2023-24 Preview: Fox Valley Association

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Fox Valley Association...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROJECTED STANDINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Oshkosh North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Kimberly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Appleton North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Hortonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Neenah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Appleton East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. Fond du Lac</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. Appleton West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. Oshkosh West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - Oshkosh North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans were the trendy pick last season, but fell short of expectations. North does return arguably the best duo in the state in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark'] and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell']. If this group can develop some depth, particularly in the backcourt, a trip to Madison isn't out of the question.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - Kaukauna</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ghosts have a lot of talent coming, including some key sleepers. Behind senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1139306' first='Carson' last='Awe'] (14.3 ppg), senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1141075' first='Jonathan' last='O'Neill'] (12.8 ppg), senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1289055' first='Finnley' last='Doriot'] (12.5 ppg), and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1289073' first='Keegan' last='Van Kauwenberg'] (10.1 ppg), Kaukauna has the deepest lineup and most experienced lineup in the league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED TEAM - </strong>Appleton North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lightning were very young last season. They still are, but a couple of key freshmen got great experience and should be ready to roll in year two. North finished eighth in the league in 2022-23, but now reload behind sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1561908' first='Grant' last='Hardy'] (12.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1561874' first='Nathan' last='Ramus'] (11.4 ppg). The Lightning also ended last season by winning four of their last five games and seven of nine overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1258392' first='Joey' last='LaChapell'] - Jr. - Appleton East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1289028' first='Thomas' last='Meyers'] - Sr. - Kimberly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1139306' first='Carson' last='Awe'] - Sr. - Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1203253' first='Brady' last='Corso'] - Sr. - Neenah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark'] - Sr. - Oshkosh North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'] - Sr. - Oshkosh North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1141075' first='Jonathan' last='O'Neill'] - Sr. - Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1561908' first='Grant' last='Hardy'] - So. - Appleton North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1561874' first='Nathan' last='Ramus'] - So. - Appleton North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1289055' first='Finnley' last='Doriot'] - Sr. Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1456954' first='Riley' last='Mueller'] - Jr. - Hortonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1561939' first='Ethan' last='Joling'] - So. - Hortonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1152893' first='Ryker' last='Johnson'] - Sr. - Fond du Lac</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1289024' first='Dylan' last='Taylor'] - Sr. - Oshkosh West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark is the leading returning scorer in the FVA at 23.6 points per game. The 6-foot-5 wing also averaged five rebounds and 3.4 assists per game during his junior campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1089684"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e9f940deb3e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was tough to find a spot for him on the All-Conference lists, but Jensen could very well be more than just an Honorable Mention candidate this season. A high upside center prospect with some scary length and athleticism, Jensen showed some big time flashes over the summer and has No. 1 overall potential in the class of 2026. As a freshman, he gave the Ghosts four points, four rebounds, and one block per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561925"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e9f940debfd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SLEEPER TO WATCH</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='1973116' first='Bryce' last='Ott'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oshkosh North is desperately looking for depth to compliment their 1-2 punch in the frontcourt. Ott could be a big x-factor for the Spartans this season. A promising sophomore forward, Ott posted 4.3 ppg in year one with the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1973116"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e9f940dec76"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->