Capitol South Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F<strong>inal 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Cambridge 10-0 (23-4); 2. Marshall 8-2 (21-7); 3. New Glarus 6-4 (12-13); 4. Belleville 4-6 (10-16); 5. Wisconsin Heights 2-8 (8-17); 6. Waterloo 0-10 (2-23).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/marshall-2/">Marshall </a></strong>-- Three key performers from a 21-7 outfit graduated last spring, but don't shed too many tears for Marshall as the Cardinals boast the deepest team in the Capitol South and return perhaps its best player in talented junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'] (6-2, 17.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), a returning first-team all-league pick. Miggins and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2407473' first='Brady' last='Kleinheinz'] (6-3, 9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) started a year ago during TJ Zweifel's first year as head coach at the school. While Miggins and Kleinheinz will lead the way for Marshall, the Cardinals also figure to get major contributions from senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020944' first='Drew' last='Chadwick'] (6-2), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020947' first='Logan' last='Ney'] (6-0) and sophomore Reid Christenson (5-10). Marshall will have a quick team that will try to play in the full court while attacking the rim. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/cambridge-2/">Cambridge</a></strong> -- Alex Ranney had a very successful coaching debut at Cambridge last winter, leading the Bluejays to the league title and a 23-4 record. Two starters and a handful of key backups return for Cambridge, making the Bluejays once again a formidable team in the league. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2758142' first='Jett' last='Horton'] (6-0, 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) is a returning first-team all-league performer who does a bit of everything on the court. He can score, rebound, distribute, defend and provide leadership for Cambridge. Joining Horton as a returning starter is senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2404952' first='Cal' last='Nottestad'] (6-4, 8.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Other key returnees include junior J'Kari Crawford (5-11, 3.8 ppg) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'] (6-2, 5.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2933465' first='Ian' last='Nelles'] (6-0, 2.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933467' first='Evan' last='Harbort'] (6-2, 1.9 ppg).<br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/new-glarus/"><strong>New Glarus</strong> </a>-- Now in his 24th year as the head coach at New Glarus, Travis Sysko is one of the more respected coaches in the state. He owns a 314-233 record at New Glarus, which includes winning the WIAA Division 4 state title in 2019. Sysko will work with three starters back from a 12-13 squad in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021378' first='Matt' last='Roth'] (6-0, 8.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'] (5-8, 13.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021384' first='Brent' last='Weeden'] (6-2, 4.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Also returning for the Glarner Knights are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021379' first='Grady' last='Johnson'] (5-8, 2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021385' first='Tucker' last='Sysko'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021381' first='Quinn' last='Marty'] (6-2, 2.0 ppg). <br><br><strong>4. Belleville </strong>-- The cupboard isn't entirely bare at New Glarus, but it's not exactly fully stocked, either. Coach Drew Shrader starts his second season with one of the best players in the Capitol South on his roster in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2499896' first='Jackson' last='Scholey'] (5-8, 15.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Scholey, one of the better defenders in the league due to his quickness and aggressiveness, is the lone returning starter for the Wildcats. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019015' first='Isaac' last='Patrow'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019016' first='Hazeon' last='Edmond'] (6-2) saw limited action off the bench for last year's 10-16 squad, but the rest of the lineup figures to be made up of underclassmen from last year's JV1 team that went 2-20.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/waterloo-4/">Waterloo </a></strong>-- First-year coach Kristofer Chwala is hoping to turn around a Waterloo program that has finished no higher than fifth place in the six-team Capitol South every year since ending in fourth place in 2014-15. That's a strong of 10 straight seasons, which includes a winless 0-10 mark a year ago. The Pirates, though, played a young squad last season and figure to be much improved. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022725' first='Ryder' last='Jaehnke'] (6-0) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022720' first='Trey' last='Collins'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3022732' first='Tucker' last='Sale'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022721' first='Shea' last='Sellnow'] (6-3) are key returning players for Waterloo. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wisconsin-heights/">Wisconsin Heights</a> -</strong>- The Vanguards have a total of three league wins over the past three seasons. Overcoming that backdrop will not be easy for interim coach Zach Watkins. Add the fact that all five regulars from an 8-17 graduated last spring, and it become even more of a challenge. The top returning player for Wisconsin Heights is senior gaurd [player_tooltip player_id='3022999' first='Zach' last='Sander'] (6-1, 3.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg), the team's sixth man a year ago. Lack of size and experience are also hurdles the Vanguards must somehow overcome. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'] (Marshall) 17.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499896' first='Jackson' last='Scholey'] (Belleville) 15.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'] (New Glarus) 13.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2407473' first='Brady' last='Kleinheinz'] (Marshall) 9.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2758142' first='Jett' last='Horton'] (Cambridge) 9.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2404952' first='Cal' last='Nottestad'] (Cambridge) 8.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021378' first='Matt' last='Roth'] (New Glarus) 8.5 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], 6-2, Jr., Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2758142' first='Jett' last='Horton'], 6-0, Sr., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499896' first='Jackson' last='Scholey'], 5-8, Sr., Belleville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2407473' first='Brady' last='Kleinheinz'], 6-3, Sr., Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2404952' first='Cal' last='Nottestad'], 6-4, Sr., Cambridge<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'], 5-8, Jr., New Glarus<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'], 6-2, Soph., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020944' first='Drew' last='Chadwick'], 6-2, Sr., Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021384' first='Brent' last='Weeden'], 6-2, Jr., New Glarus<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022999' first='Zach' last='Sander'], 6-1, Sr., Wisconsin Heights<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2758142' first='Jett' last='Horton'], Cambridge<br><strong>Top Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2499896' first='Jackson' last='Scholey'], Belleville<br><strong>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3021384' first='Brent' last='Weeden'], New Glarus<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], Marshall<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'], Cambridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->