2023-24 Preview: Big Rivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Rivers Conference...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROJECTED STANDINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Eau Claire Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. River Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Rice Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Menomonie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Eau Claire North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Chippewa Falls </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. New Richmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - </strong>Eau Claire Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Old Abes finished one game out of first place last season. While ECM loses leading scorer Mason Stoik, a pair of All-Conference caliber guards, [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'] (15.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1962213' first='Julius' last='Clark'] (7.9 ppg), both juniors are back. Don't sleep on junior [player_tooltip player_id='2022565' first='Wesley' last='Mboga'], a two-way, do-it-all wing that could be a huge x-factor for this group either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DARK HORSE - </strong>River Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Based on depth, River Falls may end up being the team to beat. A little young last season, the Wildcats went 15-10 overall, including 8-6 in league play. Player of the Year candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1617875' first='Joey' last='Butz'] (15.6 ppg) is back as are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1417497' first='Preston' last='Johnson'] (11.1 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1544742' first='Eli' last='Johnson'] (8.9 ppg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST IMPROVED - </strong>Eau Claire North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Huskies finished last in the Big Rivers Conference in 2022-23, but could be in store for a bounce back. Leading scorer and reigning All-Conference forward [player_tooltip player_id='1260945' first='Andrew' last='Rocksvold'] (13.8 ppg) should have a strong supporting cast this winter. Wouldn't expect them losing 15 games by double digits again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1260945"],"_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-64fc5d52df119"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1617875' first='Joey' last='Butz'] - Sr. (River Falls)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1417497' first='Preston' last='Johnson'] - Jr. (River Falls)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1544741' first='Tyler' last='Lessard'] - Jr. (Hudson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'] - Jr. (Eau Claire Memorial)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1544729' first='Zack' last='Orr'] - Sr. (Rice Lake)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1544742' first='Eli' last='Johnson'] - Jr. (River Falls)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G Ross Yaeger - Sr. (Hudson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='2620378' first='Brody' last='Thornton'] - Jr. (Menomonie)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='1962213' first='Julius' last='Clark'] - Jr. (Eau Claire Memorial)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id='2314029' first='Reis' last='Hidde'] - Sr. (New Richmond)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='2021394' first='Isaac' last='Ellison'] - Jr. (Menomonie)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id='1260945' first='Andrew' last='Rocksvold'] - Sr. (Eau Claire North)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a sophomore, Jesperson posted 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game while playing next to one of the top seniors in the area. The Eau Claire Memorial sniper hit 74 triples last season while scoring 20 or more points in nine games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1481178"],"_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-64fc5d52df175"} /-->