Greater Metro Preview

In this article:
2023-24 Final Standings
1. Marquette 15-1 (26-4); 2. Germantown 13-3 (19-8); 3. Sussex Hamilton 11-5 (20-6); 3. Wauwatosa West 11-5 (18-9); 5. Brookfield Central 10-6 (14-11); 6. Brookfield East 5-11 (8-17); 7. Menomonee Falls 4-12 (9-15); 8. Wauwatosa East 3-13 (4-18); 9. West Allis Hale 0-16 (1-25).
2024-25 Picks
1. Wauwatosa West --
Kai Rogers
Kai
Rogers
6'10" | C
Overtime Elite | 2025
#41
Nation
WI
(6-11, 20.0 ppg, 13.6 rpg) departure for the Overtime Elite circuit is a major blow for Wauwatosa West, but the Oklahoma recruit leaves behind a talented roster, nonetheless. Senior
Jake Hansen
Jake
Hansen
6'1" | SG
Wauwatosa West | 2025
State
#331
Nation
WI
(6-1, 17.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) is a four-year starter who can make perimeter shots from well beyond the arc in a blink of an eye. His constant motion on offense is difficult for defenses to stop and once he gets a view of the hoop, his quick release often finds the bottom of the net. Sophomore
Jalen Brown
Jalen
Brown
6'4" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2027
State
WI
(6-4, 14.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is a versatile guard who can score inside and outside while also defending with his athleticism and length. And junior Matthew Kloskey (6-5, 11.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) had a productive sophomore campaign and then got better and better during the off season.
Messiah Chambers
Messiah
Chambers
6'2" | SG/SF
Wauwatosa West | 2026
WI
(6-1, 2.2 ppg), Braedyn Parker (5-10, 2.2 ppg),
Roman Long
Roman
Long
6'0" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2026
State
WI
(5-11),
DJ Hennings
DJ
Hennings
5'10" | PG
Wauwatosa West | 2026
State
WI
(5-8) and Jake Ebertowski (6-2) are other key returning personnel for coach Christopher Newbauer's program.
2. Germantown -- The Warhawks finished alone in second place a year ago and returns its best player from that squad in junior wing
Cahlil Jones
Cahlil
Jones
6'2" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
(6-3, 13.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg). One of the state's top class of 2026 prospects, Jones is an athletic wing who soars to the basket, scores in transition and has an improved perimeter jump shot. Although Jones is the lone returning starter for coach Kyle Fueger, Germantown remains loaded with seniors Cooper Catalano (6-3, 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Austin Grass (6-1) along with juniors
Darrius Peete
Darrius
Peete
6'3" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
(6-3) and
JJ Walters
JJ
Walters
6'4" | SF
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
(6-5, 3.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) all expected to play important roles. Menomonee Falls transfer
Keenan Mulberry
Keenan
Mulberry
6'6" | PG/SF
Germantown | 2025
State
WI
, a 6-foot-6 senior, also could factor in the playing rotation.
3. Brookfield Central -- When a 14-11 finish is considered an "off season," you know you have a good program. Such was the case at Brookfield Central as the Lancers went through some ups and down en route to its record last year. Brookfield Central appears poised to get back to its title-contending days this time around behind the return of one of the Greater Metro's best outside/inside tandems in senior point guard
Anthony Rise
Anthony
Rise
6'0" | CG
Brookfield Central | 2025
State
WI
(6-0, 13.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, committed to Hawaii Hilo) and junior forward
Henry Gruetzmacher
Henry
Gruetzmacher
6'9" | PF
Brookfield Central | 2026
State
WI
(6-8, 7.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg). Rise and Gruetzmacher are returning starters and give coach Dan Wandrey one of the top duos in the state. Also back are senior Brendan Lange (5-10), junior
Evan Prusko
Evan
Prusko
6'2" | PG
Brookfield Central | 2026
State
WI
(6-2) and sophomore
Nasir Avery
Nasir
Avery
6'0" | CG
Brookfield Central | 2027
State
WI
(6-0).
4. Brookfield East -- Will the Spartans finally have good health in 2024-25? Coach Joe Rux's program has endured injury-plagued campaigns in the recent past and a healthy return to the court for senior Tommy Pluemer (6-2) and junior
TJ Platz
TJ
Platz
6'3" | SG/PG
Brookfield East | 2026
State
WI
(6-1) is vital for the Spartans' chances of success. Both of those players missed the majority of last season when Brookfield East went 8-16. Pluemer and Platz have some talented teammates back in juniors
Zeke Sawall
Zeke
Sawall
6'3" | SF
Brookfield East | 2026
State
WI
(6-3, 7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and
Carter Mantei
Carter
Mantei
6'2" | SG
Brookfield East | 2026
WI
(6-2, 4.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with seniors Mason Kinney (6-5, 7.0 ppg, 8 rpg),
Nick Vassal
Nick
Vassal
5'10" | PG
Brookfield East | 2025
State
WI
(5-10, 7.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Sebastian Megal (6-0, 6.0 ppg). Look for improved junior
Grant Kooyenga
Grant
Kooyenga
6'6" | PF
Brookfield East | 2026
State
WI
(6-6) to also potentially make a big impact for Brookfield East.
5. Marquette -- The defending WIAA Division 1 state champions are a tough team to predict. On one hand, the Hilltoppers are coming off a 26-4 season that included their first WIAA championships after many in the old WISAA. On the other hand, coach Casey Kowalewski must replace all five of his starters, including top scorer and rebounder Nolan Minessale (6-5, 22.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, now playing at St. Thomas). Junior defensive standout
Tommy Novotny
Tommy
Novotny
6'0" | CG
Marquette | 2026
State
WI
(5-11, 3.2 ppg) is the lone player back with extensive experience. Novotny, an outstanding football player on Marquette's Division 1 title-team last season, will get plenty of help from some talented underclassmen, a group that includes juniors
Luke Gundrum
Luke
Gundrum
5'11" | SG
Marquette University | 2026
State
WI
(6-0) and Gavin Coury (6-3) along with sophomores Harrison Schwabe (6-5) and
Christian Miller
Christian
Miller
6'3" | SG/SF
Marquette | 2027
State
WI
(6-3).
6. Menomonee Falls -- Freddie Riley starts his second season in charge of the Menomonee Falls program with high hopes. And rightfully so as he has five players back who played big minutes a year ago. That group includes senior point guard Harold Frye (5-11, 6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), athletic senior wing
Kendrick Nash
Kendrick
Nash
6'3" | SF
Menomonee Falls | 2025
WI
(6-3, 8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and senior guard
Carter Patti
Carter
Patti
5'9" | CG
Menomonee Falls | 2025
State
WI
(5-8, 7.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with juniors
Anthony Ness
Anthony
Ness
5'10" | PG
Menomonee Falls | 2026
State
WI
(5-10, 6.4 ppg) and
Logan Rouse
Logan
Rouse
6'4" | PF
MFHS | 2026
WI
(6-5, 5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Frye is one of the top lead guards in the league while Nash is one of the most improved players in the circuit.
7. Sussex Hamilton -- Andy Cerroni begins his 24th year as head coach at Sussex Hamilton with one of the Greater Metro's top shooters on his side in senior
Asher Haas
Asher
Haas
6'0" | SG/PG
Sussex Hamilton | 2025
State
WI
(5-10, 10.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Haas has deep range and can knock down three-point shots on any given possession so his presence on the court is paramount to the Chargers' success. Seniors
Jack Young
Jack
Young
6'1" | PG/CG
Sussex Hamilton | 2025
State
WI
(6-0, 3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg),
Ryan Heckman
Ryan
Heckman
6'1" | CG
Sussex Hamilton | 2025
State
WI
(5-11, 3.9 ppg), Rocco Orlando (6-0, 4.2 ppg) and Orlando Humphrey (6-3, 2.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) also return. Sophomores
Cole Erdmann
Cole
Erdmann
6'3" | SF
Sussex Hamilton | 2027
State
WI
(6-2) and
Alec Vernon
Alec
Vernon
6'4" | PF
Sussex Hamilton | 2027
State
WI
(6-4) also could challenge for starting roles.
8. Wauwatosa East -- A solid senior class could help Wauwatosa West move up a few steps on the Greater Metro ladder after finishing in eighth place the past two seasons. Coach Tim Arndorfer has three starters back in seniors
TJ Ricketts
TJ
Ricketts
6'4" | SF
Wauwatosa East | 2025
State
WI
(6-4, 11.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Cam Freeman (6-0, 8.7 ppg) and Nate Close (5-11, 5.7 rpg). In addition, four other seniors saw action off the bench a year ago in
Tyler Price
Tyler
Price
Wauwatosa East High School | 2026
WI
(6-0), Dane Vermillion (6-4), Ben Sibilski (5-9) and Joe Ryan (6-0).
9. West Allis Hale -- Victory No. 1 for West Allis Hale a year ago came in the WIAA playoffs when the Huskies defeated Milwaukee Riverside behind 42 points from lead guard Wilson Scherer (5-8, 19.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg). West Allis Hale lost to eventual champion Marquette in its next post season outing, ending a tough 1-24 season. Three starters are back for coach Kyle Malinger in Scherer and senior classmate Jayden Humphries (6-1, 5.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) along with junior Liam Devine (6-3, 6.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Lack of size is an issue for the Huskies so rebounding is a big concern. Junior Ivan Taylor (7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and senior
Terrance Jackson
Terrance
Jackson
5'8" | PG
West Allis Hale | 2025
WI
(5-7, 4.8 ppg) should vie for starting roles after playing in reserve roles last season.
Top Returning Scorers
Wilson Scherer, West Allis Hale (19.8 ppg)
Jake Hansen
Jake
Hansen
6'1" | SG
Wauwatosa West | 2025
State
#331
Nation
WI
, Wauwatosa West (17.1 ppg)
Jalen Brown
Jalen
Brown
6'4" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2027
State
WI
, Wauwatosa West (14.2 ppg)
Cahlil Jones
Cahlil
Jones
6'2" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
, Germantown (13.9 ppg)
Anthony Rise
Anthony
Rise
6'0" | CG
Brookfield Central | 2025
State
WI
, Brookfield Central (13.2 ppg)
Matthew Kloskey, Wauwatosa West (11.9 ppg)
TJ Ricketts
TJ
Ricketts
6'4" | SF
Wauwatosa East | 2025
State
WI
, Wauwatosa East (11.1 ppg)
Asher Haas
Asher
Haas
6'0" | SG/PG
Sussex Hamilton | 2025
State
WI
, Sussex Hamilton (10.3 ppg)
Projected All-Conference Teams
First Team
Anthony Rise
Anthony
Rise
6'0" | CG
Brookfield Central | 2025
State
WI
, 6-0, Sr., Brookfield Central
Cahlil Jones
Cahlil
Jones
6'2" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
, 6-3, Jr., Germantown
Kendrick Nash
Kendrick
Nash
6'3" | SF
Menomonee Falls | 2025
WI
, 6-3, Sr., Menomonee Falls
Jake Hansen
Jake
Hansen
6'1" | SG
Wauwatosa West | 2025
State
#331
Nation
WI
, 6-1, Sr., Wauwatosa West
Jalen Brown
Jalen
Brown
6'4" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2027
State
WI
, 6-4, Soph., Wauwatosa West
Zeke Sawall
Zeke
Sawall
6'3" | SF
Brookfield East | 2026
State
WI
, 6-3, Jr., Brookfield East
Second Team
Henry Gruetzmacher
Henry
Gruetzmacher
6'9" | PF
Brookfield Central | 2026
State
WI
, 6-8, Jr., Brookfield Central
Wilson Scherer, 5-8, Sr., West Allis Hale
Darrius Peete
Darrius
Peete
6'3" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
, 6-3, Jr., Germantown
Asher Haas
Asher
Haas
6'0" | SG/PG
Sussex Hamilton | 2025
State
WI
, 5-10, Sr., Sussex Hamilton
TJ Ricketts
TJ
Ricketts
6'4" | SF
Wauwatosa East | 2025
State
WI
, 6-4, Sr., Wauwatosa East
Matthew Kloskey, 6-4, Jr., Wauwatosa West
The Big Five
Best Shooter:
Jake Hansen
Jake
Hansen
6'1" | SG
Wauwatosa West | 2025
State
#331
Nation
WI
, Wauwatosa West
Best Defender:
Tommy Novotny
Tommy
Novotny
6'0" | CG
Marquette | 2026
State
WI
, Marquette
Best Rebounder: Mason Kinney, Brookfield East
Best Collegiate Prospect:
Jalen Brown
Jalen
Brown
6'4" | CG
Wauwatosa West | 2027
State
WI
, Wauwatosa West
Most Improved Player:
Darrius Peete
Darrius
Peete
6'3" | SG
Germantown | 2026
State
WI
, Germantown
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