Mr. Basketball Power Rankings: Preseason

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heading into the 2023-24 season, who are the top 10 contenders for the annual Mr. Basketball Award, given to the state's top senior in Wisconsin? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='1142123' first='Kon' last='II Knueppel'] - Wisconsin Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone will likely be looking up to Knueppel all year long. With Wisconsin Lutheran losing four starters from last season's squad, it's scary to think what type of numbers the Duke commit might put up in 2023-24. As a junior, Knueppel averaged 20 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game while leading the Vikings to a 23-5 overall record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='1089682' first='Nick' last='Janowski'] - Pewaukee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Pewaukee is able to four-peat in Division 2, I don't know how you deny Janowski this award. It's not a career award, but winning three state titles in as many seasons is a ridiculous feat. If Janowski is able to get one without Milan Momcilovic, the Nebraska commit is going to go down as a legend in this state and almost stand alone. Part of a 27-3 squad in 2022-23, Janowski posted 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='1193234' first='Will' last='Hornseth'] - De Pere</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Pere is coming off a 30-0 season and a Division 1 state title. While he's one-half of one of the best duos in the state, along with [player_tooltip player_id='1351717' first='Zach' last='Kinziger'], Hornseth going back-to-back without Johnny Kinziger would be quite a statement. As a junior, the Northern Iowa commit averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. [player_tooltip player_id='1142131' first='Jack' last='Daugherty'] - Brookfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm expecting the Lancers to rebound this season. Over the course of four years, Daugherty has done nothing but get better. Brookfield Central was in a little bit of a rebuild last season, going 15-10 overall. The Lancers hit a rough patch late in the season and never broke out of it. Daugherty's numbers were still solid, averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. [player_tooltip player_id='1142118' first='Amari' last='McCottry'] - St. Thomas More</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCottry is in a tough spot. He plays with another top 10 senior in [player_tooltip player_id='1203602' first='Sekou' last='Konneh'] and two other college prospects in the backcourt. That still doesn't take away a ton of McCottry's production, but he's obviously sharing a lot of the load. McCottry is still the alpha on this team, which keeps him in the top five. Last season, he averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark'] - Oshkosh North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If North wins the Fox Valley Association and gets to Madison, Clark is right here in the hunt. First, the Spartans have to bolster their 16-9 record from last season. Like McCottry, Clark plays with another star in [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'], a top three prospect in the 2025 class. Clark still put up 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Nolan' last='Minessale'] - Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Think Minessale is a very sneaky contender in this race and might be closer to the top five. Marquette very well could repeat as Greater Metro Conference champions and contend for a state championship. Minessale is coming off a season in which he posted 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1142142' first='Jaquan' last='Johnson'] - Milwaukee Pius XI</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not sure there's a player in this state that means more to his team than Johnson -- in terms of what his team would be without him. Not sure anyone in this state carries as big of a load on his shoulders than Johnson, who stands at just 5-foot-9. Leading Pius XI to an 18-9 record last season while playing a daunting schedule, Johnson posted 27 points and six assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1142119' first='Bennett' last='Basich'] - Arrowhead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arrowhead definitely has a path to get back to Madison after taking home runner-up honors in 2022-23. With Mac Wrecke and Austin Villareal moving on, Basich should see his numbers increase substantially. As a junior, he averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1157562' first='Evan' last='Anderson'] - Onalaska</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a breakout junior season, Anderson and Onalaska could be poised for a run to the state tournament in Division 2 --something that's evaded this strong program for far too long. Leading the Hilltoppers to a 19-6 overall record, Anderson averaged 19 points and five rebounds per game. Anderson and Onalaska will hit the road this winter and play some high level games against Wisconsin Lutheran, Grafton, Marshfield, and Totinio Grace (MN) which could potentially bolster Anderson's standing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also in the hunt: [player_tooltip player_id='1142122' first='Michael' last='McNabb'] (Grafton), [player_tooltip player_id='1142121' first='Tim' last='Franks'] (Homestead), [player_tooltip player_id='1142120' first='Dupree' last='Fletcher Jr.'] (Milwaukee Carmen), [player_tooltip player_id='1145649' first='Cody' last='Schmitz'] (G-E-T), [player_tooltip player_id='1144570' first='Ty' last='Fernholz'] (Stoughton), [player_tooltip player_id='1203602' first='Sekou' last='Konneh'] (St. Thomas More)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->