Conference Preview: Southeast

The Teams   Burlington (6-16 last season, 31.1% of scoring returning): The Grayhounds lost their top five scorers from last year's team, leaving Keshawn Wyldon (4.9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420794' first='DaMarrius' last='Maxwell'] (4.9, 5.6 rebounds) as the lone notable returnees. Maxwell is a good athlete who does a great job on the glass and is a very good finisher around the rim, while Wyldon figures to have the ball in his hands quite a bit this season as the team's top returning wing scoring option. Burlington is the biggest school in the league and should be able to find some pieces, but they'll probably struggle to replicate the six wins they grabbed last season.   Fairfield (1-21, 62.5%): The Trojans notched a season-opening win over Oskaloosa last season, then lost 21 straight games to close the year, with only two of those losses coming by single digits. so there's nowhere to go but up, right? Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617536' first='Riley' last='Perkins'] (12.1, 3.3 assists) could be one of the best offensive players in the league this season, with his length and IQ allowing him to score from all three levels as well as create for his teammates. Forward Luke Konczal (7.2, 6.8 rebounds) gives them some size and rebounding, and Eli ZIllman (5.5) will provide some additional toughness in the paint. While they won't compete with Keokuk at the top of the league, this group should be improved and should win more than one game this winter.   Fort Madison (11-10, 46.1%): The Bloodhounds bring back three of their top six scorers from last year's team in [player_tooltip player_id='2731702' first='Nolan' last='Guzman'] (9.9, 52.1 FG%), [player_tooltip player_id='2511523' first='Dayton' last='Lamar'] (8.7, 55.6 FG%, 2.5 blocks), and Julian Dear (6.9, 2.9 assists), giving them one of the top trios in the league to build around. Guzman can score from all three levels, while Lamar is a high-level defender who protects the paint extremely well, and Dear is the team's top playmaker off the dribble. Six of their 10 losses last season came by single digits, and if they can close a few more of those out they could find themselves pushing Keokuk at the top.   Keokuk (17-7, 72.3%): [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'] (19.8, 11.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) is on the verge of seeing his recruitment explode, and he's going to put up ridiculous numbers for the Chiefs this season. The 6-10/6-11 junior big man has garnered interest from seemingly half of the Big Ten at this point, with his blend of finesse footwork, toughness finishing through contact, ability to step out and stretch the floor, and the nimble feet and IQ to switch defensively and protect the rim, it's easy to see why he's becoming a highly coveted player. Keokuk is then able to put a few players alongside him in [player_tooltip player_id='1720208' first='Brenton' last='Hoard'] (11.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398015' first='Tramell' last='Smith'] (7.1) whose games complement him well. Hoard is a tough, physical wing who does a majority of his damage by getting to the rim, and he is often the beneficiary of the defense overly committing to stopping Clark, finding open lanes to cut either off the dribble or without the ball in his hands. And Smith, a 40.3% 3-point shooter, benefits from the vision and gravity of Clark, allowing him to get plenty of open looks. Keokuk suffered three league losses last season, but more than one this year would be surprising.   Mount Pleasant (13-8, 43.7%): The Panthers have been one of the top teams in the league seemingly every year for the last few decades, and that should continue despite losing big-time scorer Payton Hagans and forward Nate Stroud to graduation. They'll continue to compete because of junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (14.6), one of the best scorers in the conference. An intelligent guard who can get to the rim off the dribble, he's improving as a shotmaker from distance, which will only increase his danger level as a scorer. Players like Avin Truong (4.4), [player_tooltip player_id='2731795' first='Noah' last='Lange'] (3.4), and [player_tooltip player_id='2731792' first='Ian' last='Reid'] (2.2) will be asked to step into bigger roles alongside Stacy, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Lange, in particular, has a chance to make a major leap this season as his size at 6-8 could be a major asset.   Washington (6-15, 82.1%): If you're looking for an improvement team in the Southeast Conference, look at the Demons, who bring back five of their top six scorers. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1428956' first='Logan' last='McDole'] (12.3) and junior wing Drew Conrad (11.8) are the headliners of the group, while [player_tooltip player_id='2419825' first='Nic' last='Stone'] (8.0), Rajan Roth (6.7), and Kael Williams (5.5) all played well last season in their roles. McDole is the team's top perimeter shooting threat, although that role could fall on the hands of the sophomore Stone this season after a productive freshman campaign and solid spring and summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2246861' first='Murray' last='Elite']. This group should be able to take advantage of some of the personnel losses that other teams in the league suffered and could double their win total this winter.   Projected Order of Finish   1. Keokuk 2. Mount Pleasant 3. Washington 4. Fort Madison 5. Burlington 6. Fairfield   Analysis: Keokuk should be considered a pretty significant favorite in the league this winter led by [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'], who is not only far-and-away the best player in the league, but who is one of the best players in the state as a whole. It's the Chiefs' conference to lose, but Mount Pleasant won't go quitely.   Preseason Player of the Year   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'] (Keokuk): The 6-10 big man was dominant last season, had a great spring and summer that has seen him get interest from Power 5 programs, and is far-and-away the best player on what should be far-and-away the best team in the conference. This is a pretty easy choice.   Players to Watch   2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'] (Keokuk) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1720208' first='Brenton' last='Hoard'] (Keokuk) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398015' first='Tramell' last='Smith'] (Keokuk) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978109' first='Christian' last='Stacy'] (Mount Pleasant) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1428956' first='Logan' last='McDole'] (Washington) 2026 Drew Conrad (Washington) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419825' first='Nic' last='Stone'] (Washington) 2026 Rajan Roth (Washington) 2026 Kael Williams (Washington) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2617536' first='Riley' last='Perkins'] (Fairfield) 2025 Luke Konczal (Fairfield) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731702' first='Nolan' last='Guzman'] (Fort Madison) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511523' first='Dayton' last='Lamar'] (Fort Madison) 2025 Julian Dear (Fort Madison)

The Teams