Strolling through the Wisconsin prep hoops alphabet

Allen, Amari. The Alabama recruit played at Kaukauna as a freshman and then played the past two seasons at IMG Academy. He opted to return home for his senior year and now is playing for Ashwaubenon. A 6-foot-7 guard who can facilitate the offense, score from any spot on the court and dominate the glass, Allen is a multi-talented prospect with excellent size, length, athleticism and skill. Through the first three games of the season, all Ashwaubenon victories, Allen was averaging robust numbers of 26.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Batemon, Jamarion. An impact player on nearly every possession of any given contest. That pretty much sums up the stamp Batemon puts on a game for the exceptionally talented squad at Milwaukee Academy of Science. A 6-foot-4 wing guard who signed with Iowa State, Batemon is a four-year varsity player at MAS. He can score, defend, rebound, push the ball in transition, and get on the floor for loose balls. He simply does whatever it takes for his squad to get the W. He also can get on fire from long distance and is a legitimate Mr. Basketball award candidate. Clock, Shot. Last summer, the WIAA once again tabled the possiblity of adding a shot clock to the high school game in Wisconsin. It's still a possibility, but the can was kicked down the road for a few more seasons by WIAA administrators and board members who want more documentation on how adding a shot clock would improve the game. It's pretty simple, really. Adding a shot clock would improve the flow of the game, prevent teams from rattling off minutes at a time of running offense looking for the “perfect” shot, and be in line with the game at the collegiate and pro levels. Neighboring states Illinois and Minnesota already have a shot clock at the high school level while Wisconsin continues to lag behind. Daoust, Drew. The Southern Door senior might not be a household name, but the 6-foot-2 UW-Stevens Point recruit can put up points with the best of them. Prior to the start of this season, Daoust had 2,225 points during his first three seasons of prep basketball. He opened his senior season with 33 points in a win over Peshtigo and then followed up with 28 against Luxemburg-Casco and 29 versus Sevastopol. His 2,315 points ranks 16th on Wisconsin's all-time scoring list. Daoust may not reach Anthony Pieper's record of 3,391 set in the early 1990s at Wausaukee, but he definitely is headed for the top five, providing he remains healthy. Eau Claire Memorial. One of the state's most storied programs hasn't been a big factor on the biggest stage -- the WIAA State Tournament -- for a long time now. The Old Abes are hoping to change that in 2024-25 behind a very talented senior class. During the 1950s, Eau Claire made five trips to state, Memorial then went to Madison for a remarkable eight times in the 1960s. It fell to six times in the 1970s and then just twice in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the calendar turned to the new century, the Old Abes have made just one state tournament appearance -- in 2002-03. Coach Chad Brieske's club returns four starters from an 18-win team this season so there is optimism the Old Abes can advance to the Kohl Center come March. Freedom. Jim Bartels. Cory VandeWettering. Dion Haase. The season was 1989-90 and that trio led Freedom to its first and, to date, only WIAA state basketball championship. Bartels, who went on to star at Iowa, led the way for the Irish in their 75-72 Class B title-game win over previously unbeaten Monona Grove, scoring 31 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Coach Dan Valentyn's club finished 27-0. Fast forward to 2024-25 and Freedom has the type of team that could make state-wide noise once again. And, once again, the Irish are led by a difference maker in uber talented 6-foot-8 sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis'], one of the state's elite class of 2027 prospects. Irsh eyes could be smiling again behind Davis and Co. in mid March. Gores, Gavin. The best player in the history of Cumberland basketball? John Schell might come to mind as he led Cumberland to the state semifinals of the one-class WIAA State Tournament in 1965 and later played at Wisconsin. Schell might need to step aside after many years of being the top dog as Gores has put a mighty imprint on the Beavers' record books. The 6-foot-10 Wyoming recruit averaged 28.6 points and 13.1 rebounds as a junior and is poised for another big season this time around. Gores' ability to score, rebound, block shots, play inside or outside, and simply dominant a game are all impressive. Hamilton, Lamont. Possessing elite-level quickness, Hamilton has become a dominant force not only on the basketball court but also the football field. The 6-foot-0 junior at Racine St. Catherine's scored four touchdowns to help the Angels win the WIAA Division 4 state football title 26-22 over Baldwin-Woodville in mid November, and a few days later he was on the basketball court, scoring 39 points in the Angels' season-opening win over Burlington. Hamilton owns basketball scholarship offers from Detroit Mercy and Western Illinois, and could garner some football offers in the near future as well. Inbounds pass. The inbounds pass seems like an ordinary part of any ordinary game. But it has become a weapon for some schools, particularly when inbounding the ball under the opponents' basket. In an early season showing pitting Kaukauna at Oshkosh North, the Ghosts trailed by one point with just a couple of ticks left on the clock. But Kaukauna executed a perfect lob inbounds pass to 6-foot-9 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen'], who took the pass and calmly banked in a shot as the horn sounded, giving the Ghosts a thrilling victory. Others, like Oregon, can lob the ball into the air under the basket and have one of their high flyers, in the case of Oregon, junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2045301' first='Vaughn' last='Karvala'], grab the ball at its apex and then follow through with a crowd-pleasing dunk. Jensen, Andrew. Kaukauna's 6-foot-9 junior post player is the very definition of a big man on the basketball court these days. Unlike years gone past when bigs played pretty much from block to block in the post, Jensen can affect a game from multiple spots on the floor. He can face up and make mid-range jump shots, pass into the post from the high post and set ball screens on the perimeter. He can also attack the hoop off the bounce from outside the lane. A very good rebounder with good instincts for finding angles to get caroms, Jensen owns several NCAA Division I scholarship offers, including Marquette and Toledo, among others. He is a three-year varsity performer for coach Mike Schalow at Kaukauna, and opened the season with a 24-point, 11-rebound effort in an 81-80 win over Oshkosh North, a game in which he hit the game winning basket with just a couple of seconds left. Konieczny, Joe. A select few in the profession of being a high school basketball coach get to experience the thrill of winning a state championship. Even fewer get to do so at their alma mater. And the list of those who achieve winning a state crown with two sons playing key roles is miniscule. Joe Konieczny had the good fortune of checking all of those boxes last March when his Columbus Catholic Dons defeated Abundant Life Christian in the WIAA Division 5 state-championship game. Konieczny, a 1996 graduate of Columbus Catholic, watched while his oldest son, Emmitt, scored 31 points in the title game. His second son, Mac, contributed nine points off the bench. The list of unlikely accomplishments is even longer as Konieczny won his 400th career game when the Dons beat Solon Springs in the state semifinals. And finally, all of this was accomplished after his son, Emmitt, and his wife, Jen, were involved in a very serious car accident just a few months prior to the Dons reaching the mountaintop. It must seem like a surreal experience for the Konieczny family looking back on it now. Lake Mills. The L-Cats have their sights set on making a strong run for the WIAA Division 3 state championship. Coach Steve Hicklin has four returning starters from a club that went 23-4, including a potential all-state performer in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'] (6-3), who has committed to NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato. Bender averaged 22.0 points and 4.7 rebounds as a junior and is a team leader for an athletic core of players that includes [player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2621035' first='Ty' last='Schaefer'] (5-11), Tanner Wollin (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2253829' first='Ryan' last='Horkan'] (6-2). The state title for Division 3 runs through Milwaukee Academy of Science, but Lake Mills is one of the D3 teams in Wisconsin who could make things interesting come March. Mitchell, Xzavion. Mitchell will join Batemon as a freshman at Iowa State next fall. That recruiting coup by Milwaukee St. Thomas More graduate and current Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger is huge as the Cyclones continue to rank among the elite in the Big 12 Conference. Mitchell is perhaps the most consistent and most productive player in the state. He's always putting up solid scoring and rebounding numbers while helping Oshkosh North win basketball games. The 6-foot-7 forward is a four-year varsity performer who is a serious contender for the Mr. Basketball award. His ability to score inside and outside and with the game on the line is extremely impressive. Equally impressive is his leadership and toughness on defense. He is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state's 2025 class by Prep Hoops Wisconsin. Net Snappers. Wisconsin has more than its share of net-snapping jump shooters with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'] of Mount Horeb, [player_tooltip player_id='1351717' first='Zach' last='Kinziger'] of De Pere, [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'] of Oshkosh North, [player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'] of Milwaukee Academy of Science, [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'] of Southern Door, [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'] of Eau Claire Memorial and [player_tooltip player_id='1240337' first='Jake' last='Hansen'] of Wauwatosa West ranking among the premier shooters in the state from behind both lines. There's a lot to like about watching a good basketball game, but observing shooters like those mentioned above hit their stride ranks among the most enjoyable. Oelke, Arnie. The Fall River coach is in his 39th season as the head coach of the Pirates. That is the longest current stint at a single school in the state. Oelke entered the campaign needing just 12 victories to reach 500 for his storied career at the Trailways West Conference school. He has accomplished plenty during his coaching career, but the thing that stands out the most about Oelke is the class he exudes on the bench and with his players. A true asset to the coaching profession. Penetrate and Kick. Greg Gard, University of Wisconsin coach, said it best recently when he said the game has changed. The emphasis these days is on putting up points. Long-distance shooting, aggressive drives to the basket and more fouls called on defenders have made it more difficult to stop opponents. Defense still wins games, of course, but there can be no denying the fact offense sells. At the high school level, it seems more and more teams are running offenses that feature layups or three-point shots. Penetrate all the way to the hoop and finish or kick the ball out to an open shooter when defenders collapse into the lane. The mid-range jump shot has gone the way of the Dodo bird, which is to say it is almost extinct. [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg']. Bonduel lost just two games last season, winning 26 times under coach Duke Copp. Three starters are back for the Bears in 2024-25, but it's sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'] (6-3) who has made the big early impact for the defending Central Wisconsin East Conference champions. After averaging 6.5 ppg as a freshman in a reserve role, Wesenberg has moved into the starting rotation as a sophomore and is averaging a team-best 21.0 points while leading the Bears to wins over Saint Mary Catholic, Iola-Scandinavia and Kewaunee. Wesenberg's ability to score near the hoop and from outside the arc make him one of the more versatile players in the league. Rise, Anthony. The son of former Wauwatosa East guard Scott Rise, [player_tooltip player_id='1272671' first='Anthony' last='Rise'] has made a name for himself on the basketball court the past several seasons. The 6-foot-0 senior point guard for coach Dan Wandrey at Brookfield Central has developed into a good team leader, a good perimeter shooter and an outstanding competitor during his high school days. He is the top returning player for the Lancers, who hope to contend for the title in the Greater Metro Conference. The Hawaii-Hilo recruit follows in the footsteps of his father, a very good player in his own right. Scott Rise had 24 points to help Wauwatosa East defeated Menomonie in a quarterfinal game of the 1986 WIAA State Tournament, and then tossed in a couple of buckets in the Red Raiders' two-point loss to Sheboygan North in the semifinals. Southwestern. The Wildcats hope to get back to the WIAA State Tournament for the second time in school history. The last time Southwestern played at state, coach Jim Nedelcoff's squad lost to Greenwood 41-40 in an overtime thriller in the Class C state-title game. Southwestern's state-tourney drought could very well come to an end this winter as coach Clinton Nemitz has a loaded roster with five starters and two top reserves back from a squad that finished 17-10. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2637634' first='Everett' last='Droessler'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2637641' first='Jack' last='Runde'] (6-0), Bryce Pearce (6-3) and Austin Furlong (6-0) aong with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2637631' first='Aiden' last='Kelleher'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2917231' first='Cayden' last='DeMuth'] (6-2), and sophomore Carson Splinter (5-10) form a solid core. Southwestern might not beat the top teams in the Southwest Wisconsin Athletics League, but playing teams like Darlington and Mineral Point twice will get the Wildcats prepared for the Division 5 playoffs. Technical Foul. The National Federation of High Schools adopted a new "flop" rule for the 2024-25 season that includes a warning for what an official determines to be a "flop." A second "flop" results in a technical foul. The idea behind the rule change, which the WIAA has implemented, is to take "flopping" out of the game. Of course, officials now must ascertain whether a player is "flopping" or actually in position to take a charge. The charge/block call has always been one of the toughest to make for a referee. Now officials have the determine if a defensive player is one of three things ... a) "flopping;" b) taking a charge; or c) not in position for a charge and is called for a block. Uppena, Carter. The son of Royall coach Scott Uppena, [player_tooltip player_id='2426884' first='Carter' last='Uppena'] is a 6-foot-2 wing player who excels at all of the little things. Need a rebound, call on Carter. Need a big basket, Carter's your guy. Need a defensive stop, put Carter on the opponent's best player. Uppena has the size, mobility and athleticism to guard on the perimeter while also making things difficult for taller players in the post. He is coming off a strong junior season where he averaged 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while helping Royall to a 25-3 record and a spot in the WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinals. He is one of four returning starters for the Panthers, who have improved their depth with members of last year's undefeated JV squad now on varsity. Look for Uppena and Royall to make another strong push for a spot in the WIAA State Tournament in March. Van Kauwenberg, Keegan. A returning first-team all-league selection in the Fox Valley Association, Van Kauwenberg took his game to a new level over the spring and summer while competing with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076029' first='Wisconsin' last='Crusaders'] club program. Showing the ability to play either guard spot while making shots from all over the court, Van Kauwenberg's strong play on the summer circuit landed him a scholarship offer from nearby UW-Green Bay. He accepted the offer and signed with the Phoenix in November. Now he has his eyes set on leading Kaukauna to the FVA championship and perhaps a berth in the WIAA State Tournament. At 6-foot-3, he has the size to shoot over most backcourt players and he owns a deadly shot from outside the three-point arc. Van Kauwenberg averaged 18.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg as a junior while helping Kaukauna to a 19-8 record.The Bloomer High School coach is 21 wins shy of 300 for a coaching career that also included stints as the head coach at Regis and Eau Claire Memorial. A solid tactician and a stellar game-preparation coach, Van Grunsven guided Bloomer to a 15-9 record last season and has four starters back, led by prolific-scoring wing Domanyck Schwarzenberger. Competing in the very competitive Western Division of the Cloverbelt Conference might make it difficult to reach 300 victories this winter, but the Blackhawks boast enough experience and talent to make a strong run at a very successful campaign. WISAA. Believe it or not, this is the 25th basketball season since former Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association (WISAA) members were absorbed into the WIAA once WISAA closed its doors on June 30, 2000. During the previous 24 seasons, private schools have won at least one boys' state basketball championship every season. Overall, 41 of the 105 state-titles in boys' basketball -- 39 percent -- have been won by private schools since the merger. Private schools nearly swept all five divisions last March with Marquette winning in Division 1, Wisconsin Lutheran in Division 2, Saint Thomas More in Division 3 and Columbus Catholic in Division 5. It took a last-second shot by Mineral Point's [player_tooltip player_id='1874969' first='Drew' last='Aschliman'] to prevent a sweep as his rebound basket with just a couple of seconds left gave the Pointers a 65-64 win over Kenosha St. Joseph in the Division 4 title contest. Whether the showing by non-public schools last March was an anomaly or not remains to be seen. [player_tooltip player_id='2496353' first='Xavier' last='Edwards']. A strong all-around athlete at D.C. Everest, Edwards is a do-everything type of player on the basketball court. He can score, rebound, defend and pass, and his athleticism on the perimeter is a big trump card for Evergreens coach Oliver Drake. The 6-foot-2 junior averaged 11.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists through the first four games of the 2024-25 season for a young, but talented D.C. Everest squad. Edwards also excels in football as he earned first-team all-Wisconsin Valley Conference honors as a receiver. Additionally, Edwards qualified for the WIAA State Track & Field Meet as a sophomore in the triple jump. [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'] The son of former Milwaukee Vincent standout Yusef Gray Sr., Yousef Gray Jr. is a skilled, athletic wing prospect with good size at 6-foot-4 and the ability to put points on the scoreboard in a hurry. The second-ranked prospect in the state's 2026 class by Prep Hoops Wisconsin, Gray currently holds NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Bryant, Creighton, De Paul, Grambling and Iowa State. Gray's versatility on defense is a big plus for coach David Mlachnik at West Allis Central as he can put Gray on talented perimeter players or even on bigger players in the post. Zwettler, Chris. The former Madison Edgewood coach will reach 1,000 games as a head coach in January when St. Ambrose Academy hosts Evansville. Zwettler spent a few seasons at Stockton, Ill., as a head coach, then was an assistant at UW-Platteville before spending 33 years as the mentor at Edgewood. He now is in his second season as St. Ambrose. Entering the season, Zwettler owned a 562-425 lifetime record.

Allen, Amari. The Alabama recruit played at Kaukauna as a freshman and then played the past two seasons at IMG Academy. He opted to return home for his senior year and now is playing for Ashwaubenon. A 6-foot-7 guard who can facilitate the offense, score from any spot on the court and dominate the glass, Allen is a multi-talented prospect with excellent size, length, athleticism and skill. Through the first three games of the season, all Ashwaubenon victories, Allen was averaging robust numbers of 26.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

Batemon, Jamarion. An impact player on nearly every possession of any given contest. That pretty much sums up the stamp Batemon puts on a game for the exceptionally talented squad at Milwaukee Academy of Science. A 6-foot-4 wing guard who signed with Iowa State, Batemon is a four-year varsity player at MAS. He can score, defend, rebound, push the ball in transition, and get on the floor for loose balls. He simply does whatever it takes for his squad to get the W. He also can get on fire from long distance and is a legitimate Mr. Basketball award candidate.

Clock, Shot. Last summer, the WIAA once again tabled the possiblity of adding a shot clock to the high school game in Wisconsin. It's still a possibility, but the can was kicked down the road for a few more seasons by WIAA administrators and board members who want more documentation on how adding a shot clock would improve the game. It's pretty simple, really. Adding a shot clock would improve the flow of the game, prevent teams from rattling off minutes at a time of running offense looking for the “perfect” shot, and be in line with the game at the collegiate and pro levels. Neighboring states Illinois and Minnesota already have a shot clock at the high school level while Wisconsin continues to lag behind.

Daoust, Drew. The Southern Door senior might not be a household name, but the 6-foot-2 UW-Stevens Point recruit can put up points with the best of them. Prior to the start of this season, Daoust had 2,225 points during his first three seasons of prep basketball. He opened his senior season with 33 points in a win over Peshtigo and then followed up with 28 against Luxemburg-Casco and 29 versus Sevastopol. His 2,315 points ranks 16th on Wisconsin's all-time scoring list. Daoust may not reach Anthony Pieper's record of 3,391 set in the early 1990s at Wausaukee, but he definitely is headed for the top five, providing he remains healthy.

Eau Claire Memorial. One of the state's most storied programs hasn't been a big factor on the biggest stage -- the WIAA State Tournament -- for a long time now. The Old Abes are hoping to change that in 2024-25 behind a very talented senior class. During the 1950s, Eau Claire made five trips to state, Memorial then went to Madison for a remarkable eight times in the 1960s. It fell to six times in the 1970s and then just twice in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the calendar turned to the new century, the Old Abes have made just one state tournament appearance -- in 2002-03. Coach Chad Brieske's club returns four starters from an 18-win team this season so there is optimism the Old Abes can advance to the Kohl Center come March.

Freedom. Jim Bartels. Cory VandeWettering. Dion Haase. The season was 1989-90 and that trio led Freedom to its first and, to date, only WIAA state basketball championship. Bartels, who went on to star at Iowa, led the way for the Irish in their 75-72 Class B title-game win over previously unbeaten Monona Grove, scoring 31 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Coach Dan Valentyn's club finished 27-0. Fast forward to 2024-25 and Freedom has the type of team that could make state-wide noise once again. And, once again, the Irish are led by a difference maker in uber talented 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Donovan Davis Donovan Davis 6'8" | PF Freedom | 2027 State #26 Nation WI , one of the state's elite class of 2027 prospects. Irsh eyes could be smiling again behind Davis and Co. in mid March.

Gores, Gavin. The best player in the history of Cumberland basketball? John Schell might come to mind as he led Cumberland to the state semifinals of the one-class WIAA State Tournament in 1965 and later played at Wisconsin. Schell might need to step aside after many years of being the top dog as Gores has put a mighty imprint on the Beavers' record books. The 6-foot-10 Wyoming recruit averaged 28.6 points and 13.1 rebounds as a junior and is poised for another big season this time around. Gores' ability to score, rebound, block shots, play inside or outside, and simply dominant a game are all impressive.

Hamilton, Lamont. Possessing elite-level quickness, Hamilton has become a dominant force not only on the basketball court but also the football field. The 6-foot-0 junior at Racine St. Catherine's scored four touchdowns to help the Angels win the WIAA Division 4 state football title 26-22 over Baldwin-Woodville in mid November, and a few days later he was on the basketball court, scoring 39 points in the Angels' season-opening win over Burlington. Hamilton owns basketball scholarship offers from Detroit Mercy and Western Illinois, and could garner some football offers in the near future as well.

Inbounds pass. The inbounds pass seems like an ordinary part of any ordinary game. But it has become a weapon for some schools, particularly when inbounding the ball under the opponents' basket. In an early season showing pitting Kaukauna at Oshkosh North, the Ghosts trailed by one point with just a couple of ticks left on the clock. But Kaukauna executed a perfect lob inbounds pass to 6-foot-9 junior Andrew Jensen Andrew Jensen 6'9" | PF Kaukauna | 2026 State WI , who took the pass and calmly banked in a shot as the horn sounded, giving the Ghosts a thrilling victory. Others, like Oregon, can lob the ball into the air under the basket and have one of their high flyers, in the case of Oregon, junior wing Vaughn Karvala Vaughn Karvala 6'7" | SF Bella Vista Prep EYBL | 2026 State #81 Nation AZ , grab the ball at its apex and then follow through with a crowd-pleasing dunk.

Jensen, Andrew. Kaukauna's 6-foot-9 junior post player is the very definition of a big man on the basketball court these days. Unlike years gone past when bigs played pretty much from block to block in the post, Jensen can affect a game from multiple spots on the floor. He can face up and make mid-range jump shots, pass into the post from the high post and set ball screens on the perimeter. He can also attack the hoop off the bounce from outside the lane. A very good rebounder with good instincts for finding angles to get caroms, Jensen owns several NCAA Division I scholarship offers, including Marquette and Toledo, among others. He is a three-year varsity performer for coach Mike Schalow at Kaukauna, and opened the season with a 24-point, 11-rebound effort in an 81-80 win over Oshkosh North, a game in which he hit the game winning basket with just a couple of seconds left.

Konieczny, Joe. A select few in the profession of being a high school basketball coach get to experience the thrill of winning a state championship. Even fewer get to do so at their alma mater. And the list of those who achieve winning a state crown with two sons playing key roles is miniscule. Joe Konieczny had the good fortune of checking all of those boxes last March when his Columbus Catholic Dons defeated Abundant Life Christian in the WIAA Division 5 state-championship game. Konieczny, a 1996 graduate of Columbus Catholic, watched while his oldest son, Emmitt, scored 31 points in the title game. His second son, Mac, contributed nine points off the bench. The list of unlikely accomplishments is even longer as Konieczny won his 400th career game when the Dons beat Solon Springs in the state semifinals. And finally, all of this was accomplished after his son, Emmitt, and his wife, Jen, were involved in a very serious car accident just a few months prior to the Dons reaching the mountaintop. It must seem like a surreal experience for the Konieczny family looking back on it now.

Lake Mills. The L-Cats have their sights set on making a strong run for the WIAA Division 3 state championship. Coach Steve Hicklin has four returning starters from a club that went 23-4, including a potential all-state performer in senior wing AJ Bender AJ Bender 6'3" | CG Lake Mills | 2025 State WI (6-3), who has committed to NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato. Bender averaged 22.0 points and 4.7 rebounds as a junior and is a team leader for an athletic core of players that includes Brady Benish Brady Benish 6'0" | SG Lake Mills | 2026 State WI (6-0), Ty Schaefer Ty Schaefer 5'11" | CG Lake Mills | 2026 WI (5-11), Tanner Wollin (6-4) and Ryan Horkan Ryan Horkan 6'1" | PG Lake Mills | 2025 WI (6-2). The state title for Division 3 runs through Milwaukee Academy of Science, but Lake Mills is one of the D3 teams in Wisconsin who could make things interesting come March.

Mitchell, Xzavion. Mitchell will join Batemon as a freshman at Iowa State next fall. That recruiting coup by Milwaukee St. Thomas More graduate and current Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger is huge as the Cyclones continue to rank among the elite in the Big 12 Conference. Mitchell is perhaps the most consistent and most productive player in the state. He's always putting up solid scoring and rebounding numbers while helping Oshkosh North win basketball games. The 6-foot-7 forward is a four-year varsity performer who is a serious contender for the Mr. Basketball award. His ability to score inside and outside and with the game on the line is extremely impressive. Equally impressive is his leadership and toughness on defense. He is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state's 2025 class by Prep Hoops Wisconsin.

Net Snappers. Wisconsin has more than its share of net-snapping jump shooters with guys like Josh Manchester Josh Manchester 6'4" | SG Mount Horeb | 2026 State WI of Mount Horeb, Zach Kinziger Zach Kinziger 6'3" | CG De Pere | 2025 State #127 Nation WI of De Pere, Xzavion Mitchell Xzavion Mitchell 6'7" | SF Oshkosh North | 2025 State #119 Nation WI of Oshkosh North, Jamarion Batemon Jamarion Batemon 6'3" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2025 State #174 Nation WI of Milwaukee Academy of Science, Drew Daoust Drew Daoust 6'1" | CG Southern Door | 2025 State WI of Southern Door, Cooper Jesperson Cooper Jesperson 6'4" | SG Eau Claire Memorial | 2025 State WI of Eau Claire Memorial and Jake Hansen Jake Hansen 6'1" | SG Wauwatosa West | 2025 State #331 Nation WI of Wauwatosa West ranking among the premier shooters in the state from behind both lines. There's a lot to like about watching a good basketball game, but observing shooters like those mentioned above hit their stride ranks among the most enjoyable.

Oelke, Arnie. The Fall River coach is in his 39th season as the head coach of the Pirates. That is the longest current stint at a single school in the state. Oelke entered the campaign needing just 12 victories to reach 500 for his storied career at the Trailways West Conference school. He has accomplished plenty during his coaching career, but the thing that stands out the most about Oelke is the class he exudes on the bench and with his players. A true asset to the coaching profession.

Penetrate and Kick. Greg Gard, University of Wisconsin coach, said it best recently when he said the game has changed. The emphasis these days is on putting up points. Long-distance shooting, aggressive drives to the basket and more fouls called on defenders have made it more difficult to stop opponents. Defense still wins games, of course, but there can be no denying the fact offense sells. At the high school level, it seems more and more teams are running offenses that feature layups or three-point shots. Penetrate all the way to the hoop and finish or kick the ball out to an open shooter when defenders collapse into the lane. The mid-range jump shot has gone the way of the Dodo bird, which is to say it is almost extinct.

Quinn Wesenberg Quinn Wesenberg 6'3" | CG Bonduel | 2027 State WI . Bonduel lost just two games last season, winning 26 times under coach Duke Copp. Three starters are back for the Bears in 2024-25, but it's sophomore Quinn Wesenberg Quinn Wesenberg 6'3" | CG Bonduel | 2027 State WI (6-3) who has made the big early impact for the defending Central Wisconsin East Conference champions. After averaging 6.5 ppg as a freshman in a reserve role, Wesenberg has moved into the starting rotation as a sophomore and is averaging a team-best 21.0 points while leading the Bears to wins over Saint Mary Catholic, Iola-Scandinavia and Kewaunee. Wesenberg's ability to score near the hoop and from outside the arc make him one of the more versatile players in the league.

Rise, Anthony. The son of former Wauwatosa East guard Scott Rise, Anthony Rise Anthony Rise 6'0" | CG Brookfield Central | 2025 State WI has made a name for himself on the basketball court the past several seasons. The 6-foot-0 senior point guard for coach Dan Wandrey at Brookfield Central has developed into a good team leader, a good perimeter shooter and an outstanding competitor during his high school days. He is the top returning player for the Lancers, who hope to contend for the title in the Greater Metro Conference. The Hawaii-Hilo recruit follows in the footsteps of his father, a very good player in his own right. Scott Rise had 24 points to help Wauwatosa East defeated Menomonie in a quarterfinal game of the 1986 WIAA State Tournament, and then tossed in a couple of buckets in the Red Raiders' two-point loss to Sheboygan North in the semifinals.

Southwestern. The Wildcats hope to get back to the WIAA State Tournament for the second time in school history. The last time Southwestern played at state, coach Jim Nedelcoff's squad lost to Greenwood 41-40 in an overtime thriller in the Class C state-title game. Southwestern's state-tourney drought could very well come to an end this winter as coach Clinton Nemitz has a loaded roster with five starters and two top reserves back from a squad that finished 17-10. Seniors Everett Droessler Everett Droessler 6'0" | CG Southwestern | 2025 WI (6-0), Jack Runde Jack Runde 6'0" | CG Southwestern | 2025 WI (6-0), Bryce Pearce (6-3) and Austin Furlong (6-0) aong with juniors Aiden Kelleher (6-0) and Cayden DeMuth Cayden DeMuth 6'2" | PF Southwestern | 2026 WI (6-2), and sophomore Carson Splinter (5-10) form a solid core. Southwestern might not beat the top teams in the Southwest Wisconsin Athletics League, but playing teams like Darlington and Mineral Point twice will get the Wildcats prepared for the Division 5 playoffs.

Technical Foul. The National Federation of High Schools adopted a new "flop" rule for the 2024-25 season that includes a warning for what an official determines to be a "flop." A second "flop" results in a technical foul. The idea behind the rule change, which the WIAA has implemented, is to take "flopping" out of the game. Of course, officials now must ascertain whether a player is "flopping" or actually in position to take a charge. The charge/block call has always been one of the toughest to make for a referee. Now officials have the determine if a defensive player is one of three things ... a) "flopping;" b) taking a charge; or c) not in position for a charge and is called for a block.

Uppena, Carter. The son of Royall coach Scott Uppena, Carter Uppena Carter Uppena 6'2" | SG Royall | 2025 State WI is a 6-foot-2 wing player who excels at all of the little things. Need a rebound, call on Carter. Need a big basket, Carter's your guy. Need a defensive stop, put Carter on the opponent's best player. Uppena has the size, mobility and athleticism to guard on the perimeter while also making things difficult for taller players in the post. He is coming off a strong junior season where he averaged 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while helping Royall to a 25-3 record and a spot in the WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinals. He is one of four returning starters for the Panthers, who have improved their depth with members of last year's undefeated JV squad now on varsity. Look for Uppena and Royall to make another strong push for a spot in the WIAA State Tournament in March.

Van Kauwenberg, Keegan. A returning first-team all-league selection in the Fox Valley Association, Van Kauwenberg took his game to a new level over the spring and summer while competing with the Wisconsin Crusaders club program. Showing the ability to play either guard spot while making shots from all over the court, Van Kauwenberg's strong play on the summer circuit landed him a scholarship offer from nearby UW-Green Bay. He accepted the offer and signed with the Phoenix in November. Now he has his eyes set on leading Kaukauna to the FVA championship and perhaps a berth in the WIAA State Tournament. At 6-foot-3, he has the size to shoot over most backcourt players and he owns a deadly shot from outside the three-point arc. Van Kauwenberg averaged 18.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg as a junior while helping Kaukauna to a 19-8 record.The Bloomer High School coach is 21 wins shy of 300 for a coaching career that also included stints as the head coach at Regis and Eau Claire Memorial. A solid tactician and a stellar game-preparation coach, Van Grunsven guided Bloomer to a 15-9 record last season and has four starters back, led by prolific-scoring wing Domanyck Schwarzenberger. Competing in the very competitive Western Division of the Cloverbelt Conference might make it difficult to reach 300 victories this winter, but the Blackhawks boast enough experience and talent to make a strong run at a very successful campaign.

WISAA. Believe it or not, this is the 25th basketball season since former Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association (WISAA) members were absorbed into the WIAA once WISAA closed its doors on June 30, 2000. During the previous 24 seasons, private schools have won at least one boys' state basketball championship every season. Overall, 41 of the 105 state-titles in boys' basketball -- 39 percent -- have been won by private schools since the merger. Private schools nearly swept all five divisions last March with Marquette winning in Division 1, Wisconsin Lutheran in Division 2, Saint Thomas More in Division 3 and Columbus Catholic in Division 5. It took a last-second shot by Mineral Point's Drew Aschliman Drew Aschliman 6'3" | SG Mineral Point | 2026 State WI to prevent a sweep as his rebound basket with just a couple of seconds left gave the Pointers a 65-64 win over Kenosha St. Joseph in the Division 4 title contest. Whether the showing by non-public schools last March was an anomaly or not remains to be seen.

Xavier Edwards Xavier Edwards 6'1" | CG D.C. Everest | 2026 State WI . A strong all-around athlete at D.C. Everest, Edwards is a do-everything type of player on the basketball court. He can score, rebound, defend and pass, and his athleticism on the perimeter is a big trump card for Evergreens coach Oliver Drake. The 6-foot-2 junior averaged 11.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists through the first four games of the 2024-25 season for a young, but talented D.C. Everest squad. Edwards also excels in football as he earned first-team all-Wisconsin Valley Conference honors as a receiver. Additionally, Edwards qualified for the WIAA State Track & Field Meet as a sophomore in the triple jump.

Yusef Gray Jr. Yusef Gray Jr. 6'4" | SG West Allis Central | 2026 State WI The son of former Milwaukee Vincent standout Yusef Gray Sr., Yousef Gray Jr. is a skilled, athletic wing prospect with good size at 6-foot-4 and the ability to put points on the scoreboard in a hurry. The second-ranked prospect in the state's 2026 class by Prep Hoops Wisconsin, Gray currently holds NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Bryant, Creighton, De Paul, Grambling and Iowa State. Gray's versatility on defense is a big plus for coach David Mlachnik at West Allis Central as he can put Gray on talented perimeter players or even on bigger players in the post.

Zwettler, Chris. The former Madison Edgewood coach will reach 1,000 games as a head coach in January when St. Ambrose Academy hosts Evansville. Zwettler spent a few seasons at Stockton, Ill., as a head coach, then was an assistant at UW-Platteville before spending 33 years as the mentor at Edgewood. He now is in his second season as St. Ambrose. Entering the season, Zwettler owned a 562-425 lifetime record.