Heart O’North Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Cumberland 14-4 (21-6); 1. Northwestern 14-4 (19-8); 3. Barron 13-5 (15-10); 3. Cameron 13-5 (18-9); 3. Ladysmith 13-5 (21-7); 6. Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 6-12 (9-16); 6. Hayward 6-12 (6-18); 8. St. Croix Falls 5-13 (8-17); 9. Spooner 4-14 (6-19); 10. Ashland 2-16 (3-22).<br><br><em>Note: Chetek-Weyerhaeuser has moved to the Dunn-St. Croix while Unity is added to the Heart O'North for 2025-26.</em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/northwestern-5/"><strong>Northwestern</strong> </a>-- Sharing the league crown with Cumberland a year ago, the Tigers look to win the crown outright this time around behind an experienced returning core that includes perhaps the best player in the league in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2815632' first='Kamden' last='Kroll'] (6-3, 15.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg). An athletic and productive prospect, Kroll can score it from just about any spot on the floor and is a tough matchup due to his strength, athleticism and aggressiveness. Joining Kroll as returning starters from a 19-8 squad are junior [player_tooltip player_id='2509481' first='Tysen' last='Teal'] (5-11, 11 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021498' first='Ethan' last='Harms'] (6-3, 8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.5 apg). Three seniors who did not play a year ago also could factor into things for coach Nolan Graff. That group consists of Finley Nelson (6-0), Cavin Thompson (6-0) and Henry Nielcen (6-5). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021501' first='Thomas' last='Altman'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021493' first='Noah' last='Bourque'] (6-0) also return for the Tigers.<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/cameron-2/">Cameron</a></strong> -- Even with all five starters from a year ago no longer in the program, Cameron rates as one of the better teams in the Heart O'North as coach Troy LaVallie has built an exceptionally strong program. The Comets went 18-9 while competing in the Heart O'North and will rely on some seniors to take big steps forward in order to remain near the top. [player_tooltip player_id='3019300' first='Brady' last='Gronski'] (6-3, 5 ppg, 3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2987966' first='Scott' last='Butterfield'] (6-4), Micheal Gronski (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3019303' first='Jackson' last='Griffin'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019301' first='Jayton' last='Silvernail'] (6-1), along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019296' first='AJ' last='Guerra'] (6-1), form the core for this year's squad. Quickness and shooting are among the Comets' strengths.<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/hayward-hurricanes/">Hayward</a> </strong>-- Plenty of experience dots the roster at Hayward as coach Curtis DeCora enters his second season looking to make a big move forward in the league standings. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2925844' first='Lucas' last='Hansen'] (6-2, 15.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2925833' first='Caleb' last='Springer'] (6-2, 11.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) are returning starters for the Hurricanes and form a solid nucleus along with key returning reserves [player_tooltip player_id='2925836' first='Ryker' last='Chipman'] (6-0, 9.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020218' first='Preston' last='Sullivan'] (5-10, 7.6 ppg),. [player_tooltip player_id='3020214' first='Fred' last='Principe'] (5-10, 3.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2552499' first='Adel' last='Amparo'] (6-3, 2.6 ppg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2620868' first='Kingston' last='Frey'] (6-3) and sophomore Beck Johnson (5-9) also could figure into the playing rotation for Hayward. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/st-croix-falls/">St. Croix Falls</a></strong> -- Defense, thanks to some impressive length on the roster, figures to be a strong suit for coach Chad Hall and St. Croix Falls. Four starters are back from an 8-17 unit and form a strong core for the Saints. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022352' first='Elliot' last='Wilson'] (6-4, 10.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.6 apg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022349' first='Carson' last='Marks'] (5-8, 8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.8 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2988726' first='Jared' last='DeSmith'] (6-3, 4 ppg, 5 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2861852' first='Brett' last='Sladky'] (6-2, 9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) give St. Croix Falls plenty of production while seniors Justin Wynee (6-5), [player_tooltip player_id='3022355' first='Trysten' last='Hanson'] (6-3) and Mathew McCurdy (6-2) provide quality depth. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/barron/">Barron</a></strong> -- After winning 15 games last season, the Golden Bears aim for additional success this time around behind the return of three senior starters. Indeed, coach Eric Holten starts his first year with some proven veterans in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2501112' first='Zac' last='Edwards'] (6-3, 16.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3018993' first='Glendon' last='Thompson'] (6-3, 15.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2406259' first='Shawn' last='Holten'] (6-2, 5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Edwards and Thompson are two of the premier rebounders in the Heart O'North while Holten joins them on a gifted frontline. Guard play is the question at Barron as Brett McDonough (6-0, 17.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) graduated last spring. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018992' first='Bryce' last='Kittleson'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018991' first='Devon' last='Kerkhoff'] (5-11) could be in the mix in the Barron backcourt. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/unity/">Unity</a></strong> -- Finishing tied for third place in the Lakeland West last season, Unity makes the move to the Heart O'North at a good time as four starters return for veteran coach Shaun Fisher. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2628753' first='Isaiah' last='Fugate'] (6-2, 10.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2628754' first='Kasyn' last='Fisher'] (6-0, 9.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022646' first='Beckett' last='Schmidt'] (6-4, 10.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022640' first='Izaac' last='Williams'] (6-4, 6.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg) led Unity to a 14-11 mark and will provide leadership and experience as the Eagles move into their new league. Size and aggressiveness are listed strengths by Fisher while depth at the guard positions is a concern.<br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/ashland-5/">Ashland </a></strong>-- The Oredockers enter Year No. 5 in the Heart O'North looking to finish at or above the .500 level in league play for the first time. Ashland went just 2-16 in Heart O'North outings a year ago, but coach Allen Huber has a pair of experienced and talented returning starters in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2417832' first='Gavin' last='Greene'] (6-4, 13.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018919' first='Aiden' last='Jolma'] (5-9, 6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg). Greene and Jolma provide a solid inside/outside tandem for Ashland, which won a combined 34 games at the JV1 and JV2 levels last winter. Senior Jayden Popvich (6-2, 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2987761' first='Kourage' last='Lauren'] (6-2, 3.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg) figure to contend for starting roles for the Oredockers alongside Greene and Jolma. <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/ladysmith/">Ladysmith</a> </strong>-- Decimated by graduation, Ladysmith starts all over under a new coach in Ahmed Yaseen. He'll need to replace five starters who helped Ladysmith to a 21-7 record. Two players return who earned substantial playing time a year ago in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2960611' first='Ashton' last='Clark'] (6-2, 4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Cole Strip (5-9, 2.5 ppg). Otherwise, the players in the program are green to varsity competition and will need some time to adjust to the physicality and speed of the game. <br><br><strong>9.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/cumberland/"> Cumberland </a></strong>-- Replacing the production of Wyoming recruit Gavin Gores (6-10, 34.1 ppg, 14.0 rpg) is impossible, but first-year coach Ryan Zemke has a few players back from a 21-6 squad who earned big minutes a year ago in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2407530' first='Troy' last='Majewski'] (5-10, 5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019613' first='Parker' last='Peterson'] (5-11, 4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg). Outside of those two returnees, the picture is of youth and inexperience. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019611' first='Carson' last='Catlin'] (6-0) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2614882' first='Alex' last='LaBlanc'] (5-9) will battle for big minutes in the Beavers' backcourt. <br><br><strong>10. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/spooner/">Spooner</a> </strong>-- [player_tooltip player_id='3021047' first='Sam' last='Smith'] takes over the coaching chores at Spooner looking for senior [player_tooltip player_id='2988403' first='Joey' last='Romporti'] (6-3, 5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022286' first='Jaxson' last='Fizel'] (5-9, 14.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg) to provide production and leadership for an otherwise young and inexperienced team. A small senior class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='3022280' first='Ace' last='Grady'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022287' first='Shamari' last='Fahie'] (5-10), neither of whom played many minutes last winter. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501112' first='Zac' last='Edwards'] (Barron) 16.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815632' first='Kamden' last='Kroll'] (Northwestern) 15.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018993' first='Glendon' last='Thompson'] (Barron) 15.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2925844' first='Lucas' last='Hansen'] (Hayward) 15.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022286' first='Jaxson' last='Fizel'] (Spooner) 14.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417832' first='Gavin' last='Greene'] (Ashland) 13.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2925833' first='Caleb' last='Springer'] (Hayward) 11.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509481' first='Tysen' last='Teal'] (Northwestern) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022352' first='Elliot' last='Wilson'] (St. Croix Falls) 10.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022646' first='Beckett' last='Schmidt'] (Unity) 10.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628753' first='Isaiah' last='Fugate'] (Unity) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2925836' first='Ryker' last='Chipman'] (Hayward) 9.7 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815632' first='Kamden' last='Kroll'], Jr., Northwestern<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501112' first='Zac' last='Edwards'], 6-3, Sr., Barron<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2925844' first='Lucas' last='Hansen'], Sr., Hayward<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628753' first='Isaiah' last='Fugate'], 6-2, Sr., Unity<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509481' first='Tysen' last='Teal'], 5-11, Jr., Northwestern<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417832' first='Gavin' last='Greene'], 6-4, Jr., Ashland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022646' first='Beckett' last='Schmidt'], 6-4, Sr., Unity<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022352' first='Elliot' last='Wilson'], 6-4, Sr., St. Croix Falls<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018993' first='Glendon' last='Thompson'], 6-3, Sr., Barron<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2925833' first='Caleb' last='Springer'], 6-2, Jr., Hayward<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3022286' first='Jaxson' last='Fizel'], Spooner<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3022352' first='Elliot' last='Wilson'], St. Croix Falls<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2509481' first='Tysen' last='Teal'], Northwestern<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2815632' first='Kamden' last='Kroll'], Northwestern<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2552499' first='Adel' last='Amparo'], Hayward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->