2023-24 Preview: Big Eight
In this article:
Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference… PROJECTED STANDINGS 1. Sun Prairie West 2. Verona 3. Madison La Follette 4. Madison Memorial 5. Middleton 6. Janesville Craig 7. Janesville…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLooking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Eight Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Sun Prairie West
2. Verona
3. Madison La Follette
4. Madison Memorial
5. Middleton
6. Janesville Craig
7. Janesville Parker
8. Madison East
9. Sun Prairie East
10. Madison West
THE FAVORITE – Sun Prairie West
The Wolves finished fourth in the league last season and reload behind junior guard Chris Davis Jr., one of the fastest rising players in his class. SPW also picked up transfer Clevon Easton Clevon Easton 6'0" | CG Madison East | 2025 WI from Madison East, a top five prospect in the junior class. The Wolves are coming off a 15-8 record last season, but also lost five games by five points or less.
DARK HORSE – Verona
The Wildcats have some tough losses to replace, but there’s enough to compete toward the top of the league. Junior forward Drew Murphy Drew Murphy 6'4" | SF Verona | 2025 State WI is a legit Player of the Year candidate after averaging 19 points per game in 2022-23. Tre Poteat Tre Poteat 6'1" | SG Verona | 2025 State WI (16.4 ppg), a power-five football prospect is also back as is Kamarr Bridges Kamarr Bridges SG Verona | 2025 State WI (11.0 ppg), giving Verona three double-digit scorers.
SLEEPER TEAM – Madison Memorial
The Spartans could be sneaky good in 2023-24. Senior forward Sam Mickelson Sam Mickelson 6'7" | PF Madison Memorial | 2024 State WI (15.2 ppg) has been around the block for four years now. There’s a lot of good, young talent on this roster as well. Sophomore guard Anthony Miller Anthony Miller 6'0" | CG Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI impressed as a freshman, averaging 9.0 ppg. Memorial also picked up sophomores Caleb Liggon Caleb Liggon 6'4" | SG Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI and Ezra Liggon Ezra Liggon 6'3" | SF Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI from Madison West.
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
G Tre Poteat Tre Poteat 6'1" | SG Verona | 2025 State WI – Jr. – Verona
G Camron Henderson Camron Henderson 6'0" | CG Madison East | 2024 State WI – Sr. – Madison East
G Chris Davis Jr. – Jr. – Sun Prairie West
F J.J. Douglas J.J. Douglas 6'6" | SF Janesville Parker | 2024 State WI – Sr. – Janesville Parker
F Drew Murphy Drew Murphy 6'4" | SF Verona | 2025 State WI – Jr. – Verona
F Sam Mickelson Sam Mickelson 6'7" | PF Madison Memorial | 2024 State WI – Sr. – Madison Memorial
F Thian Riak Thian Riak 6'4" | SF Madison Lafollete | 2026 State WI – So. – Madison La Follette
C Will Garlock Will Garlock 6'11" | C Middleton | 2025 State #204 Nation WI – Jr. – Middleton
Second Team
G Clevon Easton Clevon Easton 6'0" | CG Madison East | 2025 WI – Jr. – Sun Prairie West
G Anthony Miller Anthony Miller 6'0" | CG Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI – So. – Madison Memorial
G Isaiah Oliver Isaiah Oliver 6'0" | SG Middleton | 2026 State WI – So. – Middleton
G Carson McCormick – Sr. – Janesville Craig
G Quinton Lomack Quinton Lomack 6'1" | CG Madison La Follette | 2024 WI – Sr. – Madison La Follette
G Tyler Haney Tyler Haney 6'1" | CG Sun Prairie | 2025 State WI – Jr. – Sun Prairie West
F Caleb Liggon Caleb Liggon 6'4" | SG Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI – So. – Madison Memorial
F Ezra Liggon Ezra Liggon 6'3" | SF Madison Memorial | 2026 State WI – So. – Madison Memorial
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Chris Davis Jr.
For the second time in three years, think this award goes to a junior. Gavyn Hurley (Middleton) also won POY as a junior and then repeated the following season. Davis will have a good chance of doing the same. Davis had a monster sophomore campaign for the Wolves in their inaugural season, going for 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals per outing.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Will Garlock Will Garlock 6'11" | C Middleton | 2025 State #204 Nation WI
He’s still nowhere near his ceiling, but think the Big Eight is going to see a different Will Garlock Will Garlock 6'11" | C Middleton | 2025 State #204 Nation WI this winter. Playing on the Under Armour Circuit and now pushing seven-feet, Garlock is coming to Middleton tougher and more skilled than he was a sophomore. Last season, Garlock averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 66 percent from the field. He’ll move into a more primary role for the Cardinals this winter.
SLEEPER TO WATCH – Bennett Buss Bennett Buss 5'10" | PG Verona | 2025 State WI
One of the reasons I’m a believer in Verona is Buss, who’s coming off an outstanding summer. Buss played in just eight varsity games as a sophomore, averaging 3.2 ppg. With the Wildcats losing two key guards, Buss could step right into that starting point guard role.