WIAA State Tournament Preview: Division 1

The 2022 WIAA State Tournament kicks off next week. Here’s a look at the field in Division 1 as well as our predictions in March… SECTIONAL 1 THE FAVORITE – Neenah (22-1) 1-seed Neenah’s only hiccup this season came…

Access all of Prep Hoops

Subscribe for access to all premium articles and rankings.

Already a subscriber? Log in

The 2022 WIAA State Tournament kicks off next week. Here’s a look at the field in Division 1 as well as our predictions in March…

SECTIONAL 1

THE FAVORITE – Neenah (22-1)

1-seed Neenah’s only hiccup this season came against Appleton East early in the year. The Fox Valley Association champs have shown the ability to win big and close games and have run through some of the state’s top teams, including Pewaukee, Kimberly, Brookfield Central, Appleton East, and Middleton. Merrimack commit Chevalier Emery Jr Chevalier Emery Jr 6'1" | PG Neenah | 2022 State WI (18.1 ppg) needs to be getting more love for Mr. Basketball consideration considering this team’s resume. The Rockets also feature a dangerous senior frontcourt in Carter Thomas Carter Thomas 6'5" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI (14.7 ppg) and J.J. Paider J.J. Paider 6'7" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI (11.9 ppg).

TOP CONTENDER – Eau Claire Memorial (18-4)

The Old Abes have one of the best trios in the state that nobody is talking about. The 2-seed in Sectional 1 features L.J. Wells L.J. Wells 6'5" | SF Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI (15.6 ppg), who’s played his way into being a Division 1 recruit, Will Boser Will Boser 6'6" | CG Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI (15.9 ppg), and Mekhi Shaw Mekhi Shaw 6'1" | PG Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI (12.9 ppg) — all seniors by the way. The Big Rivers Conference champs don’t have best resume in this region, but do own a win over Marshfield.

DARK HORSE – Kimberly (16-7)

This team has state championship experience and the best pure scorer in the state in Jackson Paveletzke Jackson Paveletzke 6'1" | CG Kimberly | 2022 State WI (30.0 ppg), a Wofford commit. The Papermakers have also been playing much better since the midway point of the season. It took Kimberly a while to find themselves, but have now won six of their last seven games with the lone loss coming by one point to top-seed Neenah. Kimberly has taken the Rockets down to the wire twice this season and it’s very hard to beat a team three times in one year. If St. Leo commit Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI (14.4 ppg) plays well, don’t sleep on this team being able to really shake up the bracket.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tyler Borowski Tyler Borowski 6'2" | PG Appleton East | 2022 State WI – Appleton East

Will Boser Will Boser 6'6" | CG Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI – Eau Claire Memorial

Chevalier Emery Jr Chevalier Emery Jr 6'1" | PG Neenah | 2022 State WI . – Neenah

Brooks Hinson Brooks Hinson 6'1" | PG Marshfield | 2025 State WI – Marshfield)

James Jacobs James Jacobs 6'2" | SG Stevens Point | 2022 State WI – SPASH

Maximus Nelson Maximus Nelson 6'7" | PF Appleton North | 2022 State #236 Nation WI – Appleton North

Jackson Paveletzke Jackson Paveletzke 6'1" | CG Kimberly | 2022 State WI – Kimberly

Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI – Kimberly

Andre Renta Andre Renta 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2022 State WI – Hudson

L.J. Wells L.J. Wells 6'5" | SF Eau Claire Memorial | 2022 State WI – Eau Claire Memorial

SECTIONAL 2

THE FAVORITE – De Pere (21-2)

Yes, the Redbirds are the two-seed, but at their best, think they have more in the tank. The x-factor here is Will Hornseth Will Hornseth 6'8" | PF De Pere | 2024 State #217 Nation WI (16.7 ppg), who’s one of the top big men in the state and I’m not sure anybody in this sectional has a matchup for him, outside of Bay Port, who would have to reach the sectional final as a 9-seed. Then there’s the assassin Johnny Kinziger (21.2 ppg) as well as a plethora of shooters and experienced players for De Pere. This team was also one shot away from reaching the state tournament last season, a feeling they likely haven’t forgotten.

TOP CONTENDER – Menomonee Falls (21-2)

This team can go as far as North Carolina commit Seth Trimble Seth Trimble 6'3" | PG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #50 Nation WI takes them (26.7 ppg) — which could be all the way to holding up the gold ball. The frontrunner for Mr. Basketball, Trimble is the No. 1 ranked player in Wisconsin’s 2022 class. He and his running mate, Steven Clay Steven Clay 6'5" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #193 Nation WI (19.1 ppg) have been building up this Phoenix program for the last four years and just clinched the Greater Metro Conference title.

DARK HORSE – Bay Port (12-11)

Not sure Bay Port can win this sectional, but is one of the biggest snubs in the tournament in terms of seeding. The Pirates are significantly better than a 9-seed. This team won 10 games in a very top heavy Fox River Classic Conference and has beaten the likes of De Pere and SPASH. Bay Port also took Ashwaubenon down to the wire twice as well as Appleton East. There are three guys who can really hurt you offensively — A.J. Lieuwen A.J. Lieuwen 6'0" | CG Bay Port | 2023 State WI (16.8 ppg), Vincent Vandervest Vincent Vandervest 6'4" | SF Bay Port | 2023 State WI (14.9 ppg), and Nate Forystek Nate Forystek 6'7" | PF Bay Port | 2022 State WI (13.0 ppg).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Amari Allen Amari Allen 6'7" | SG IMG Academy | 2025 State FL – Kaukauna

Steven Clay Steven Clay 6'5" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #193 Nation WI – Menomonee Falls

Tim Franks Tim Franks 6'5" | SG Homestead | 2024 State WI – Homestead

Will Hornseth Will Hornseth 6'8" | PF De Pere | 2024 State #217 Nation WI – De Pere

John Kinziger John Kinziger 6'0" | CG De Pere | 2023 State #257 Nation WI – Bay Port

A.J. Lieuwen A.J. Lieuwen 6'0" | CG Bay Port | 2023 State WI – Bay Port

Christopher Morgan Christopher Morgan 6'1" | PG Kaukauna | 2022 State WI – Kaukauna

Ryan Sweeney Ryan Sweeney 6'2" | CG Green Bay East | 2022 State WI – Green Bay East

Seth Trimble Seth Trimble 6'3" | PG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #50 Nation WI – Menomonee Falls

William Whorton William Whorton 6'8" | PF Milwaukee King | 2023 State WI – Milwaukee King

SECTIONAL 3

THE FAVORITE – Brookfield Central (18-5)

St. Thomas commit Andrew Rohde Andrew Rohde 6'6" | SG Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI (29.0 ppg) has been sensational as a senior. This was supposed to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Lancers, who lost two Division 1 players after last season. Sophomore forward Jack Daugherty Jack Daugherty 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2024 State WI (13.7 ppg) has also stepped up and is playing some of his best ball at the right time. Central finished second in the Greater Metro and has knocked off the likes of Menomonee Falls, Racine Case, and Middleton this season.

TOP CONTENDER – Madison La Follette (16-4)

The Lancers won the Big Eight Conference, this after not even having a 2020-21 campaign due to the pandemic. A guard-heavy lineup, La Follette can get scoring from just about anywhere and have four players averaging in double figures, including junior guard Arhman Lewis Arhman Lewis 6'0" | PG Madison La Follette | 2023 State WI (13.9 ppg), one of the most electrifying players with the ball in his hands.

DARK HORSE – Sussex Hamilton (14-8)

This is as dangerous as a 10-seed gets. The computers whiffed on this one as the Chargers are good enough to beat anybody in this sectional. Hamilton took top seed Central down to the wire and actually should have won that game. They’ll get a rematch with the Lancers on Thursday at home. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, but Hamilton has knocked off 1-seed Waukesha South and owns a couple of blowout wins over other high-seeded programs. Junior guard Luther Smith Luther Smith 6'1" | SG Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI (21.3 ppg) is one of the top shooters in the state and is capable of putting this group on his back in March.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI – Arrowhead

Leon Bond Leon Bond 6'5" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2022 State #62 Nation WI – Wauwatosa East

Nathan Gapinski Nathan Gapinski 6'6" | PF Watertown | 2022 State WI – Watertown

Gavyn Hurley Gavyn Hurley 6'4" | CG Middleton | 2023 State WI – Middleton

Arhman Lewis Arhman Lewis 6'0" | PG Madison La Follette | 2023 State WI – Madison La Follette

Sam Mickelson Sam Mickelson 6'7" | PF Madison Memorial | 2024 State WI – Madison Memorial

Drew Murphy Drew Murphy 6'4" | SF Verona | 2025 State WI – Verona

Ben Olson Ben Olson 6'3" | SF Sun Prairie | 2022 State WI – Sun Prairie

Greyson Pritzl Greyson Pritzl 6'3" | SG West Allis Central | 2022 State WI – West Allis Central

Andrew Rohde Andrew Rohde 6'6" | SG Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI – Brookfield Central

Matthew Schmainda Matthew Schmainda 6'2" | CG Brookfield East | 2023 State WI – Brookfield East

Luther Smith Luther Smith 6'1" | SG Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI – Sussex Hamilton

Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI – Arrowhead

SECTIONAL 4

THE FAVORITE – Waukesha South (19-4)

One of the most improved teams from last season, the Blackshirts won the always competitive Classic Eight Conference. Their three-headed monster of Tyran Cook Tyran Cook 6'2" | SG Waukesha South | 2023 State WI , Daniel Robinson Daniel Robinson 6'2" | CG Waukesha South | 2023 State WI , and Marshawn Robinson Marshawn Robinson 6'4" | SG Waukesha South | 2022 State WI forms one of the top backcourts in the state.

TOP CONTENDER – Racine Case (18-5)

Case will play for an outright title in the Southeast Conference on Thursday. The Eagles have fallen short against a lot of the top teams on their schedule, but have a very favorable draw here. Terryon Brumby Terryon Brumby 6'0" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI (18.3 ppg) will provide strong guard play. Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI (17.5 ppg) is the momentum-changing big man. This team could be heating up at the right time, currently on a nine-game winning streak.

DARK HORSE – Franklin (17-5)

Year in and year out, this is one of the toughest outs in March. Franklin is a blue-collar program that rarely beats itself. The Sabres lost a lot of pieces from last season’s squad that reached the sectional finals, but could end up with a 20-win season. Defense travels and Franklin has held 15 consecutive opponents to under 60 points. Only two teams (Onalaska and Catholic Memorial) has hit that mark on them all year. Should the Sabres beat Racine Case on Thursday, they can claim the Southeast Conference title.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Terryon Brumby Terryon Brumby 6'0" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI – Racine Case