2023-24 Preview: Greater Metro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Greater Metro Conference...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROJECTED STANDINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Wauwatosa West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Brookfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Brookfield East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Sussex Hamilton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Germantown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Wauwatosa East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. Menomonee Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. West Allis Hale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - Marquette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest surprises in the state last season, Marquette could be primed to repeat in 2023-24. The Hilltoppers went 21-7 in 2022-23, reaching the sectional finals before falling to eventual state champion De Pere. The top four scorers are back, including St. Thomas commit [player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Nolan' last='Minessale'] (22.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1203206' first='T.J.' last='Adams'] (12.6 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id='1887198' first='Ryan' last='Meehan'] (11.3 ppg) -- all seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - Brookfield Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers finished three games out of first place last season, but reload behind their top three scorers. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1142131' first='Jack' last='Daugherty'] (17.4 ppg) was top 10 in the league in both scoring and rebounding last season. He'll have a strong supporting cast in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1463408' first='Charlie' last='Geske'] (15.0 ppg) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272671' first='Anthony' last='Rise'] (13.2 ppg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED - Germantown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warhawks could have three All-Conference players in 2023-24. Germantown finished seventh in the Greater Metro last season and 10-15 overall. A team that might have been better than its record, the Warhawks dropped five league games by eight points or less after Jan. 23.</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='1203046' first='Andrew' last='Graf'] - Sr. - Brookfield East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1272671' first='Anthony' last='Rise'] - Jr. - Brookfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1142132' first='Aidan' last='Konop'] - Sr. - Sussex Hamilton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1240337' first='Jake' last='Hansen'] - Jr. - Wauwatosa West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Nolan' last='Minessale'] - Sr. - Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1142131' first='Jack' last='Daugherty'] - Sr. - Brookfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1240335' first='Kai' last='Rogers'] - Jr. - Wauwatosa West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1598988' first='Peyton' last='McKenna'] - Sr. - Germantown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1203206' first='T.J.' last='Adams'] - Sr. - Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1827203' first='Cooper' last='Grams'] - Sr. - Sussex Hamilton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1887198' first='Ryan' last='Meehan'] - Sr. - Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id='1463408' first='Charlie' last='Geske'] - Sr. - Brookfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>W Ryan Ferguson - Sr. - Germantown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1428875' first='Mason' last='Freiburger'] - Sr. - Germantown </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR - [player_tooltip player_id='1142131' first='Jack' last='Daugherty']/[player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Nolan' last='Minessale']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going to predict the award will be shared in 2023-24. Minesalle won it outright as a junior, but think Central contends for a title, which forces more of a split vote.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minesalle is coming off a breakout campaign in which he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and nearly two steals per game. A high flyer with serious bounce, Minessale shot 58 percent from the floor. His 22.6 ppg average ranked second in the Greater Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A skilled, versatile forward who's done nothing but climb the ranking since he was a freshman, Daugherty averaged 17.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per outing last winter. He shot 44 percent from the field, including a blistering 43 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1203205"],"_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-64ecbe9a4c74e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827203' first='Cooper' last='Grams']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Been talking about Grams all off-season. The Sussex Hamilton guard is going to catch a lot of people by surprise this season. Grams averaged 8.0 points and 2.2 assists per game while playing alongside one of the top seniors in the state, also a Division 1 recruit. The senior floor general showed the ability to take over games as a scorer or facilitator during the travel season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1827203"],"_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-64ecbe9a4c7d3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SLEEPER - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142144' first='Moses' last='Long']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long is the heartbeat for Tosa West. A player that does anything that's asked of him and fills every role, Long gave the Trojans 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game as a junior. The 6-foot-3 senior is one of the best defenders in the state and uses his athleticism in a variety of ways. With Cole Hansen now in South Carolina, Long's scoring production will likely see an uptick as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142144"],"_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-64ee11e14fd74"} /-->