Woodland East Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Whitnall 12-0 (19-7); 2. Milwaukee Lutheran 9-3 (18-9); 3. Greenfield 8-4 (16-9); 4. South Milwaukee 6-6 (10-14); 5. Brown Deer 4-8 (6-19); 6. Shorewood 2-10 (4-20); 7. Cudahy 1-11 (1-24).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Whitnall </strong>-- Whitnall goes after its fifth straight Woodland East crown behind one of the best returning backcourt combinations in the state. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1300316' first='Myles' last='Herro'] (6-3, 13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.4 apg) understands how to run a team and can defend on the perimeter with his length and mobility. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1362736' first='Jack' last='Lutz'] (6-0, 23.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.0 apg) is a scoring wing who can shoot and get to the basket. The third returning starter from a 19-7 squad is another backcourt player in junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561921' first='Tyler' last='Michalak'] (6-0, 9.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg). First-year coach Andrew Wojcik also welcomes back seniors Nolan Miller (6-3, 2.5 ppg) and Evan Pluer (5-10, 2.9 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2510585' first='Cooper' last='Markee'] (6-2, 4.4 ppg) and Max Palmtag (6-2, 5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg).<br><br><strong>2. Milwaukee Lutheran</strong> -- The Red Knights once again will play an up-tempo style under coach Marcus Jackson. Milwaukee Lutheran will push the ball in transition and guard all over the court as it tries to better the 18-9 finish it enjoyed a year ago. Seior [player_tooltip player_id='2424154' first='Makhai' last='Jewell'] (6-2, 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'] (5-10, 10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2391900' first='Markell' last='Causey'] (5-9, 6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2194421' first='Jaden' last='Boyd'] (5-8, 4.0 ppg, 3.5 apg) are the top returning players for the Red Knights. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1874977' first='Jamarion' last='Stanton'] (6-2, 3 ppg, 3 rpg), junior Jason Brown (6-3, 3.5 ppg 3 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140931' first='James' last='Ferguson'] (6-1, 5 ppg) also will be contributors. <br><br><strong>3. Greenfield</strong> -- Greenfield finished in third place in the Woodland East a year ago and coach Ryan DePouw's squad expects to compete its season near the top once again this time around. Four starters are back for the Hustlin' Hawks, including talented senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2610564' first='Dahir' last='Abdullahi'] (5-11, 16.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Abdullahi is one of the top defenders in the league and is a returning first-team all-conference selection. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2403409' first='Mason' last='Stieber-Pinter'] (6-3, 12.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and Bradyn Seidler (6-4, 8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2638540' first='Jahari' last='King'] (5-11, 8.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) also are returning starters. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2733016' first='Azon' last='Juarez-Quinn'] (6-5, 7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and seniors Brandon Schlueter (6-5, 3.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Spencer Bauer (6-2, 2.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) also figure to play big minutes for Greenfield. <br><br><strong>4. South Milwaukee </strong>-- Frontcourt play is the biggest strength for South Milwaukee as the Rockets begin the season under coach Lance Marifke. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2565209' first='Logan' last='Laine'] (6-8, 17.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg) is the most dominant forward in the league while senior Peyton Whetzel (6-5, 6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) has also experienced past success. Marifke will count on junior Ivan Cotto (5-9, 1.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg) to handle much of the guard duties with help from junior [player_tooltip player_id='2381434' first='Aramis' last='Lopez'] (5-10). Seniors Clayton Spatholtz (6-2, 1.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Malikai Hammonds (6-1, 2.5 ppg), Elijah Osborne (6-2) and Lucas Krajewski (6-3) also return. <br><br><strong>5. Brown Deer </strong>-- The Falcons will have good speed and athleticism as they attempt to improve upon a 6-19 record under third-year coach Sanjay Adell. The junior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1753977' first='Jayden' last='Ragland'] (5-10, 13.1 ppg), Jaiden Reed (6-2, 5.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2391076' first='Codie' last='Jones'] (6-2, 19.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) will spearhead Brown Deer's attack in 2024-25. Also back for Whitnall are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2637286' first='Jordan' last='Reed'] (6-1), Mike Essoka (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='2452154' first='Terrance' last='Ross'] (5-9). Lack of size and interior scoring are the Falcons' biggest concerns. <br><br><strong>6. Shorewood</strong> -- The transfer of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561954' first='Steven' last='Wright'] (5-10, 11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) to Wauwatosa West was an unexpected blow, but Shorewood nonetheless figures to be an improved club under coach Chris Robinson. Top scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2610585' first='Jake' last='Sherman'] (6-0, 15.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and top rebounder Miles Busby (6-4, 5.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) both return as does promising sophomore guard McKhale Wesley (6-1, 7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg). If seniors Isaiah Taylor-Jordan (6-2, 4.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and Justice Tomaszewski (6-3, 3.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) can increase their production of a year ago, the Greyhounds could emerge as one of the most improved teams in the Woodland East. <br><br><strong>7. Cudahy</strong> -- DJ Miller, who previously served as the head coach at Cristo Rey Jesuit, takes over the coaching duties at Cudahy and hopes to establish the Packers as a competitive opponent in 2024-25. Three backcourt starters are back from a 1-24 squad in seniors Tyler Fitzpatrick (5-8, 6.5 ppg) and Lucas Bishop (5-11, 2.2 ppg) along with junior Anthony Brooks (5-8, 8.3 ppg). The Packers lack size so junior Adnan Alquam (6-1, 7.2 ppg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2390715' first='Muneer' last='Elkhalifa'] (6-2) will have to play bigger than their height in order for Cudahy to hold its own near the basket. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1362736' first='Jack' last='Lutz'], Whitnall (23.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391076' first='Codie' last='Jones'], Brown Deer (19.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2565209' first='Logan' last='Laine'], South Milwaukee (17.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610564' first='Dahir' last='Abdullahi'], Greenfield (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610585' first='Jake' last='Sherman'], Shorewood (15.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1300316' first='Myles' last='Herro'], Whitnall (13.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1753977' first='Jayden' last='Ragland'], Brown Deer (13.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424154' first='Makhai' last='Jewell'], Milwaukee Lutheran (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2403409' first='Mason' last='Stieber-Pinter'], Greenfield (12.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'], Milwaukee Lutheran (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1362736' first='Jack' last='Lutz'], 6-0, Sr., Whitnall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610564' first='Dahir' last='Abdullahi'], 5-11, Sr., Greenfield<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424154' first='Makhai' last='Jewell'], 6-2, Sr., Milwaukee Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1300316' first='Myles' last='Herro'], 6-3, Sr., Whitnall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2565209' first='Logan' last='Laine'], 6-8, Sr., South Milwaukee<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1753977' first='Jayden' last='Ragland'], 5-10, Jr., Brown Deer<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2403409' first='Mason' last='Stieber-Pinter'], 6-3, Sr., Greenfield<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'], 5-10, Jr., Milwaukee Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610585' first='Jake' last='Sherman'], 6-0, Jr., Shorewood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391076' first='Codie' last='Jones'], 6-2, Jr., Brown Deer<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1362736' first='Jack' last='Lutz'], Whitnall<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610564' first='Dahir' last='Abdullahi'], Greenfield<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2565209' first='Logan' last='Laine'], South Milwaukee<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300316' first='Myles' last='Herro'], Whitnall<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2638540' first='Jahari' last='King'], Greenfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->