Top Mr. Basketball candidates emerge

About one-third of the way through the 2025-26 season, several members of the 2026 class have emerged as the top candidates to win the prestigious Mr. Basketball award, presented by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association each season at the WIAA State Tournament. Here's a snapshot look at some of the leaders for the award, which is given each year to the state's top senior. THE FAVORITES [player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'], 6-7, F, Wisconsin Lutheran (Committed to Northern Iowa) Zens has been his usual steady and spectacular self while helping Wisconsin Lutheran to a 9-0 record and the No. 1 ranking among Division 1 schools in the WBCA/Prep Hoops Wisconsin poll. The skilled 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 28.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Vikings, who return to action Tuesday against invading Nicolet after winning three games in South Carolina last week to capture the Beach Ball Classic title. Zens is shooting 49 percent from three-point range and is a matchup nightmare because of his impressive versatility on offense. [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'], 6-4, G, West Allis Central (Committed to Iowa State) Gray was maybe at his best in the Bulldogs' biggest win of the season, a 67-64 over previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Wayzata, Minn., at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout. Gray, who defends about as well as any other wing guard in the state, finished with 27 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Bulldogs registered an extremely hard-earned victory. Gray has helped West Allis Central to a 7-1 record and is averaging 25.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen'], 6-10, PF, Kaukauna (Committed to DePaul) Jensen is the state's most dominant big man and his versatility and ability to control things near the hoop have helped Kaukauna win its first seven games of the season. Jensen is averaging 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots per game for the Ghosts. He is shooting 73 percent from the field and hit the game-winning shot as the horn sounded in a 60-59 triumph over highly regarded Appleton North. [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'], 6-2, G, Beloit Memorial (Uncommitted) Hereford, a shifty, quick and skilled combination guard, currently leads the state in scoring at 39.0 ppg. He also is contributing 9.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists. His remarkable play thus far has helped Beloit Memorial to a 7-0 record under coach Todd Marks. Hereford has scored 40 or more points four times and is shooting 67 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three-point range. Hereford is the state's top uncommitted senior and owns several NCAA Division I scholarship offers. CONTENDERS [player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'], 6-4, WG, Mount Horeb (Uncommitted) Manchester is a wing guard with very deep shooting range and he can get on a heater any given time during a game. He is averaging 32.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Mount Horeb, which is 5-3. Manchester, a four-year varsity performer for coach Todd Nesheim, recently surpassed 2,000 career points and is shooting 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. [player_tooltip player_id='1781157' first='Rashaad' last='Davis'], 6-0, PG, Nicolet (Committed to Southern Utah) Davis is on a roll of late for Nicolet as he put in 34 in a 73-68 loss to Wayzata, Minn., and then had 33 in an 89-82 win over Bolingbrook, Ill. The Southern Utah recruit is averaging 22.9 points and 6.2 assists while helping Nicolet to a 5-4 record against some top-quality opponents. His quickness with the ball and ability to get to the basket are impressive and difficult to stop. [player_tooltip player_id='2116495' first='Cahlil' last='Jones'], 6-4, G, Germantown (Uncommitted) Jones missed the first three games of the season for Germantown, but has settled into the lineup and putting up impressive numbers for the Warhawks. The quick and athletic wing guard is averaging 25.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. He had 25 points in a two-point loss to state-ranked [program_tooltip program_id='2829078' first='West' last='DePere'] and 27 in a win over state-ranked Brookfield East. [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], 6-3, G, Plymouth (Committed to Michigan Tech) Despite being the focal point of every opposing defense on an otherwise young squad, Schultz has still managed to put up impressive numbers. He is averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Panthers, who take a 5-4 mark into a game with West Bend East on Tuesday. [player_tooltip player_id='1561913' first='Henry' last='Gruetzmacher'], 6-9, PF, Brookfield Central (Committed to Green Bay) Gruetzmacher has improved as much or more than any other player in Wisconsin in the 2026 class. He rugged senior is having a very good season for the 4-3 Lancers of Brookfield Central as he is averaging 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds. DARK HORSE CANDIDATES [player_tooltip player_id='1959723' first='LaMont' last='Hamilton'], 6-0, PG, Racine St. Catherine's (Committed to Minnesota for football) Hamilton, who has committed to play football at the University of Minnesota, isn't shooting the ball like he's capable thus far, but he can turn it on quickly and could emerge as a top candidate for Mr. Basketball with a big second half to the season. He is averaging 22.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists as the Angels have won eight of their first nine outings. [player_tooltip player_id='1561869' first='Matthew' last='Kloskey'], 6-5, G/F, Wauwatosa West (Committed to Green Bay) Playing on a talented team with plenty of scoring options, Kloskey is averaging 21.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as the Trojans have won seven of nine outings. Kloskey can score in a lot of different ways and is at his best in the biggest games on the Wauwatosa West schedule. [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'], 6-8, F, Marshfield (Committed to Wyoming) Pohl is averaging 18.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while helping Marshfield to an 8-2 record. He is shooting 33 percent from three-point range on 20 makes in 61 attempts. [player_tooltip player_id='1561934' first='Jake' last='Broeske'], 6-10, F, Lomira (Uncommitted) Broeske has made a huge impact for Lomira after missing most of the last 12 months with recovering from an injury. He is putting up 19.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per outing while helping upstart Lomira to an 8-0 record.

About one-third of the way through the 2025-26 season, several members of the 2026 class have emerged as the top candidates to win the prestigious Mr. Basketball award, presented by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association each season at the WIAA State Tournament.

Here's a snapshot look at some of the leaders for the award, which is given each year to the state's top senior.

THE FAVORITES

Zavier Zens Zavier Zens 6'7" | SF Wisconsin Lutheran | 2026 State WI , 6-7, F, Wisconsin Lutheran (Committed to Northern Iowa)
Zens has been his usual steady and spectacular self while helping Wisconsin Lutheran to a 9-0 record and the No. 1 ranking among Division 1 schools in the WBCA/Prep Hoops Wisconsin poll. The skilled 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 28.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Vikings, who return to action Tuesday against invading Nicolet after winning three games in South Carolina last week to capture the Beach Ball Classic title. Zens is shooting 49 percent from three-point range and is a matchup nightmare because of his impressive versatility on offense.

Yusef Gray Jr. Yusef Gray Jr. 6'5" | SG West Allis Central | 2026 State WI , 6-4, G, West Allis Central (Committed to Iowa State)
Gray was maybe at his best in the Bulldogs' biggest win of the season, a 67-64 over previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Wayzata, Minn., at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout. Gray, who defends about as well as any other wing guard in the state, finished with 27 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Bulldogs registered an extremely hard-earned victory. Gray has helped West Allis Central to a 7-1 record and is averaging 25.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Andrew Jensen Andrew Jensen 6'9" | PF Kaukauna | 2026 State WI , 6-10, PF, Kaukauna (Committed to DePaul)
Jensen is the state's most dominant big man and his versatility and ability to control things near the hoop have helped Kaukauna win its first seven games of the season. Jensen is averaging 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots per game for the Ghosts. He is shooting 73 percent from the field and hit the game-winning shot as the horn sounded in a 60-59 triumph over highly regarded Appleton North.

Amare Hereford Amare Hereford 6'2" | PG Beloit Memorial | 2026 State WI , 6-2, G, Beloit Memorial (Uncommitted)
Hereford, a shifty, quick and skilled combination guard, currently leads the state in scoring at 39.0 ppg. He also is contributing 9.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists. His remarkable play thus far has helped Beloit Memorial to a 7-0 record under coach Todd Marks. Hereford has scored 40 or more points four times and is shooting 67 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three-point range. Hereford is the state's top uncommitted senior and owns several NCAA Division I scholarship offers.

CONTENDERS

Josh Manchester Josh Manchester 6'4" | SG Mount Horeb | 2026 State WI , 6-4, WG, Mount Horeb (Uncommitted)
Manchester is a wing guard with very deep shooting range and he can get on a heater any given time during a game. He is averaging 32.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Mount Horeb, which is 5-3. Manchester, a four-year varsity performer for coach Todd Nesheim, recently surpassed 2,000 career points and is shooting 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range.

Rashaad Davis Rashaad Davis 5'11" | PG Nicolet | 2026 State WI , 6-0, PG, Nicolet (Committed to Southern Utah)
Davis is on a roll of late for Nicolet as he put in 34 in a 73-68 loss to Wayzata, Minn., and then had 33 in an 89-82 win over Bolingbrook, Ill. The Southern Utah recruit is averaging 22.9 points and 6.2 assists while helping Nicolet to a 5-4 record against some top-quality opponents. His quickness with the ball and ability to get to the basket are impressive and difficult to stop.

Cahlil Jones Cahlil Jones 6'3" | SG Germantown | 2026 State WI , 6-4, G, Germantown (Uncommitted)
Jones missed the first three games of the season for Germantown, but has settled into the lineup and putting up impressive numbers for the Warhawks. The quick and athletic wing guard is averaging 25.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. He had 25 points in a two-point loss to state-ranked West De Pere and 27 in a win over state-ranked Brookfield East.

Kayden Schultz Kayden Schultz 6'3" | PG Plymouth | 2026 State WI , 6-3, G, Plymouth (Committed to Michigan Tech)
Despite being the focal point of every opposing defense on an otherwise young squad, Schultz has still managed to put up impressive numbers. He is averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Panthers, who take a 5-4 mark into a game with West Bend East on Tuesday.

Henry Gruetzmacher Henry Gruetzmacher 6'9" | PF Brookfield Central | 2026 State WI , 6-9, PF, Brookfield Central (Committed to Green Bay)
Gruetzmacher has improved as much or more than any other player in Wisconsin in the 2026 class. He rugged senior is having a very good season for the 4-3 Lancers of Brookfield Central as he is averaging 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds.

DARK HORSE CANDIDATES

LaMont Hamilton LaMont Hamilton 6'0" | PG Racine St. Catherine's | 2026 State WI , 6-0, PG, Racine St. Catherine's (Committed to Minnesota for football)
Hamilton, who has committed to play football at the University of Minnesota, isn't shooting the ball like he's capable thus far, but he can turn it on quickly and could emerge as a top candidate for Mr. Basketball with a big second half to the season. He is averaging 22.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists as the Angels have won eight of their first nine outings.

Matthew Kloskey Matthew Kloskey 6'5" | SF/SG Wauwatosa West | 2026 State WI , 6-5, G/F, Wauwatosa West (Committed to Green Bay)
Playing on a talented team with plenty of scoring options, Kloskey is averaging 21.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as the Trojans have won seven of nine outings. Kloskey can score in a lot of different ways and is at his best in the biggest games on the Wauwatosa West schedule.

Chris Pohl Chris Pohl 6'8" | PF/SF Marshfield | 2026 State WI , 6-8, F, Marshfield (Committed to Wyoming)
Pohl is averaging 18.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while helping Marshfield to an 8-2 record. He is shooting 33 percent from three-point range on 20 makes in 61 attempts.

Jake Broeske Jake Broeske 6'10" | PF Lomira | 2026 State WI , 6-10, F, Lomira (Uncommitted)
Broeske has made a huge impact for Lomira after missing most of the last 12 months with recovering from an injury. He is putting up 19.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per outing while helping upstart Lomira to an 8-0 record.