Lake City Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Salam 16-0 (18-7); 2. Chesterton Academy 13-3 (16-8); 3. Faith Christian 11-5 (16-10); 3. Tenor/Veritas 11-5 (11-9); 5. Cristo Rey Jesuit 9-7 (10-13); 6. St. Anthony 6-10 (8-16); 7. University Lake/Trinity 4-12 (4-18); 8. Hmong Peace Academy 2-14 (2-19); 9. Eastbrook Academy 0-16 (0-24).<br><br><em>Note: Salam is playing and independent schedule while Fuller Academy joins the Lake City for 2025-26. </em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/chesterton-academy/">Chesterton Academy </a></strong>-- This program has come of age after just a few seasons. Opened just a few years back as part of the growing Chesterton Academy Network, Chesteron Academy in Milwaukee won 16 games last season and coach Michael Cain brings back all five starters, making the Knights the preseason favorite to win the Lake City. First-team all-league pick [player_tooltip player_id='2423622' first='Camden' last='Puffer'] (6-3, 13.2 ppg, 13.4 rpg), second-team selection [player_tooltip player_id='3019414' first='Damien' last='Dax'] (5-11, 9.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and honorable mention pick [player_tooltip player_id='3019408' first='Jax' last='Puffer'] (5-10, 10.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) headline the list of returning players. All are proven veterans who can score, defend and rebound. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019416' first='Anthony' last='Haas'] (6-0, 3.3 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019412' first='Blake' last='Schmitt'] (5-8, 7.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) also return for Chesterton Academy, which has solid depth to go along with its returning experience. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/faith-christian-4/">Faith Christian </a></strong>-- The most interesting news at Faith Christian out of Williams Bay is the fact coach Brian Pollard is beginning his 30th year at he school with 449 career victories. His teams always play hard, share the ball and compete with intensity. Pollard brings back one of the premier players in the Lake City in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2977626' first='Owen' last='McLeod'] (6-0, 22.0 ppg), a good all-around player who could end up leading the league in scoring. Others who figure to factor into the rotation for the Eagles include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019911' first='Logan' last='Rothfuchs'] (6-2) and Gabe Wallace (6-1), along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019907' first='Josh' last='Kempka'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3019912' first='Caleb' last='Tartaglia'] (5-8) and Chase Reynolds (5-10). <br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/fuller-collegiate-academy/"><strong>Fuller Collegiate Academy</strong> </a>-- League newcomer Fuller Collegiate Academy is a bit of an unknown. But one thing we do know is that new coach Khalif El-Amin will have this squad playing with intensity and unselfishness. Key returning players for Fuller Collegiate Academy include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2825588' first='Demarion' last='Epperson'] (6-2, 13.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2867369' first='Nathan' last='Agee'] (5-10, 5.9), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2392334' first='Blake' last='Williams'] (6-0, 9.4 ppg) and Demarion Luna (5-9, 4.9 ppg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3021871' first='Jeremiah' last='Jones'] (6-2, 6.0 ppg).<br><br><strong>4.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/tenor-veritas/"> Tenor/Veritas </a></strong>-- The co-op program at Tenor/Veritas could be a surprise in the Lake City this winter as coach Armondo Diaz returns some productive players from a 11-9 squad. Leading the way for the Thunder Cats is senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022515' first='Anton' last='Bounds'] (6-3, 10.9 ppg, 11.7 rpg), one of the top scorers and rebounders in the league. Bounds and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2960074' first='Larell' last='Davis'] (5-9, 10.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) are returning starters for Tenor/Veritas while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022518' first='Giomar' last='Oquendo'] (6-1, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022525' first='Tristian' last='Roberts'] (6-0, 4.2 rpg) figure to battle for starting spots after coming off the bench in 2024-25.<br><br><strong>5.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/saint-anthony/"> St. Anthony </a></strong>-- Ethan Wagner replaces Cody Larson as the head coach at St. Anthony and has two proven performers back from a club that finished 10-14. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3022328' first='Anthony' last='Ruvalcaba'] (6-5, 8.9 ppg, 12.6 rpg) gives the Roman Legion plenty of length and rebounding near the basket while junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022316' first='Josh' last='Morales'] (5-8, 11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) handles the bulk of ball-handling duties. Other key returning players include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022321' first='Nelson' last='Escudero'] (6-1, 3.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022322' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2381692' first='Alonzo' last='']' last='Huerta'] (6-0, 3.0 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022325' first='Damian' last='Perez'] (5-9, 6.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022320' first='Julian' last='Castro'] (5-4, 3.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022314' first='Abel' last='Enriquez'] (5-6, 2.2 ppg). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2828396' first='Anthony' last='Perez'] (5-9, 5.7 ppg) is another returning player who figures to contend for a starting role. <br><br><strong>6. Cristo Rey Jesuit </strong>-- The Trailblazers lost three players to graduation and might have a difficult time keeping pace with opponents who have multiple scoring options and can put points on the scoreboard. Cristo Rey Jesuit coach Ramon Munez has three players returning from a 10-13 squad that played big minutes a year ago in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019568' first='Alex' last='Vargas'] (5-10, 5.7 ppg) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019570' first='Alexis' last='Munoz'] (5-8, 3.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019573' first='Mauricio' last='Del Toror Herrera'] (5-8, 4.7 ppg). Speed and guard play are strengths while lack of size is a concern.<br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/eastbrook-academy/">Eastbrook Academy</a> </strong>-- Tim Harper has replaced Pete Canady as the head coach at Eastbrook Academy and looks to help the Warriors earn some wins after the club went 0-24 a year ago. Leading the way for the Warriors are several key returning players, including juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019791' first='Nolan' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='3019800' first='Brayden' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3019790' first='Lucas' last='Buerosse'] along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019793' first='Davion' last='Briant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2561082' first='Braylen' last='Humphrey']. <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/university-lake-school-trinity/">University Lake/Trinity</a></strong> -- Coming off a four-win season, the Lakers look for improvement and have three starters back to help accomplish that goal. Coach Joe Hardgrove will rely heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022653' first='Jack' last='Warner'] (6-0, 5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022654' first='Kyler' last='Barnett'] (5-11, 11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022659' first='Alvaro' last='Rocamora'] (6-0, 7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Those three players along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022650' first='Eli' last='Schuenke'] (5-9) form the nucleus for University Lake/Trinity, which again lacks size but boasts solid backcourt play. <br><br><strong>9. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/hmong-american-peace-academy/">Hmong Peace Academy</a></strong> -- Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020264' first='Thomas' last='Moua'] is the top returning player for Hmong Peace Academy. Moua and senior teammate [player_tooltip player_id='3020259' first='Alvin' last='Moua'] are returning honorable mention all-league performers. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2977626' first='Owen' last='McLeod'] (Faith Christian) 22.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423622' first='Camden' last='Puffer'] (Chesterton) 13.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022316' first='Josh' last='Morales'] (St. Anthony) 11.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022654' first='Kyler' last='Barnett'] (University Lake/Trinity) 11.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022515' first='Anton' last='Bounds'] (Tenor/Veritas) 10.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2960074' first='Larell' last='Davis'] (Tenor/Veritas) 10.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019408' first='Jax' last='Puffer'] (Chesterton) 10.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019414' first='Damien' last='Dax'] (Chesterton) 9.9 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2977626' first='Owen' last='McLeod'], Sr., Faith Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423622' first='Camden' last='Puffer'], 6-3, Sr., Chesterton Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022328' first='Anthony' last='Ruvalcaba'], 6-5, Sr., St. Anthony<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019414' first='Damien' last='Dax'], 5-11, Sr., Chesterton Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022515' first='Anton' last='Bounds'], 6-3, Sr., Tenor/Veritas<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022316' first='Josh' last='Morales'], Jr., St. Anthony<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019408' first='Jax' last='Puffer'], Soph., Chesterton Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020264' first='Thomas' last='Moua'], Sr., Hmong Peace Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022654' first='Kyler' last='Barnett'], Sr., University Lake/Trinity<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019412' first='Blake' last='Schmitt'], 5-9, Jr., Chesterton Academy<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3019408' first='Jax' last='Puffer'], Chesterton Academy<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2423622' first='Camden' last='Puffer'], Chesterton Academy<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3022328' first='Anthony' last='Ruvalcaba'], St. Anthony<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2977626' first='Owen' last='McLeod'], Faith Christian<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3019568' first='Alex' last='Vargas'], Cristo Rey Jesuit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->