Lake City Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Salam 18-0 (24-5); 2. St. Augustine Prep 15-3 (17-8); 3. Eastbrook Academy 13-5 (17-8); 4. Faith Christian 12-6 (14-11); 5. Tenor/Veritas 11-7 (12-10); 6. Saint Anthony 8-10 (10-14); 7. Chesterton Academy 6-12 (7-15); 8. Cristo Rey Jesuit 5-13 (5-19); 9. Hmong Peace Academy 1-17 (1-20); 9. University Lake/Trinity 1-17 (1-21).<br><br><em>Editor's Note:</em> St. Augustine Prep has left the Lake City Conference and will play an independent schedule in 2024-25.<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Salam</strong> -- The Stars went unbeaten in league play and then advanced to the WIAA Division 5 sectional finals for the first time in school history before sustaining a season-ending loss to Abundant Life Christian. One of the state's more prolific scorers last winter graduated for Salam last spring and coach Abdullah Badwan will have to adjust to the loss of wing Ahmad Badwan (6-3, 29.9 ppg, 14.8 rpg). Also gone from a year ago is forward Ismail Bektesi (6-2, 14.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg). The Stars do welcome back some talent, hover, as sophomore Mohammad Badwan (5-10, 11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), junior Yusef Bektesi (5-8, 5.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and seniors Kais Ahmad (5-7, 2.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Nasser Hussaini (5-6, 3.2 ppg) all figure to play key roles for the league favorites. <br><br><strong>2. Eastbrook Academy </strong>-- Replacing first-team all-league pick J'Ali Thornton (5-11, 22.4 ppg) will be a tough task for coach Pete Canady. He will count heavily on returning honorable mention all-Lake City selection Corey Spears. <br><br><strong>3. Faith Christian </strong>-- Coach Brian Pollard begins his 29th season in charge of the Faith Christian program with two starters returning from a team that went 14-11. Honorable mention all-Lake City choice Owen McLeod (6-0, 13.1 ppg) leads the way for the Eagles. McLeod and junior Adam Tulloch (6-2, 8.4 ppg) are the top returning players for Pollard, who expects Faith Christian to have good team chemistry and a deep bench in 2024-25. <br><br><strong>4. Saint Anthony</strong> -- Saint Anthony lost a key player to graduation in Ivan Castillo (5-10, 22.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg), but coach Cody Larson starts his second season at the school with one of the state's elite rebounders in junior Anthony Ruvalcaba (6-4, 7.5 ppg, 17.6 rpg). Ruvalcaba's penchant for grabbing caroms will be a big asset for the Roman Legion. Also returning to the starting rotation from last year's 10-14 squad is senior Jose Madrigal (5-8, 2.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Speed is an asset, but replacing the scoring of Castillo is a big concern. <br><br><strong>5. Cristo Rey Jesuit </strong>-- Coach DJ Miller moved on after last season and now is the head coach at Cudahy. Replacing Miller on the sidelines for Cristo Rey Jesuit is Ramon Munez, who welcomes back the top scorer from last year's 5-19 squad in senior guard Jonathan Beltran (6-0, 19.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg). Beltran picked up second-team all-league honors and was joined in the starting rotation by senior Diego Mata (5-11, 2.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and juniors Jair Valle (5-6, 5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Aza Rodriguez (5-9, 7.2 ppg). <br><br><strong>6. Chesterton Academy </strong>-- Four regulars return for Chesterton Academy as second-year coach Mike Cain looks to build upon a 7-15 record. Leading the way for the Knights are juniors Mathias Erickson (5-11, 11.2 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2423622' first='Camden' last='Puffer'] (6-3, 5.8 ppg), Damien Dax (5-10, 7.5 ppg) and Gus Dax (6-2, 2.3 ppg). A new school located in Menomonee Falls, Chesterton Academy plays its home games at Aquinas Academy in Menomonee Falls. <br><br><strong>7. Tenor/Veritas</strong> -- Second-team all-league pick [player_tooltip player_id='2431224' first='Quintyn' last='Robinson'] opted to transfer from Tenor/Veritas to Audubon Technology over the summer, leaving the Titans without their top player for 2024-25. First-year coach Armando Diaz does have a few talented returnees in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2402834' first='Kyrell' last='Davis'] (6-1, 18.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Shane Emmanuel (6-0, 13.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg).<br><br><strong>8. University Lake/Trinity </strong>-- Shooting, size and experience are all listed concerns from coach Joe Hardgrove as the Lakers attempt to improve on last year's tough 1-21 finish. Three starters are back in senior Richie Dallen (5-10, 4.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with juniors Kyler Barnett (5-10, 7.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Anthony Drake (5-10, 2.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Barnett is one of the league's top shooters and will need to carry a big scoring load for the Lakers. Senior Eddie Crowbridge (5-9, 1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and junior Jack Warner (5-9) also return. <br><br><strong>9. Hmong Peace Academy</strong> -- Junior Thomas Moua is the top returning player for Hmong Peace Academy. Coach Ricardo Millo saw his team record one win a year ago, a Lake City triumph over University Lake/Trinity.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>Jonathan Beltran, Cristo Rey Jesuit (19.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2402834' first='Kyrell' last='Davis'], Tenor/Veritas (18.3 ppg)<br>Shane Emmanuel, Tenor/Veritas (13.5 ppg)<br>Owen McLeod, Faith Christian (13.1 ppg)<br>Mathias Erickson, Chesterton Academy (11.2 ppg)<br>Mohammad Badwan, Salam (11.2 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>Jonthan Beltran, 6-0, Sr., Cristo Rey Jesuit<br>Owen McLeod, 6-0, Jr., Faith Christian<br>Anthony Ruvalcaba, 6-4, Jr., Saint Anthony<br>Mohammad Badwan, 5-11, Soph., Salam<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2402834' first='Kyrell' last='Davis'], 6-1, Sr., Tenor/Veritas<strong><br></strong><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br><br>Mathias Erickson, 5-11, Jr., Chesterton Academy<br>Corey Spears, Sr., Eastbrook Academy<br>Adam Tulloch, 6-2, Jr., Faith Christian<br>Yusef Bektesi, 5-9, Jr., Salam<br>Kyler Barnett, 5-10, Jr., University Lake/Trinity<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter:</strong> Kyler Barnett, University Lake/Trinity<br><strong>Top Defender: </strong>Yusef Bektesi, Salam<br><strong>Top Rebounder: </strong>Anthony Ruvalcaba, Saint Anthony<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> Anthony Ruvalcaba, Saint Anthony<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>Mohammad Badwan, Salam</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->