Early leaders for the WBCA Mr. Basketball award

We are just a month into the 2024-25 high school boys' basketball season in Wisconsin, but it's not too early to take a look at the early leaders for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Mr. Basketball award. Players have several games under their belts and have rounded into basketball shape as we head into a big week of holiday tournaments and classics around the state. Here's a look at the top candidates for Mr. Basketball: TOP CONTENDERS (STARTING FIVE) [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'], 6-7, Sr., G/F, Oshkosh North Recently surpassed 2,000 career points ... Averaging 38.3 ppg for Oshkosh North (4-3) while playing in the defensive-minded Fox Valley Association ... Shooting 56 percent from the floor, 86 percent from the foul line and 23 percent from three-point range ... Can score in about every way imaginable and is a remarkably consistent player for coach Brad Weber's Spartans ... Committed to Iowa State. [player_tooltip player_id='1351717' first='Zach' last='Kinziger'], 6-3, Sr., G, De Pere Four-year varsity performer for De Pere (4-1) ... Currently averaging 23.4 ppg on another very talented team at De Pere ... Scored 30 in a recent Fox River Classic Conference victory over Bay Port ... A career 41 percent shooter from three-point range ... Closing in on 1,400 career points ... Terrific long-distance shooter who can also make mid-range jumpers and weave his way to the basket ... Committed to Wisconsin. [player_tooltip player_id='1240336' first='Amari' last='Allen'], 6-7, Sr., G, Ashwaubenon Played as a freshman at Kaukauna ... Transferred to IMG Academy for his sophomore and junior years ... Opted to come back to Wisconsin as a senior and enrolled at Ashwaubenon ... Averaging 32.3 points for an Ashwaubenon squad that is 5-1 under first-year coach DeVante Blanks ... Shooting 55 percent from the field, 85 percent from the line and 36 percent from three-point range ... Often facilitates the Jaguars' offense thanks to his ball handling, vision, size and scoring abilities ... Committed to Alabama. [player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'], 6-4, Sr., G, Milwaukee Academy of Science Recently scored 52 points and drilled 16-of-20 three-point shots in a lopsided victory over The Lincoln Academy, a new school located in Beloit ... Has scored more than 1,400 points during four-year career ... Averaged 25.4 points through the first seven games, all victories ... Shooting 51 percent from the field, 90 percent from the line and 50 percent from three-point range ... In addition to his scoring and leadership, also an outstanding defender ... Committed to Iowa State. [player_tooltip player_id='1853648' first='Gavin' last='Gores'], 6-10, Sr., F, Cumberland Went over 1,600 career points in a recent loss to Barron ... Averaging 35.0 points, 14.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Cumberland (4-1) ... Shooting 56 percent from the floor, 81 percent from the foul stripe and 37 points outside the three-point arc ... Went off for 51 points and 21 rebounds in a recent win over Spooner ... Versatile big man who can play inside or facing the basket ... Committed to Wyoming. STILL IN THE HUNT (LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE UPWARD) [player_tooltip player_id='1481176' first='Chris' last='Davis Jr.'], 6-5, Sr., Sun Prairie East Doesn't matter which Sun Prairie school Davis attends, he's always scoring at a high clip ... After averaging 40.8 ppg as a junior at Sun Prairie West, Davis is averaging 39.1 ppg as a senior at Sun Prairie East ... His penchant for putting the ball in the basket has him just 23 points shy of 2,000 for a prep career that included his freshman season at Madison East, his sophomore and junior years at Sun Prairie West and his senior campaign at Sun Prairie East ... Shooting 53 percent from the field, 78 percent from the line and 38 percent from three-point range for the 6-1 Cardinals ... Committed to Arkansas State. [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'], 6-3, Sr., G, Eau Claire Memorial Four-year varsity performer at Eau Claire Memorial ... Needs just 25 points to reach 1,000 for his career ... Averaging 19.8 ppg for a very good and very balanced team at Eau Claire Memorial ... Shooting 42 percent from the field, 60 percent from the line and 30 percent from three ... Also contributing 3.5 rpg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 spg ... Owns some NCAA Division II offers, but remains uncommitted at this point. [player_tooltip player_id='1351718' first='Aaron' last='Womack'] III, 6-6, Sr., G, Dominican A varsity performer at Dominican for the past four seasons ... Has scored more than 1,600 points during his career ... Averaging 26.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 apg, 3.5 steals and 3.5 blocks for the 3-1 Knights ... Shooting 54 percent from the field through four games ... Long, bouncy wing prospect with deep shooting range and impressive explosiveness around the basket ... Committed to Syracuse. [player_tooltip player_id='1412880' first='Javante' last='Edwards'], 6-1, Sr., G, Carmen Northwest Edwards is the main man for a Carmen Northwest squad that is 4-4 ... Averaging 33.5 points for the Eagles ... Scored 54 points in a 102-99 loss to Menomonee Falls and then had 44 in an 81-79 win at Racine St. Catherine's ... Ultra quick lead guard who scores in transition, in the half court and from three-point range ... Committed to Canisius University in Buffalo. [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'], 6-2, Sr., G, Southern Door The most prolific scorer of all of the players on this list with 2,367 career points ... Currently ranks 12th on the state's all-time scoring list ... Averaging 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists for a Southern Door squad that is 4-1 ... Shooting 45 percent from the field, 62 percent from the line and 26 percent from three-point range ... Netted a season-best 36 points in a 76-66 loss to Seymour ... Committed to UW-Stevens Point.

We are just a month into the 2024-25 high school boys' basketball season in Wisconsin, but it's not too early to take a look at the early leaders for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Mr. Basketball award.

Players have several games under their belts and have rounded into basketball shape as we head into a big week of holiday tournaments and classics around the state.

Here's a look at the top candidates for Mr. Basketball:

TOP CONTENDERS (STARTING FIVE)

Xzavion Mitchell Xzavion Mitchell 6'7" | SF Oshkosh North | 2025 State #119 Nation WI , 6-7, Sr., G/F, Oshkosh North
Recently surpassed 2,000 career points ... Averaging 38.3 ppg for Oshkosh North (4-3) while playing in the defensive-minded Fox Valley Association ... Shooting 56 percent from the floor, 86 percent from the foul line and 23 percent from three-point range ... Can score in about every way imaginable and is a remarkably consistent player for coach Brad Weber's Spartans ... Committed to Iowa State.

Zach Kinziger Zach Kinziger 6'3" | CG De Pere | 2025 State #127 Nation WI , 6-3, Sr., G, De Pere
Four-year varsity performer for De Pere (4-1) ... Currently averaging 23.4 ppg on another very talented team at De Pere ... Scored 30 in a recent Fox River Classic Conference victory over Bay Port ... A career 41 percent shooter from three-point range ... Closing in on 1,400 career points ... Terrific long-distance shooter who can also make mid-range jumpers and weave his way to the basket ... Committed to Wisconsin.

Amari Allen Amari Allen 6'7" | SG Ashwaubenon | 2025 State #53 Nation WI , 6-7, Sr., G, Ashwaubenon
Played as a freshman at Kaukauna ... Transferred to IMG Academy for his sophomore and junior years ... Opted to come back to Wisconsin as a senior and enrolled at Ashwaubenon ... Averaging 32.3 points for an Ashwaubenon squad that is 5-1 under first-year coach DeVante Blanks ... Shooting 55 percent from the field, 85 percent from the line and 36 percent from three-point range ... Often facilitates the Jaguars' offense thanks to his ball handling, vision, size and scoring abilities ... Committed to Alabama.

Jamarion Batemon Jamarion Batemon 6'3" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2025 State #174 Nation WI , 6-4, Sr., G, Milwaukee Academy of Science
Recently scored 52 points and drilled 16-of-20 three-point shots in a lopsided victory over The Lincoln Academy, a new school located in Beloit ... Has scored more than 1,400 points during four-year career ... Averaged 25.4 points through the first seven games, all victories ... Shooting 51 percent from the field, 90 percent from the line and 50 percent from three-point range ... In addition to his scoring and leadership, also an outstanding defender ... Committed to Iowa State.

Gavin Gores Gavin Gores 6'10" | PF Cumberland | 2025 State WI , 6-10, Sr., F, Cumberland
Went over 1,600 career points in a recent loss to Barron ... Averaging 35.0 points, 14.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Cumberland (4-1) ... Shooting 56 percent from the floor, 81 percent from the foul stripe and 37 points outside the three-point arc ... Went off for 51 points and 21 rebounds in a recent win over Spooner ... Versatile big man who can play inside or facing the basket ... Committed to Wyoming.

STILL IN THE HUNT (LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE UPWARD)

Chris Davis Jr. Chris Davis Jr. 6'4" | SG Sun Prairie East | 2025 State WI , 6-5, Sr., Sun Prairie East
Doesn't matter which Sun Prairie school Davis attends, he's always scoring at a high clip ... After averaging 40.8 ppg as a junior at Sun Prairie West, Davis is averaging 39.1 ppg as a senior at Sun Prairie East ... His penchant for putting the ball in the basket has him just 23 points shy of 2,000 for a prep career that included his freshman season at Madison East, his sophomore and junior years at Sun Prairie West and his senior campaign at Sun Prairie East ... Shooting 53 percent from the field, 78 percent from the line and 38 percent from three-point range for the 6-1 Cardinals ... Committed to Arkansas State.

Cooper Jesperson Cooper Jesperson 6'4" | SG Eau Claire Memorial | 2025 State WI , 6-3, Sr., G, Eau Claire Memorial
Four-year varsity performer at Eau Claire Memorial ... Needs just 25 points to reach 1,000 for his career ... Averaging 19.8 ppg for a very good and very balanced team at Eau Claire Memorial ... Shooting 42 percent from the field, 60 percent from the line and 30 percent from three ... Also contributing 3.5 rpg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 spg ... Owns some NCAA Division II offers, but remains uncommitted at this point.

Aaron Womack Aaron Womack 6'6" | SF Dominican | 2025 State #228 Nation WI III, 6-6, Sr., G, Dominican
A varsity performer at Dominican for the past four seasons ... Has scored more than 1,600 points during his career ... Averaging 26.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 apg, 3.5 steals and 3.5 blocks for the 3-1 Knights ... Shooting 54 percent from the field through four games ... Long, bouncy wing prospect with deep shooting range and impressive explosiveness around the basket ... Committed to Syracuse.

Javante Edwards Javante Edwards 6'1" | SG Carmen Northwest | 2025 State WI , 6-1, Sr., G, Carmen Northwest
Edwards is the main man for a Carmen Northwest squad that is 4-4 ... Averaging 33.5 points for the Eagles ... Scored 54 points in a 102-99 loss to Menomonee Falls and then had 44 in an 81-79 win at Racine St. Catherine's ... Ultra quick lead guard who scores in transition, in the half court and from three-point range ... Committed to Canisius University in Buffalo.

Drew Daoust Drew Daoust 6'1" | CG Southern Door | 2025 State WI , 6-2, Sr., G, Southern Door
The most prolific scorer of all of the players on this list with 2,367 career points ... Currently ranks 12th on the state's all-time scoring list ... Averaging 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists for a Southern Door squad that is 4-1 ... Shooting 45 percent from the field, 62 percent from the line and 26 percent from three-point range ... Netted a season-best 36 points in a 76-66 loss to Seymour ... Committed to UW-Stevens Point.