Southeast Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Racine Park 13-1 (27-3); 2. Franklin 11-3 (17-9); 3. Kenosha Bradford 9-5 (16-10); 3. Oak Creek 9-5 (20-7); 5. Racine Case 7-7 (11-14); 6. Kenosha Tremper 5-9 (9-14); 7. Kenosha Indian Trail 2-12 (5-20); 8. Racine Horlick 0-14 (3-22).<br><br><em>Note: Oak Creek moves to the Classic Eight 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/case/">Racine Case</a></strong> -- The proven performers in the Racine Case program surpasses that of their rivals in the Southeast and thus the Eagles are the preseason team to beat. Coach Jacob Berce returns five players who started at times last winter for a team that finished 11-14. South Dakota State football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2500847' first='Michael' last='Farr'] (6-0, 10.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg) is one of four senior starters returning for Racine Case. The others include [player_tooltip player_id='3021852' first='Maceo' last='Collins'] (6-4, 9.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2422319' first='Kadyn' last='Williams'] (6-1, 7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1879574' first='Myles' last='McEwen'] (6-0, 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2399934' first='Michael' last='Lewis'] (6-0, 11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), an emerging class of 2027 prospect in the state, is the fifth returning regular. Four sophomores could be among those providing depth at Case. That group includes [player_tooltip player_id='2821769' first='Mehki' last='Collins'] (6-6), [player_tooltip player_id='2415735' first='Charlie' last='Kwapil'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2364910' first='Anthony' last='Wheeler'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021854' first='Jayden' last='Searcy'] (5-11).<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/franklin-2/">Franklin</a></strong> --Always one of the top teams in the Southeast, Franklin likely will be near the top once again in the seven-team circuit. Coach Tyler Podoll returns just one starter from a 17-9 team but he's one of the best players in the loop in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2500826' first='Jacob' last='Misslich'] (6-4, 19.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Misslich, who recently committed to NCAA Division II Florida Tech, is a good outside shooter who can also use his size and strength to get to the basket to score. Other key returning players for the Sabers include sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2618935' first='Gavin' last='Schiek'] (6-2, 6 ppg, 4 rpg) along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1543582' first='Orlando' last='Wendel'] (5-10, 3 ppg), Mason Peters (6-1, 3 ppg, 2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020004' first='Gabe' last='Martens'] (6-1, 2 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020002' first='Gabe' last='Barnard'] (6-4). <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/racine-park/">Racine Park</a></strong> -- The Panthers enjoyed an immensely successful season in 2024-25, winning league, regional and sectional titles before falling to Wauwatosa West in the WIAA Division 2 state-championship game. Coach Casey Robbins did lose some key personnel off that squad in Isaiah Robinson (6-0, 14.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Jaxson Moss (6-7, 20.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and Cam Betker (6-4, 7.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg), but he also has some key players back. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140997' first='Zare' last='Gwinn'] (6-2, 14.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398441' first='Cole' last='Betker'] (6-0, 8.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg) are returning starters from a 27-3 team while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2422988' first='Jemarreon' last='Deleon'] (6-0, 2.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021875' first='Jwan' last='Eastland'] (6-0, 2.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) were key reserves. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/bradford-3/">Kenosha Bradford</a></strong> -- Sharpshooting junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2371709' first='Mikey' last='White'] (5-10, 15 ppg, 2 rpg) is back for his third year of varsity competition at Kenosha Bradford. White is one of the better players in the league and will provide strong leadership for a team that features strong guard play and proven perimeter shooting. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2504210' first='Marvin' last='Jones'] (5-10, 9 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2504201' first='Jordan' last='Gallo'] (6-3, 5 ppg) along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2823876' first='Naron' last='Hamp'] (5-10, 6 ppg, 6 rpg) are key returning players for the Red Devils in addition to White. <br><br><strong>5.</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/tremper/"><strong> Kenosha Tremper</strong> </a>-- Guard play appears to be the biggest strength for Kenosha Tremper and coach Brandon Morris. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125768' first='Ryan' last='Papka'] (6-0) and senior guards Cedar Hernandez (6-0) and Josiah De'Lacy (5-8) figure to provide some strong backcourt play for the Trojans, who finished 9-14 last winter but lost four starters to graduation. The lone returning regular is junior wing Brock Badwin (6-3). Senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='3020498' first='Evan' last='Burks-Payne'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2823993' first='Jonta' last='Young'] (6-5) also return.<br><br><strong>6.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/indian-trail/"> Kenosha Indian Trail</a></strong> -- One of the more improved teams in the Southeast, Kenosha Indian Trail boasts one of the more improved players in the entire state in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2224533' first='Silas' last='Bolton'] (6-3, 13.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg). An explosive athlete, Bolton is the type of player who could average a double/double for coach Rob Van Dyke at the Hawks. Bolton is one of three returning starters from a 5-20 squad along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020480' first='Logan' last='Fowler'] (5-9, 5.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020483' first='Josiah' last='Linsley'] (6-0, 6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg). Seniors Ca'Von Collins (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020482' first='Briar' last='Thoe'] (6-6) also figure to be in the mix for playing time at Indian Trail.<br><br><strong>7. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/racine-horlick/"><strong>Racine Horlick</strong> </a>-- Winless in league outings the past two seasons, Racine Horlick's long road back to competitiveness continues in 2025-26 with a roster that includes experience and solid shooting and ball handling. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2399600' first='Cameron' last='Jones'] (6-4, 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) is the top returning player from a 3-22 squad. Coach Mark Eickner will count on Jones and classmates [player_tooltip player_id='3075840' first='Jeremiah' last='Jones'] (6-1, 2.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021869' first='Jermaine' last='Cark'] (6-2, 5.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021866' first='Malachi' last='Harden-Moreland'] (5-10, 4.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) to provide leadership for the underclassmen in the program. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021862' first='Avery' last='Holliman'] (6-2, 4.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021865' first='Brooks' last='Jackson'] (5-10, 2.1 ppg) loom as potential key players for the Rebels in addition to the returning starters.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500826' first='Jacob' last='Misslich'] (Franklin) 19.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2399600' first='Cameron' last='Jones'] (Racine Horlick) 16.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371709' first='Mikey' last='White'] (Kenosha Bradford) 15.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140997' first='Zare' last='Gwinn'] (Racine Park) 14.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224533' first='Silas' last='Bolton'] (Kenosha Indian Trail) 13.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2399934' first='Michael' last='Lewis'] (Racine Case0 11.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500847' first='Michael' last='Farr'] (Racine Case) 10.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021852' first='Maceo' last='Collins'] (Racine Case) 9.8 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500826' first='Jacob' last='Misslich'], 6-4, Sr., Franklin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224533' first='Silas' last='Bolton'], 6-3, Sr., Kenosha Indian Trail<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2399934' first='Michael' last='Lewis'], 6-0, Jr., Racine Case<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140997' first='Zare' last='Gwinn'], 6-2, Jr., Racine Park<br>Mike White, 5-10, Jr., Kenosha Bradford<strong><br><br>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2618935' first='Gavin' last='Schiek'], 6-2, Soph., Franklin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2125768' first='Ryan' last='Papka'], 6-0, Jr., Kenosha Tremper<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500847' first='Michael' last='Farr'], 6-0, Sr., Racine Case<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021852' first='Maceo' last='Collins'], 6-4, Sr., Racine Case<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2398441' first='Cole' last='Betker'], 6-0, Jr., Racine Park<strong><br><br>The Big Five<br></strong><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2371709' first='Mikey' last='White'], Kenosha Bradford<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2398441' first='Cole' last='Betker'], Racine Park<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2399600' first='Cameron' last='Jones'], Racine Horlick<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140997' first='Zare' last='Gwinn'], Racine Park<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2224533' first='Silas' last='Bolton'], Kenosha Indian Trail</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->