East Central Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Plymouth 10-2 (21-6); 1. Waupun 10-2 (17-9); 3. Kettle Moraine Lutheran 7-5 (14-12); 4. Berlin 6-6 (18-9); 4. Kewaskum 6-6 (12-13); 6. Winneconne 2-10 (5-20); 7. Ripon 1-11 (7-18). <br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks<br><br>1. Kettle Moraine Lutheran</strong> -- Just two seniors are listed on the Chargers' preseason roster, but both figure to play key roles for coach Josh Lindner. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2540117' first='Jordan' last='Wagner'] (6-5, 17.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg) is one of the best all-around players in the East Central while his senior classmate, Cooper Przbyla (6-0, 3.4 ppg), will contend for a starting role. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2624965' first='Henry' last='Bednar'] (6-4, 8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and senior Ryan Thistle (5-11, 5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) joined Wagner in the starting rotation last winter as the Chargers finished 14-12 against a very challenging schedule. Depth is a plus for KML as juniors Nathan Kabelowsky (6-0, 6.2 ppg) and Tim Honzelka (6-5, 2.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2724390' first='Jake' last='Bartelt'] (5-10, 2.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg) also return. <br><br><strong>2. Waupun </strong>-- No team in the East Central has more returning experience than Waupun as coach Alex Dunlap starts his second year with seven key returning players, including five who started at different times for a 17-9 squad. Leading the way for the Warriors is senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'] (6-3, 19.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg), a two-time first-team all-league pick and one of the better lead guards in the state's 2025 class. Hawkinson figures to get plenty of help from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2624964' first='Jake' last='Krueger'] (6-1, 8.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Bryant Ferris (5-11, 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Brayden Torres (6-1, 6.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2383887' first='Logan' last='Prall'] (6-0, 10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Grahm Gopalan (5-8, 2.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg). <br><br><strong>3. Plymouth</strong> -- Winners of three of the past five league championships, Plymouth hopes to add to its list of conference titles in 2024-25 behind the return of the returning Player of the Year in the East Central in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'] (6-2, 19.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg). The son of Plymouth coach Tim Schultz, [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'] can play either guard spot, shoot from the perimeter or get to the basket, and is a solid defender with his size, length and deflection skills. Beyond [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], though, the Panthers are largely untested. The other four starters from a year ago have graduated, leaving lots of holes to fill. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2717019' first='Brett' last='Shutter'] (6-1, 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) figures to move into the starting rotation while senior Max Jacquat (6-6, 1.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) could be a key player along the baseline. <br><br><strong>4. Berlin</strong> -- Depth is a bit of a concern for Berlin, but coach Jeremy Mercer can rest easy knowing his frontline play will be outstanding with the return of starters [player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'] (6-4, 16.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'] (6-5, 9.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg). Bartol is a senior wing who plays both ends of the court with purpose while Redington is a junior forward and one of the better rebounders in the East Central. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2913732' first='Carter' last='Hess'] (6-0, 7.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg) also returns for the Indians and figures to move into the starting lineup after being a key backup a year ago.<br><br><strong>5. Kewaskum</strong> -- The competitiveness of the East Central among the top five or six teams in the league is outstanding. Kewaskum certainly could finish higher than fifth as first-year coach Tyler Enright has four returning starters to work with, including one of the state's better players in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1432805' first='Zach' last='Behn'] (6-7, 22.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, committed to Parkside). Behn earned unanimous first-team all-league honors as a junior. Other returning starters include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2624963' first='Landon' last='Daniel'] (5-8, 11 ppg, 4 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2610562' first='Charlie' last='Gambino'] (6-2, 7 ppg, 3 rpg) and Eli Steinbauer (5-5, 2.0 ppg).Junior Chase Cook (5-9, 2.5 ppg) and sophomores Anthony Coleman Thull (5-11, 3.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2505256' first='Jackson' last='Corbin'] (5-5) also could play important roles at Kewaskum. <br><br><strong>6. Winneconne </strong>-- Rookie head coach John Flanagan, who spent some time as an assistant coach at Oshkosh North, takes over a program brimming with potential. Indeed, the Wolves could prove to be the surprise team in the East Central if things fall into place. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2308750' first='Brody' last='Schaffer'] (6-1, 13.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2500850' first='Parker' last='Ingles'] (5-10, 13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) form a dynamic one-two scoring punch. FInding players to fill in around the considerable talents of Schaffer and Ingles is the key for Winneconne in 2024-25.<br><br><strong>7. Ripon</strong> -- The Tigers will rely heavily on underclassmen as second-year coach Mihai Schnell-Harrison lists just one senior on his preseason roster in forward Adam Meenk (6-6). Otherwise, Ripon will play plenty of juniors, sophomores and even freshmen as the program hits the rebuild button after finishing 7-18 last winter. Junior guard Logan Pollesch (6-0, 2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg) is the most experienced play in the program.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1432805' first='Zach' last='Behn'], Kewaskum (22.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'], Waupun (19.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], Plymouth (19.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2540117' first='Jordan' last='Wagner'], Kettle Moraine Lutheran (17.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'], Berlin (16.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500850' first='Parker' last='Ingles'], Winneconne (13.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2308750' first='Brody' last='Schaffer'], Winneconne (13.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624963' first='Landon' last='Daniel'], Kewaskum (11.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2383887' first='Logan' last='Prall'], Waupun (10.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'], Berlin (9.9 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'], 6-4, Sr., Berlin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2540117' first='Jordan' last='Wagner'], 6-5, Sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1432805' first='Zach' last='Behn'], 6-7, Sr., Kewaskum<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], 6-2, Jr., Plymouth<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'], 6-3, Sr., Waupun<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'], 6-5, Jr., Berlin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624965' first='Henry' last='Bednar'], 6-4, Jr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624964' first='Jake' last='Krueger'], 6-1, Sr., Waupun<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500850' first='Parker' last='Ingles'], 5-10, Jr., Winneconne<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2308750' first='Brody' last='Schaffer'], 6-1, Jr., Winneconne<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'], Waupun<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1432805' first='Zach' last='Behn'], Kewaskum<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'], Berlin<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], Plymouth<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> Aidan DeMunck, Plymouth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->