Five Teams That Will Surprise in 2022-23

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin examines five teams that will catch the state by surprise this winter...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VERONA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2021-22 Record: 11-14</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats will be breaking in a first-year head coach, but that coach happens Curtrel Robinson, who comes over after a very successful stint at Madison La Follette. Verona finished tied for second-to-last in the Big Eight Conference in 2021-22, but return leading scorer and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1156904' first='Drew' last='Murphy'] (14.4) as well as senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='981039' first='Gavin' last='Farrell'] (11.7 ppg). Middleton, Madison Memorial, and Madison La Follette probably have a stranglehold at the top of the conference, but don't rule out Verona for a potential top 4-5 finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6362c328e740f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1156904"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c57894232e5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ASHWAUBENON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2021-22 Record: 24-5</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars reached the Division 2 state semifinals last season and have to replace Marcus Tomashek and Matt Imig. But out with one duo and in with another. Ashwaubenon will turn to juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1418526' first='Jayden' last='Schoen'] (6.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1260946' first='Drew' last='Tomashek'] (5.1 ppg), who both played big minutes in 2021-22. This squad won't be as competitive, but don't sleep on Ashwaubenon despite some big losses as they do return four of their top six minute-getters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6362c6ffe7411","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1418526"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c578942330c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>APPLETON WEST</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2021-22 Record: 4-21</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1200576' first='Mikail' last='Harmison'] could be a first-team All-Fox Valley Association performer this winter. After averaging 13 points per game as a junior, Harmison is coming off a breakout summer and is one of the fastest-rising seniors in the state. The Terrors return their top three scorers from 2021-22, including senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1021600' first='Ezra' last='Brown'] (9.7 ppg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6362c888e7412","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200576"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5789423327"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MCFARLAND</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2021-22 Record: </em>16-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quietly, the Spartans have assembled one of the best rosters in the Madison area, maybe even Southern Wisconsin, that people aren't talking about. McFarland will boast its top five scorers from last season, four of which are seniors, headlined by Dadon Gillen (16.4 ppg). Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='1377140' first='Deven' last='Kulp'] (15.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1019163' first='Aidan' last='Chislom'] (10.8 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id='1160072' first='Andrew' last='Kelley'] (9.3 ppg) all played big minutes a year ago and have the potential to form an explosive scoring group. The Spartans were very Jekyll and Hyde last season, which included a blowout win over a really good East Troy team late in the season. If they can gain consistency, McFarland should win the Rock Valley Conference and do some damage in Division 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6362c99ee7414","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1019163"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5789423341"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D.C. EVEREST</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2021-22 Record: 11-14</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saw this group at the WBCA June Jam and they gave some strong teams a really tough time. The 11-14 overall record is a little deceiving as Everest finished second in the Wisconsin Valley Conference at 9-3. The Evergreens return UW-Green Bay bound [player_tooltip player_id='1289040' first='Marcus' last='Hall'] (28.7 ppg), who's one of the biggest mismatch problems in the state as a 6-foot-8 guard/wing/forward who can bring the ball up the floor, score on the block, and shoot off screens. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1541111' first='Cohen' last='Priebe'] is also coming off a really good inaugural season on varsity, putting up close to 10 ppg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6362c991e7413","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1289040"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-65c5789423359"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->