"][/caption] BREAKOUT PLAYER - [player_tooltip player_id="1141638" first="Gavyn" last="Hurley"] Hurley only averaged 5.8 points per game last season, but was one of the biggest stock boosters in the state over the AAU travel season. A floor general with excellent positional size (6-4), Hurley is a well-rounded prospect that can do a little bit of everything on the floor. SLEEPER TO WATCH - [player_tooltip player_id="1274607" first="Carlos" last="Harris"] Back at Beloit Memorial after a stint at Hillcrest Prep, Harris isn’t ranked yet, but should finish as a top 50 prospect. An extremely athletic and long wing, the 6-foot-7 senior can do some scary things in the open floor. Despite being such a raw athlete, Harris shoots it better than people expect and is probably going to be the most difficult player to match up with in the league.