Five Teams Poised to Make a Big Jump in 2021-22

<p>Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin examines five teams that will make a big jump and drastically improve their record from a year ago...</p> <p><strong>APPLETON EAST</strong></p> <p><em>2020-21 Record: 9-14</em></p> <p><em>WIAA Playoff Finish: Lost to West De Pere in the Regional Semifinals<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zach-Steigenberger.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1241298" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Zach-Steigenberger-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></em></p> <p>This team finished tied for sixth in the Fox Valley Association, but the Patriots have their sights set on winning the league in 2021-22. East has a loaded returning cast, including senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="801152" first="Tyler" last="Borowski"] (14.0), who missed most of the season due to injury, senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="988704" first="Zach" last="Steigenberger"] (13.8 ppg), and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1138440" first="Caleb" last="Glaser"] (12.3 pgg), who’s one of the most improved players in the state. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="1258392" first="Joey" last="Lachapell"] (5.2 ppg) got his feet wet last season and emerged as a top 50 player in the 2024 class over the summer.</p> <p><strong>CATHOLIC MEMORIAL</strong></p> <p><em>2020-21 Record: 8-17</em></p> <p><em>WIAA Playoff Finish: Lost to Wilmot in the Regional Semifinals</em></p> <p>Fair to say the Crusaders didn’t meet expectations a year ago. While Memorial was young, they certainly had a lot of talent on paper. The Crusaders now reload with a lot of prospects who have played a ton of ball together. Their backcourt of  [player_tooltip player_id="981027" first="Bennett" last="McCormick"] (13.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="981149" first="Braden" last="McGlothlin"] (13.5 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id="1021594" first="Antwan" last="Burns-Jones"] (10.0 ppg), all juniors, is one of the best in the state. Look for junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1254288" first="Jack" last="Riley"] (5.2 ppg) to make a nice jump as well, while senior guard <strong>Cameron Pendleton</strong> is the unsung hero that makes a lot of unselfish plays.</p> <p><strong>HOMESTEAD</strong></p> <p><em>2020-21 Record: 12-13</em></p> <p><em>WIAA Playoff Finish: Lost to Menomonee Falls in the Regional Semifinals<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/101-Tim-Franks.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290013" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/101-Tim-Franks-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></em></p> <p>Definitely have taken notice of the Highlanders during fall league action. This is a group that’s deep, plays both ends, and genuinely enjoys playing with each other. There’s not one guy that necessarily stands above the rest, but that also makes them dangerous -- you have to guard everyone. The 12-13 record is a little misleading, because of how good the North Shore was last season. Homestead turned things around mid-season and won eight-straight games at one point, including a win over Nicolet. Look for sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1142121" first="Tim" last="Franks"] (11.3 ppg) to be the go-to scorer, but the Highlands can turn to  [player_tooltip player_id="1012674" first="Chris" last="Djurasovic"] (7.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1141642" first="Solomon" last="Garrison"] (10.3 ppg) as well.</p> <p><strong>MIDDLETON</strong></p> <p><em>2020-21 Record:  4-7</em></p> <p><em>WIAA Playoff Finish: Lost to Verona in the Regional Semifinals</em></p> <p>Not sure you make too much out of last season’s records for teams that play in Dane County. Last season, they went through the dance of ’are we even going to have a season?’ due to the pandemic. Then when they did take the floor, it was in late January. The Cardinals get four of their top five scorers back from last season, including senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1270264" first="Logan" last="Raffel"] (13.4 ppg). A pair of juniors, [player_tooltip player_id="986200" first="Kaden" last="Fosdick"] (8.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1141638" first="Gavyn" last="Hurley"] (5.8 ppg) had really nice summers and are poised for breakout seasons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>WAUWATOSA WEST</strong></p> <p><em>2020-21 Record: 5-20</em></p> <p><em>WIAA Playoff Finish: Lost to Marquette in the Regional Semifinals<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/20210327_112742.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1158255" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/20210327_112742-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a></em></p> <p>It may not come together overnight, but  the days of picking on the Trojans in the Greater Metro Conference are over. This group was 0-16 in league play last season and now seniors [player_tooltip player_id="1021573" first="Colin" last="Hardrick"] (22.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1289013" first="Terrance" last="Mcclendon"] (12.4 ppg) have a lot more help. West has picked up a key transfer in [player_tooltip player_id="1089681" first="Cole" last="Hansen"], who started at Sun Prairie as a freshman. A pair of freshman, [player_tooltip player_id="1240335" first="Kai" last="Rogers"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1240337" first="Jake" last="Hansen"], are also two of the best class of 2025 prospects in the state.</p>