Independents Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Records:</strong><br><br>Lake Country Classical 12-10<br>Milwaukee Academy of Science 25-1<br>Saint Ambrose 3-22<br>Saint Lawrence Seminary 3-14<br>Stockbridge 2-23<br>St. Augustine Prep 12-13<br>Superior 14-11<br><br><strong>2025-26 Previews</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lake-country-classical/">Lake Country Classical </a></strong>-- Lake Country Classical, a public charter school located in Oconomowoc, is hoping for a big season as all five starters are back from a 12-10 squad. The Sentinels will compete at the WIAA Division 5 level, boast good balance, strong experience and a schedule that figures to provide plenty of challenges. Coach Andy Low believes seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2420567' first='Jude' last='Kolstad'] (6-1, 15.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2958853' first='John' last='Walker'] (6-3, 11.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2958856' first='Ryan' last='Low'] (6-3, 15.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Caleb Meinholdt (5-10, 4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2958858' first='Alec' last='Welch'] (6-4, 2.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg) can help the Sentinels remain very competitive with strong opponents such as Kohler, Oakfield, Laconia, Mayville, Lomira, Waukesha West, Horicon and Deerfield, among others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/milwaukee-academy-of-science/">Milwaukee Academy of Science</a></strong> -- The reigning WIAA Division 3 state champions lost four starters to graduation, including Iowa State recruit Jamarion Batemon (6-4, 25.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Coastal Carolina recruit Devin Brown (6-7, 18.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg). New coach Raymont McElory will look to the younger brothers of Batemon and Brown to provide leadership for a young, but talented group. Senior point guard and returning regular [player_tooltip player_id='2045302' first='Jamir' last='Batemon'] (5-9, 5.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg) is a tough-minded and quick player while junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2474845' first='D'Anthony' last='Brown'] (6-6, 4.0 pppg, 3.2 rpg) is a versatile big who has taken strides in his game. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1501903' first='Deuce' last='Burkes'] (6-2, 5.9 ppg) is capable of putting up big point totals and can also guard with his length, strength and mobility. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140923' first='Gavin' last='Valeri'] (6-2, 4.8 ppg) is a good shooter with has grit to his game while sophomore Avion McCurtis (5-10) also could factor into the rotation. The eligibility of Sheboygan Lutheran transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'] (6-6, 15.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) remains unclear at this time. Boyland, an athletic junior, started for Sheboygan Luthearn's WIAA Division 5 state runner-up squad last winter.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/saint-ambrose-academy/">Saint Ambrose Academy</a></strong> -- The Madison-based school enters its third year as a stand alone program with some returning experience, a talented newcomer and a desire to better last year's 3-22 mark. Coach Chris Zwettler has three regulars returning in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2628169' first='Michael' last='Schmiesing'] (6-2, 7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2957667' first='Damien' last='Herbert'] (6-2, 2.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2957668' first='Adam' last='Sturm'] (5-7, 4.0 ppg). Wisconsin Heights transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2957672' first='Nathan' last='Pietrzykowski'] (6-3), who did not play varsity competition as a junior due to WIAA transfer rules, will be a key offensive performer for the Guardians. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2972295' first='Isaac' last='Moreland'] (6-0, 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022310' first='Jonathan' last='Simon'] (5-9) figure to play key roles in addition to the others. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/saint-lawrence-semin/">Saint Lawrence Seminary</a> </strong>-- Coach Quan Nguyen begins his fourth season with four regulars back from a club that finished 3-14. The Hilltoppers will play a bigger schedule this season, but due to spring break, will again not play in the WIAA playoffs. Saint Lawrence Seminary has 21 games scheduled to date, but will not play a single outing between December 19 and January 14 due to winter break. The boarding school located in Mount Calvary will rely heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2953059' first='Ugo' last='Osuala'] (6-1, 11 ppg, 7.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022384' first='Emmanuel' last='Esson'] (5-10, 7.1 ppg 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2953064' first='William' last='King II'] (6-1, 3.7 ppg 5 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2953060' first='Zachary' last='Kucharski'] (5-11, 7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Defense figures to be the calling card as the Hilltoppers boast plenty of quickness. Rebounding and scoring punch are concerns.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/st-augustine-prep-2/">St. Augustine Prep </a></strong>-- Coming off a 12-13 season, coach Reid Koenen is hopeful his young squad will mature into a legitimate presence once the WIAA playoffs roll around. St. Augustine has two juniors and two sophomores returning to its starting lineup. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140994' first='Zamari' last='Whitmore'] (6-0, 20.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2553904' first='Jcobi' last='Mathis'] (5-11, 24.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) are both two-year starters and proven performers for the Lions. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3022337' first='Kendall' last='Morris'] (5-11, 6.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022339' first='Demarius' last='Zollicoffer'] (6-2, 8.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg) had strong freshmen seasons and appear to be poised for even bigger sophomore seasons. Quickness and up-tempo play are strengths while lack of size and rebounding are question marks. A rigorous schedule that includes outings against Madison Memorial, Academy of Science, Brown Deer, Greenfield, Pewaukee, Oak Creek and Dominican, among others, will challenge the Lions.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/stockbridgesch/">Stockbridge </a></strong>-- Aggressive guard play on both ends of the floor is the No. 1-listed strength by Stockbridge coach Chris Moen, who welcomes back four regulars from a 2-23 squad. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022431' first='Colton' last='Kramp'] (5-11, 6.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022437' first='Griffin' last='Karls'] (6-0, 7.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022425' first='Owen' last='Olson'] (5-9, 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022433' first='Pierce' last='Ruppenthal'] (5-8, 1.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg) give the Indians plenty of experience. Others who figure to play key roles for Stockbridge include senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022430' first='Hunter' last='Hostettler'] (5-10, 6.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022434' first='Carter' last='Strebe'] (6-1, 2.7 pgp, 2.8 rpg).<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/superior/">Superior </a></strong>-- Although technically a member of the Lake Superior Conference, Superior plays just a handful of league games against schools from Minnesota. Most of the Spartans' schedule is of the non-league variety. Coach Kory Deadrick will look to a pair of four-year varsity performers to lead the way this winter in Minnesota-Duluth recruit Cal Anderson (6-6, 21.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='2432824' first='Drew' last='Eisel'] (6-3, 14.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg). Anderson and Eisel are stellar high school players with plenty of toughness and, particularly in Anderson's case, versatility. Seniors Jacye Rue (6-0, 7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2860533' first='Landon' last='Anrig'] (6-2, 4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2957103' first='Colson' last='Schumacher'] (6-1, 4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg) join Anderson and Eisel as returning starters from a 14-11 squad. Depth is provided by senior [player_tooltip player_id='2957106' first='Aiden' last='Parks'] (6-0, 4.0 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2852262' first='Reid' last='Charles'] (5-10, 4.0 ppg). <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2553904' first='Jcobi' last='Mathis'] (St. Augustine) 24.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045262' first='Calvin' last='Anderson'] (Superior) 21.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140994' first='Zamari' last='Whitmore'] (St. Augustine) 20.1 ppg<br>* [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'] (Academy of Science) 15.8 ppg <br>[player_tooltip player_id='2958856' first='Ryan' last='Low'] (Lake Country Classical) 15.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2420567' first='Jude' last='Kolstad'] (Lake Country Classical) 15.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432824' first='Drew' last='Eisel'] (Superior) 14.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2958853' first='John' last='Walker'] (Lake Country Classical) 11.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2953059' first='Ugo' last='Osuala'] (Saint Lawrence) 11.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Top Returning Rebounders</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432824' first='Drew' last='Eisel'] (Superior) 9.2 rpg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045262' first='Calvin' last='Anderson'] (Superior) 8.1 rpg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022339' first='Demarius' last='Zollicoffer'] (St. Augustine) 7.7 rpg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2953059' first='Ugo' last='Osuala'] (Saint Lawrence) 7.6 rpg<br>* [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'] (Academy of Science) 7.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022431' first='Colton' last='Kramp'] (Stockbridge) 6.8 rpg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2958853' first='John' last='Walker'] (Lake Country Classical) 6.0 rpg<br><br>* Eligibility status to be determined by WIAA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->