2021-22 Season Preview: Wisconsin Valley

<p>Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Wisconsin Valley Conference...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PREDICTED STANDINGS</strong></p> <p>1.  Stevens Point</p> <p>2. D.C. Everest</p> <p>3. Wausau West</p> <p>4. Marshfield</p> <p>5.  Wausau East</p> <p>6. Merrill</p> <p>7. Wisconsin Rapids</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE -  SPASH</strong></p> <p>The Panthers earned a share of the Wisconsin Valley Conference title last season. SPASH returns a pair of All-Conference guards in<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/20210119_202831.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1119656" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/20210119_202831-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="990559" first="Nate" last="Streveler"] (13.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="761416" first="James" last="Jacobs"] (13.1 ppg). There’s likely a chip on this team’s shoulder after being eliminated from the playoffs early, falling in  a regional on the heels of a 12-game winning streak.</p> <p><strong>TOP CONTENDER - D.C. EVEREST</strong></p> <p>Everest split the league title with SPASH last season. The Evergreens return a pair of All-Conference guards in  [player_tooltip player_id="1289041" first="Colton" last="Hall"] (18.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1289040" first="Marcus" last="Hall"] (13.6 ppg).  This was a high-scoring group towards the back end of the 2020-21 season, putting up 80 or more points in four of their last five games.</p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - WAUSAU WEST</strong></p> <p>The Warriors finished third in the league last season. West won’t have the same amount depth and will rely heavily on  senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1018019" first="Amillion" last="Buggs"] (17.2 ppg), who’s a top 50 prospect in the 2022 class.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1289041" first="Colton" last="Hall"] - Sr. (D.C. Everest)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="761416" first="James" last="Jacobs"] - Sr. (SPASH)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1289040" first="Marcus" last="Hall"] - Jr. (D.C. Everest) </p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="990559" first="Nate" last="Streveler"] - Sr. (SPASH)</p> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id="1018019" first="Amillion" last="Buggs"] - Sr. (Wausau West)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR - [player_tooltip player_id="990559" first="Nate" last="Streveler"] </strong></p> <p>When healthy, Streveler is the most important player in the Wisconsin Valley. Last season, Streveler averaged about 14 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting and also chipped in with four rebounds and two assists per game. Coming off shoulder surgery, Streveler started to find his groove again over the summer and should be good to go for his senior season.</p> <p><strong>BREAKOUT PLAYER -  [player_tooltip player_id="1289040" first="Marcus" last="Hall"]</strong></p> <p>As a sophomore, Hall was his team's third-leading scorer at around 14 points per game. The Evergreens Logan Ebersold, which should force Hall into that No. 2 role. Hall shot 49.3 percent from the field last season, including  a blistering 51.2 percent from beyond the arc. He also notched 4.4 rebounds and nearly three assists per game as well.</p> <p><strong>SURPRISE PLAYER -  [player_tooltip player_id="1244808" first="Brooks" last="Hinson"]</strong></p> <p>Expect Hinson to be an early impact freshman for Marshfield. Hinson can absolutely shoot the rock and kill teams from the outside. Too early to tell, but based on his summer, Hinson looks like a top 10 prospect in what appears to be a deep class of 2025 in Wisconsin.</p>