Classic Eight Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Kettle Moraine 16-0 (26-1); 2. Arrowhead 12-4 (15-11); 3. Catholic Memorial 10-6 (16-10); 3. Mukwonago 10-6 (13-12); 5. Waukesha South 7-9 (8-17); 6. Waukesha West 6-10 (13-13); 7. Oconomowoc 5-11 (7-18); 8. Muskego 3-13 (8-17); 8. Waukesha North 3-13 (9-17).<br><br><em>Note: Waukesha North and Waukesha South move to the Woodland West while Oak Creek moves from the Southeast to the Classic Eight for 2025-26. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/arrowhead/"><strong>Arrowhead</strong> </a>--The perennially strong Warhawks figure to have yet another quality team under coach Craig Haase, who starts his 26th season as the head coach at Arrowhead with a 448-174 record. Three double-figure scorers are back from a 15-11 squad and all of them are juniors who figure to play at the next level. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'] (6-2, 15.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2351196' first='Blake' last='Basich'] (5-11, 11.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) comprise a talented, versatile and highly competitive backcourt while forward [player_tooltip player_id='2412856' first='Theo' last='Toepel'] (6-4, 10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) plays bigger than his height and always seems to find an opening to the basket. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018917' first='Domanic' last='Rasberry'] (6-8, 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018909' first='Brady' last='Thimmesch'] (6-0, 2.4 ppg) figure to be in the mix as does junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2412841' first='Rylan' last='Schulz'] (5-9, 1.5 ppg). <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/catholic-memorial/">Catholic Memorial </a></strong>-- Shooting, particularly from long range, is a definite strength for the Crusaders. So is balance and athleticism. Coach Kyle Johnsen will rely heavily on junior [player_tooltip player_id='2505474' first='Dusty' last='Roach'] (6-3, 11.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg), a very good all-around athlete who can score, defend and rebound. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2496343' first='Jake' last='Pfister'] (6-1, 11.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140928' first='Jackson' last='Albee'] (6-0, 13.0 ppg) are stellar shooters from the perimeter. A very strong junior class also features [player_tooltip player_id='2414753' first='Rigg' last='Waterman'] (6-4), Matt Goedheer (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731450' first='Will' last='Kinateder'] (6-0). Look for freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3019362' first='Karti' last='Calvert'] (6-5) to log some major minutes in the post for the Crusaders. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/waukesha-west/">Waukesha West </a></strong>-- The outlook at Waukesha West is extremely hopeful as four starters, four backups and newcomers from a 20-2 JV1 squad form a rock-solid nucleus for coach Don LaValle. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561956' first='Tyler' last='Evenson'] (6-3, 19.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2381817' first='Mason' last='LaValle'] (6-5, 8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022759' first='Austin' last='Lambert'] (6-4, 5.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg) figure to provide leadership for the Wolverines along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2834764' first='Ben' last='Arnold'] (6-4, 8.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg). All four of the previously mentioned players are returning starters off last year's 13-13 team. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022756' first='Liam' last='Bonell'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2381811' first='Gage' last='Dembowski'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381821' first='Prince' last='Kuumba'] (6-1) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022758' first='Tyler' last='Cattarozzle'] (5-11) also return. A very strong sophomore class figures to provide strong depth for Waukesha West. <br><br><strong>4.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/kettle-moraine/"> Kettle Moraine</a> </strong>-- The majority of firepower from last year's memorable 26-1 squad has graduated, leaving lots of holes in the Lasers' lineup. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2823199' first='Bryce' last='Bestor'] (6-1, 3.5 ppg) is the lone returning starter for coach Brian Richert, who must replace 58 ppg lost off last year's team. But Kettle Moraine has a very strong program and many players who have waited their turn to shine. Look for seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2962556' first='Nick' last='Garvey'] (5-10, 2.1 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2499897' first='Charlie' last='Dunham'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='2962557' first='Joey' last='LoDuca'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2962561' first='Liam' last='Hughes'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='3020514' first='Sebby' last='Bodden'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='3020513' first='Lew' last='Stuckey'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020510' first='Caden' last='Jurci'] (6-1) to contend for playing time along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2962560' first='Sam' last='Wagner'] (6-6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2872765' first='Braylon' last='Bodden'] (6-5).<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/oak-creek/">Oak Creek </a></strong>-- The Knights are the league newcomer so familiarity with opponents and their playing style might take a bit of time for coach Eric Hollow and his staff. But Oak Creek has some interesting pieces to work and a roster that includes athleticism, experience, skill and depth. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2636875' first='Noah' last='Daniel'] (6-0, 7 ppg, 4 rpg) can play either guard spot and brings toughness and physical strength to the backcourt. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140987' first='Tyson' last='Busch'] (6-0, 11 ppg, 2 rpg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561955' first='Joey' last='Carini'] (6-0, 3 ppg) are both very good shooters while sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2504214' first='Ja'Quan' last='Turner'] (6-4, 9 ppg, 4 rpg) is one of the state's better prospects in the 2028 class due to his length, bounce and skill. Others who figures to be in the rotation include juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021532' first='Lincoln' last='Hanson'] (6-3, 3 ppg, 3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2140882' first='Ben' last='Wucherer'] (6-4, 2 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2194421' first='Jaden' last='Boyd'] (5-10). <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/mukwonago/">Mukwonago</a> </strong>-- Former Badger coach John Witte takes over the coaching duties at Mukwonago and will build his first team around the considerable talents of athletic junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2508313' first='Evan' last='Ploeckelman'] (6-6, 13.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg). An honorable mention all-league choice as a sophomore, Ploeckelman has the ability to become a dominant force in the Classic Eight as he is athletic, skilled and versatile. Finding players to fill in around Ploeckelman will be the first task at hand for Witte as the other four starters from a year ago graduated. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2499899' first='Luka' last='Tess'] (6-3, 4.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933341' first='Carson' last='Greuel'] (6-2, 3.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) were key reserves who figures to challenge for starting spots along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021311' first='Oliver' last='Maus'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3021310' first='Jason' last='Reifschneider'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933343' first='Colten' last='Jansen'] (6-2). <br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/oconomowoc/">Oconomowoc </a></strong>-- Replacing the top three scorers from last year's squad that finished 7-18 is a big priority for coach Jay Benish. Scoring enough in a league with plenty of offensive punch could be an issue for Oconomowoc. But playing hard-nosed, competitive basketball is almost always a strength for Benish teams and that should continue this time around. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2420612' first='Noah' last='Gricius'] (6-3, 2.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg) is the only starter back, although junior [player_tooltip player_id='2913375' first='Mason' last='Medina'] (5-11, 7.0 ppg) and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2423659' first='Josh' last='Platter'] (6-6, 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021568' first='Tommy' last='Hartzell'] (5-11, 2.0 ppg) each earned some varsity minutes in reserve roles. A strong sophomore class includes Leyton Fish (6-5), Ethan Bloomer (5-10) and Brecken Callaghan (6-0) along with Watertown transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2620950' first='Karter' last='Zimmerman'] (6-0) and New Berlin West transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2829183' first='Luke' last='Scheuren'] (6-4). <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/muskego/">Muskego</a></strong> -- Of all the teams in the Classic Eight, Muskego might be the most unknown in terms of how things will fall together in 2025-26. First-year coach Steve Liberto has some good returning players in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018298' first='Brendan' last='Larsen'] (5-10, 8.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2330058' first='JJ' last='DeFranco'] (5-9, 3.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021319' first='Braedon' last='Dibb'] (6-3, 2.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg). But this team lacks size and experienced depth. Still, there are enough athletes in the program to make things tough on opponents. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561918' first='Dominic' last='Musolf'] (5-9, 2.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021314' first='Ben' last='Kreil'] (5-10, 2.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021318' first='Taylen' last='Czarniak'] (6-3, 1.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg) figure to be in contention for starting spots. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561956' first='Tyler' last='Evenson'] (Waukesha West) 19.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'] (Arrowhead) 15.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140928' first='Jackson' last='Albee'] (Catholic Memorial) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508313' first='Evan' last='Ploeckelman'] (Mukwonago) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496343' first='Jake' last='Pfister'] (Catholic Memorial) 11.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2351196' first='Blake' last='Basich'] (Arrowhead) 11.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505474' first='Dusty' last='Roach'] (Catholic Memorial) 11.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140987' first='Tyson' last='Busch'] (Oak Creek) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412856' first='Theo' last='Toepel'] (Arrowhead) 10.5 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'], 6-2, Jr., Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2351196' first='Blake' last='Basich'], 5-11, Jr., Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505474' first='Dusty' last='Roach'], 6-3, Jr., Catholic Memorial<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508313' first='Evan' last='Ploeckelman'], 6-6, Jr., Mukwonago<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561956' first='Tyler' last='Evenson'], 6-3, Sr., Waukesha West<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412856' first='Theo' last='Toepel'], 6-4, Jr., Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140987' first='Tyson' last='Busch'], 6-0, Jr., Oak Creek<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140928' first='Jackson' last='Albee'], 6-0, Jr., Catholic Memorial<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2823199' first='Bryce' last='Bestor'], 6-1, Sr., Kettle Moraine<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2504214' first='Ja'Quan' last='Turner'], 6-4, Soph., Oak Creek<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2140987' first='Tyson' last='Busch'], Oak Creek<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2508313' first='Evan' last='Ploeckelman'], Mukwonago<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2505474' first='Dusty' last='Roach'], Catholic Memorial<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2504214' first='Ja'Quan' last='Turner'], Oak Creek<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2381817' first='Mason' last='LaValle'], Waukesha West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->