Top 10 Backcourts in Wisconsin

In this article:
It's always helpful to have some big, talented frontcourt players on your roster.
But at the high school level, the team with the better guard play usually ends up on top.
Here's a look at the top 10 backcourts as we prepare for the upcoming 2024-25 high school basketball season in Wisconsin.
1. DE PERE
Wisconsin recruit
Zach Kinziger
Zach
Kinziger
6'3" | CG
De Pere | 2025
State
#127
Nation
WI
might be the best all-around guard in the state as he can make shots, create for himself and others and has the size (6-foot-3) and desire to defend at an extremely high level. Kinziger, a four-year varsity performer who averaged 19.9 ppg as a junior, teams with senior classmate
Roan Demovsky
Roan
Demovsky
6'1" | PG
De Pere | 2025
State
WI
(6-2) to give the Redbirds an experienced and versatile backcourt combination. Both Kinziger and Demovsky can play either guard spot, score in different ways and defend on the perimeter. Demovsky is a returning starter who netted 7.0 ppg and had a strong showing over the spring/summer. Senior wing guard
Connor Hutjens
Connor
Hutjens
6'2" | SG
De Pere | 2025
State
WI
(6-2) and junior
Jack Bookter
Jack
Bookter
5'11" | SG
De Pere | 2026
State
WI
(5-11) also factor into the De Pere's deep backcourt after both played substantial minutes off the bench for a club that finished 26-2 under coach Brian Winchester.
2. MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
You better be 110 percent ready to compete when you battle Milwaukee Academy of Science. This team is loaded with experienced, talented, hungry and aggressive players who will come at you with veracity. Leading the way is senior wing
Jamarion Batemon
Jamarion
Batemon
6'3" | CG
Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025
State
#174
Nation
WI
(6-3), and Iowa State recruit who averaged 21.4 ppg as a junior while helping MAS to an 18-8 record. Batemon is a beast on defense and can drop three-point shots with the best of them. He's also outstanding at attacking the rim in the halfcourt and scoring with his speed in the open court.
Agape Keys Jr.
Agape
Keys Jr.
6'3" | CG
Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025
State
WI
(6-3), the son of MAS coach Agape Keys Sr., is a four-year varsity performer with a soft shooting touch and the ability to defend. He averaged 11.8 ppg as a junior. Senior
Amare Jackson
Amare
Jackson
6'4" | SF
Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025
State
WI
(6-4) has the size and to create problems for opponents as he is an athletic wing prospect while junior
Deuce Burkes
Deuce
Burkes
6'2" | CG
Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2026
State
WI
Jr. (6-3) is a rugged scorer from the wing who knows how to use his physical strength to get to the hoop. Batemon's younger brother, junior
Jamir Batemon
Jamir
Batemon
5'10" | PG
Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2026
State
WI
(5-11), is another talented player who will figure heavily into the backcourt plans for MAS this winter.
3. WAUWATOSA WEST
The big news surrounding the Wauwatosa West program since the end of last season is the departure of 6-foot-11 forward/center
Kai Rogers
Kai
Rogers
6'10" | C
Overtime Elite | 2025
#41
Nation
WI
, who opted to join the Overtime Elite circuit instead of playing his senior year with the Trojans. Regardless, coach Christopher Newbauer boasts an exceptionally deep and very talented returning core, particularly in the backcourt. Senior wing
Jake Hansen
Jake
Hansen
6'1" | SG
Wauwatosa West | 2025
State
#331
Nation
WI
(6-1) and sophomore lead guard
Jalen Brown
Jalen
Brown
6'4" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2027
State
WI
(6-4) both earned second-team all-league honors last season in the Greater Metro Conference. Hansen is an outstanding shooter who can make three-point shots in the blink of an eye while Brown is a matchup nightmare because of his combination of size, skill, aggressiveness and strength. Hansen averaged 17.1 ppg while Brown contributed 14.2 ppg as Wauwatosa West went 18-9 last winter. While Hansen and Brown headline the list of returning guards at Wauwatosa West, Newbauer has others in the backcourt who also will contribute, including senior Braedyn Parker (5-10) and juniors
Messiah Chambers
Messiah
Chambers
6'2" | SG/SF
Wauwatosa West | 2026
WI
(6-1),
Roman Long
Roman
Long
6'0" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2026
State
WI
(5-11) and
DJ Hennings
DJ
Hennings
5'10" | PG
Wauwatosa West | 2026
State
WI
(5-8). The athleticism, quickness and ability to get to the rim of the Trojans' backcourt is impressive.
4. APPLETON NORTH
Appleton North is considered a serious title contender in the Fox Valley Association in large part due to its stable of backcourt thoroughbreds. Junior point guard
Will Sweeney
Will
Sweeney
5'10" | PG
Appleton North | 2026
State
WI
(5-9) has the ball on a string, can pass with the best of the them and also can knock down shots. Junior wing
Nathan Ramus
Nathan
Ramus
6'2" | PG/SG
Appleton North | 2026
State
WI
(6-1) is a terrific shooter from deep and one of the better defensive players in the 10-team FVA. Senior
Abraham Tomori
Abraham
Tomori
6'3" | SF
Appleton North | 2025
State
WI
(6-2) and junior
Grant Hardy
Grant
Hardy
6'4" | SF/SG
Appleton North | 2026
State
WI
(6-3) have the skill level and confidence to play just about any spot on the floor and often find themselves in the Lightning backcourt. Both are good scorers, very good athletes and strong defenders. Toss is senior guard
Sean Hansen
Sean
Hansen
5'11" | PG
Appleton North | 2025
WI
(6-0), who played big minutes off the bench for a 16-9 squad, and it's apparent coach Chris Kellett boasts the better backcourt on most nights.
5. RACINE ST. CATHERINE'S
Although not yet at the level of the Angels' backcourt of 2020-21, St. Catherine's guard play in 2024-25 figures to be nothing short of outstanding. The talented trio of Tyrese Hunter (Memphis), Kamari McGee (Wisconsin) and Jameer Barker (Whitewater) led St. Catherine to a 28-1 record and the 2021 WIAA Division 3 state championship. This time around, coach Ryan Thompson will utilize the considerable talent of juniors
LaMont Hamilton
LaMont
Hamilton
6'0" | PG
Racine St. Catherine's | 2026
State
WI
(6-0),
Eddie Vinson
Eddie
Vinson
5'10" | PG
Racine St. Catherine's | 2026
State
WI
Jr. (5-11),
Richard Watson
Richard
Watson
6'0" | SF
St Catherine’s | 2026
WI
(6-0) and
Antoine Ozier
Antoine
Ozier
5'10" | SG
Racine St. Catherine's | 2026
State
WI
(6-0) to create havoc for the Angels' opponents. Hamilton is the leader of the group and a potential NCAA Division I recruit in both football (wide receiver) and basketball (point guard). Hamilton is lightning quick, fearless attacking the basket and a streaky three-point shooter who can get on a roll. Additionally, the left-handed Hamilton can create for his teammates and is a pest on defense because of his quickness and aggressive nature. Hamilton led the Angels in scoring at 22.3 ppg while the versatile Vinson contributed 12.4 ppg. Watson and Ozier gained valuable experience a year ago and figure to also factor into the Angels' backcourt plans.
6. WEST ALLIS CENTRAL
The Bulldogs are simply loaded in the backcourt. Coach Dave Mlachnik has a difference maker in junior Yusef Gray (6-5), who missed a good chunk of last season with an injury. He averaged 19.6 ppg prior to his setback and then recovered in time to turn in very good showings for
Team Herro
on the club circuit, earning scholarship offers from both Creighton and Iowa State. Joining Gray is sophomore
Max Jones
Max
Jones
6'4" | SG
West Allis Central | 2027
State
WI
(6-3), a wing who can post up, score from the perimeter and attack the rim. Jones had one of the best freshman showings of any player in Wisconsin as he averaged 15.5 ppg for the Bulldogs. Senior defensive whiz Ewell Clinton (6-2) and junior
Kayden Travis
Kayden
Travis
5'8" | PG
West Allis Central | 2026
State
WI
(5-7) also started in the backcourt for West Allis Central, giving the Bulldogs a four-guard look that can cause serious problems for opponents. Look for sophomore guard
Isaiah Fox
Isaiah
Fox
6'0" | PG
West Allis Central | 2027
State
WI
(6-0) to also make a strong impact for the Bulldogs this winter.
7. EAU CLAIRE MEMORIAL
Eau Claire Memorial coach Chad Brieske is hoping for one thing when the calendar flips to November -- a healthy roster. After watching both
Cooper Jesperson
Cooper
Jesperson
6'4" | SG
Eau Claire Memorial | 2025
State
WI
and
Julius Clark
Julius
Clark
6'0" | SG
Eau Claire Memorial | 2025
State
WI
sustain injuries over the past eight months, Brieske is praying for both to be at 100 percent when the 2024-25 season kicks off. At this point, it appears that the likely scenario as both players have overcome their injuries. Jesperson (6-3) is one of the better long-distance shooters in the state and an unselfish playmaker who can get into the lane to score or distribute. He averaged 20.3 ppg as a junior. Clark is a feisty defensive menace who puts extreme pressure on the ball with his quickness and aggressiveness. Clark also is a capable scorer as he averaged 13.0 ppg for a team that went 18-7. Rounding out the Old Abes' backcourt is enior
Bryce Hedtke
Bryce
Hedtke
6'2" | CG
Eau Claire Memorial | 2025
State
WI
(6-2) who joined Jespeson and Clark in the starting rotation and contributed 7.8 ppg. Seniors Brodee Neff (5-11) and Shimar Simmons (6-1) also figure to contend for backcourt playing time.
8. GOLDA MEIR
The best backcourt that continues to fly under the radar might just be at Golda Meir, which is a threat to win the Blue Division title of the Milwaukee City Conference largely because of its stellar guard play. Four perimeter players who started last season return for coach Emmitt Colbert. Senior
Ahmir Woods
Ahmir
Woods
6'3" | CG
Golda Meir | 2025
State
WI
(6-3) is as long as the day and a capable of scoring from all three levels. He averaged 18.8 ppg as a junior. Colbert's son, junior
Kaleb Colbert
Kaleb
Colbert
6'0" | PG
Milwaukee Golda Meir | 2026
State
WI
(6-0), is another offensive option for the Owls as he averaged 16.6 ppg. Speedy junior Daniel Spears (5-9) is a jet with the ball and contributed 7.5 ppg. And
Amir J Hayes
Amir
J Hayes
6'2" | SG/SF
Golda Meir | 2026
WI
(6-2) has good size and rebounding ability as he averaged 9.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The explosiveness of Woods and Colbert, in particular, make Golda Meir a team to watch in 2024-25.
9. HORTONVILLE
Competing against some of the top teams in the state on a nightly basis in the Fox Valley Association has helped to sharpen the skills of the backcourt performers for coach Matt Hintz at Hortonville. Senior point guard
Riley Mueller
Riley
Mueller
6'1" | PG
Hortonville | 2025
State
WI
(6-1) has the speed, shiftiness and shot-making ability to keep defenders off balance. He averaged 15.4 ppg as a junior and earned second-team all-FVA recognition. Junior
Ethan Joling
Ethan
Joling
6'6" | SF
Hortonville | 2026
State
WI
(6-6) is a wing with a huge upside due to his length, athleticism and skill. He can play inside or outside led the Polar Bears in scoring at 16.1 ppg and earned a spot on the all-defensive team in the conference. Senior
Alden Rogers
Alden
Rogers
6'0" | CG
Hortonville | 2025
WI
(6-0) and juniors
Aiden Sweeney
Aiden
Sweeney
5'10" | PG
Hortonville | 2026
State
WI
(5-10) and
Max Chan
Max
Chan
6'1" | SG
Hortonville | 2026
State
WI
(6-1) figure to contend for starting roles in the backcourt as both played major minutes off the bench with Rogers averaging 7.9 ppg.
10. SAINT THOMAS MORE
Losing guards Amari McCottry (St. Louis), Evan Oleson (Carroll) and Kyle Alivo (Louisville, baseball) to graduation from a 29-1 squad that won the WIAA Division 3 state title is a lot to overcome. But coach Tony Mane appears to have the pieces in his backcourt to make another run at the Metro Classic Conference championship. Senior
Kenari Parr
Kenari
Parr
6'2" | SG/SF
St. Thomas More | 2025
State
WI
(6-2) started last season and averaged 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds. He figures to be more of a focal point in the Cavaliers' offense with four starters moving on, and his defense has always been stellar. Junior
Omar Fofana
Omar
Fofana
6'1" | CG
Saint Thomas More | 2026
State
WI
(6-0) came on strong at the end of last season and had two strong showings for Saint Thomas More at the state tournament. Coming off a very strong spring/summer, Fofana is a scoring guard who can attack the basket with his quickness or drop in perimeter shots with his skill. Junior
Brayden Alivo
Brayden
Alivo
6'0" | CG
Saint Thomas More | 2026
State
WI
(6-0) was the second player off the bench for the Cavaliers and figures to move into the starting backcourt alongside Parr and Fofana. Juniors Brandon Andzejewski (6-2) and
Sebastian Cruz
Sebastian
Cruz
WI
(5-10) could also become factors at the guard spots for Saint Thomas More.
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