Southern Lakes Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Waterford 13-1 (24-4); 2. Westosha Central 11-3 (17-10); 3. Elkhorn 9-5 (19-7); 4. Beloit Memorial 7-7 (15-10); 4. Burlington 7-7 (12-13); 6. Badger 5-9 (12-13); 7. Union Grove 3-11 (7-18); 8. Wilmot 1-13 (5-19). <br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/waterford-4/"><strong>Waterford</strong> </a>-- After capturing the Southern Lakes championship a year ago, the Wolverines look to make it two in a row with a very strong senior class leading the way for coach Nick Roeglin. Returning starters [player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'] (6-4, 21.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2847615' first='Colin' last='Lepisto'] (5-10, 6.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2809011' first='Jayce' last='Brechtl'] (6-6, 10.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg) form a fantastic trio thanks to their versatility, size, strength and experience. Gustafson, who has committed to NCAA Division II Northern Michigan, is one of the top outside shooters in the state while Brechtl has dramatically improved over the past couple of seasons. Also back for Waterford are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2278489' first='Beau' last='Veit'] (6-0, 6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022715' first='Chris' last='Tessmer'] (6-5, 2.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022714' first='Gavin' last='Roeglin'] (6-0, 1.6 ppg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022718' first='Andrew' last='Weber'] (6-1) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2822748' first='Matthew' last='Lojeski'] Jr. (6-2) could also factor in the playing rotation for the Wolverines. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/beloit-memorial/">Beloit Memorial</a> </strong>-- That backcourt tandem at Beloit Memorial is about as good as it gets in Wisconsin as seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'] (6-2, 26.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.2 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1552453' first='Brock' last='Hodges'] (6-0, 15.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.0 apg) look to take the Purple Knights to another successful season. Hereford and Hodges both possess excellent quickness to go along with proven production and strong leadership. Joining Hereford, a potential NCAA Division I basketball recruit who begins his senior season with 1,480 career points, and Hodges as returning starters for coach Todd Marks are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019037' first='James' last='Ford'] III (5-9, 5.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.1 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2830234' first='JJ' last='Martin'] (5-10, 8.5 ppg, 2.3 apg). Guard play beyond just Hereford and Hodges is the No. 1 strength for the Purple Knights. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2947283' first='Jatavion' last='Crawford'] (5-10, 3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019034' first='Vinny' last='Phiffer'] (6-2, 1.3 ppg) could also be key performers for a team lacking size outside of juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019043' first='Collin' last='Keraka'] (6-5) and Braylen Huebbe (6-2). <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/burlington-3/">Burlington</a> </strong>-- The Demons lost a bunch of close games last winter and wound up with a 12-13 record. Coach Kyle Scott's troops figure to better that mark in 2025-26 behind the strong play of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'] (6-4, 14.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1561957' first='Cole' last='Walby'] (6-2, 11.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg). Sulik and Walby are returning starters while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2618915' first='Vincent' last='Kendall'] (6-3, 4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) saw plenty of action off the bench. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019240' first='Zach' last='Deans'] (6-2) missed last season with an injury, but could be a factor this time around. A couple of transfer students -- senior [player_tooltip player_id='1963527' first='Matthew' last='Burkhart'] (6-2) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2304321' first='Emmett' last='Munson'] (6-3) -- also could factor into the playing rotation at Burlington.<br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/elkhorn-2/"><strong>Elkhorn</strong> </a>-- The Elks lost four starters to graduation, but coach Eric Larsen welcomes back one of the top performers in the Southern Lakes in versatile senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'] (6-3, 13.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Paddock is set for a breakout senior season for Elkhorn and headlines a list of returning seniors that also includes [player_tooltip player_id='2342864' first='Brian' last='Renteria'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2947297' first='Romeo' last='Morales'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3019873' first='Evan' last='Heindselman'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019876' first='Kona' last='Eby'] (6-0). Lack of experience is a question mark along with size, although junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019880' first='Felix' last='Werblow'] (6-4) might help along the frontline. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/badger/">Badger </a></strong>-- New coach Braden Tice, who previously spent two seasons as the head coach at East Troy, has a veteran roster to work with and one of the league's elite players in senior guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561928' first='Brock' last='Walser'] (6-2, 20 ppg, 7 rpg). Walser and Co. finished 12-13 last season and look to improve upon that mark this time around. Joining Walser as returning regulars are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2818779' first='Keith' last='Nurnberg'] (6-2, 8 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2415164' first='Brody' last='Skates'] (6-3, 9 ppg, 3 rpg) along with junior Ben Neilsen (6-5, 3 ppg, 5 rpg). Skates is one of the more improved players in the Southern Lakes while Nurnberg and Nielsen can be effective scorers and rebounders in the paint. Others who could factor in the playing rotation at Badger include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2439886' first='Andrew' last='Braden'] (6-3, 3 ppg, 2 rpg) and junior Quentin Spiegelhoff (6-5). <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/westosha-central/">Westosha Central </a></strong>-- Replacing Cornell recruit Elijah Griffin (6-2, 21.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Parkside recruit Liam Lubkeman (6-10, 12.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg) is the task for coach James Hyllberg at Westosha Central. It's a daunting task, to be sure, as both Griffin and Lubkeman have been the backbone of the Falcons' program the past several seasons. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3022897' first='Camden' last='Oppenneer'] (5-7, 6.7 ppg) is the most experienced returning player for Westosha Central. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022895' first='Avery' last='Schultz'] (6-6), [player_tooltip player_id='3022896' first='Parker' last='Haubrich'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2440446' first='Christian' last='Dryer'] (6-4) also could play big roles. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2831283' first='Tristan' last='Pisano'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2831277' first='Kyle' last='Yehle'] (6-3) also figure to be in the mix at Westosha Central.<br><br><strong>7. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/union-grove/"><strong>Union Grove</strong> </a>-- The Broncos could emerge as one of the more dangerous teams in the Southern Lakes if the pieces fall in place correctly for third-year coach Ben Roettgen. Replacing four starters will be a challenge, but the lone returning regular is a good one as senior [player_tooltip player_id='2637181' first='Griffin' last='Schultz'] (6-0, 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season. Super athletic sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2442264' first='Tyler' last='Johnson'] (6-3, 4.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) also returns and is a tough player to keep away from the basket. Also back for Union Grove are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022631' first='Jack' last='Braun'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3022633' first='Cade' last='Dobrinska'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='2848847' first='Kellen' last='Vermeer'] (6-2, 2.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022635' first='Cade' last='Sherwood'] (6-1) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022636' first='Quinn' last='Schultz'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='2837949' first='Justin' last='Williamson'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2837946' first='Colten' last='Tajnai'] (6-0). <br><br><strong>8. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wilmot/"><strong>Wilmot</strong> </a>-- Experience is a bonus for Wilmot and coach Jake Erbenraut as all five starters from a 5-19 squad return. Improved play is anticipated since the five senior regulars have been through the rigors of the Southern Lakes. Returning regulars include Owen Selcham (6-3, 9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2439912' first='Jack' last='Gartner'] (6-0, 6.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Michael McCormick (6-0, 7.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='1874986' first='Mikey' last='Highland'] (6-2, 4.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1874953' first='Bobby' last='Raymond'] (6-4, 15.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022971' first='Emonee' last='Ide'] (5-11, 3.4 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022972' first='Thaisyn' last='Lamb'] (5-11) also return for the Panthers. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'] (Beloit Memorial) 26.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'] (Waterford) 21.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561928' first='Brock' last='Walser'] (Badger) 20.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637181' first='Griffin' last='Schultz'] (Union Grove) 16.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1552453' first='Brock' last='Hodges'] (Beloit Memorial) 15.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874953' first='Bobby' last='Raymond'] (Wilmot) 15.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'] (Burlington) 14.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'] (Elkhorn) 13.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561957' first='Cole' last='Walby'] (Burlington) 11.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809011' first='Jayce' last='Brechtl'] (Waterford) 10.5 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team<br></strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'], 6-2, Sr., Beloit Memorial<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561928' first='Brock' last='Walser'], 6-2, Sr., Badger<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'], 6-4, Sr., Burlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'], 6-3, Sr., Elkhorn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'], 6-4, Sr. Waterford<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2415164' first='Brody' last='Skates'], 6-3, Sr., Badger<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1552453' first='Brock' last='Hodges'], 6-0, Sr., Beloit Memorial<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561957' first='Cole' last='Walby'], 6-0, Sr., Burlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637181' first='Griffin' last='Schultz'], 6-0, Sr., Union Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809011' first='Jayce' last='Brechtl'], 6-6, Sr., Waterford<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'], Waterford<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552453' first='Brock' last='Hodges'], Beloit Memorial<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'], Burlington<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'], Beloit Memorial<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2809011' first='Jayce' last='Brechtl'], Waterford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->