Capitol South Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-25 Standings</strong><br><br>1. (tie) Cambridge 8-2 (20-10); 1. (tie) New Glarus 8-2 (16-10); 1. (tie) Marshall 8-2 (15-11); 4. Belleville 4-6 (9-17); 5. (tie) Wisconsin Heights 1-9 (2-23); 5. (tie) Waterloo 1-9 (5-21)<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/marshall/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/marshall/">Marshall </a>-- A three-way deadlock atop the Capitol South standings a year ago could very well happen again in 2026-27 as Marshall, Cambridge and New Glarus all boast stellar rosters loaded with experience and talent. Marshall gets the slight nod over the other two entering the season as coach TJ Zweifel turns to the most dynamic player in the league to lead the way. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'] (6-2) averaged a robust 27.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior while helping the Cardinals to a 15-11 record. His ability to play both ends and accomplishment stat-stuffing performance after stat-stuffing performance will be vital Marshall's hopes for repeating as league winners. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3020947' first='Logan' last='Ney'] (6-0) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2613994' first='Reid' last='Christenson Vacha'] (5-10) also return after averaging 8.3 ppg and 11.1 ppg, respectively. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3165160' first='Landon' last='Connelly'] (5-11) and Santiago Alvarez Cano (6-0) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3165162' first='Max' last='Moses'] (5-10) also return. Sophomore transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2450160' first='Lavonte' last='Johnson'] (6-5), who played on Madison Memorial's Division 1 state-runner-up squad last winter, could prove to be a difference maker for Marshall due to his size, athleticism and scoring ability near the basket. <br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/cambridge/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/cambridge/">Cambridge</a> -- Playoff magic made a stop at Cambridge last March as the Bluejays rattled off five straight post-season wins after a 15-9 regular season to advance all the way to the WIAA Division 4 state-title contest. Cambridge lost a hard-fought game to Milwaukee Juneau in the finals, but the Bluejays gained a deserved reputation as a team that guards with intelligence, shares the ball on every possession and competes for every rebound. Coach Alex Ranney, now in his third year, has three starters and some talented reserves returning, once again making Cambridge one of the top Division 4 teams in Wisconsin. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2933467' first='Evan' last='Harbort'] (6-4), [player_tooltip player_id='2933465' first='Ian' last='Nelles'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019288' first='Cash' last='Cunningham'] (6-0) were regulars while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019292' first='J'Kari' last='Crawford'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019286' first='Jack' last='Baker'] (6-3) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'] (6-3) all played big minutes off the bench. Those six players form a rock-solid core with all six capable of putting points on the board and contributing on the glass. <br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/new-glarus/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/new-glarus/">New Glarus</a> -- Several experienced players and an extremely promising freshman form the core of the New Glarus squad in 2026-27. Leading the way for coach Travis Sysko's club are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3002995' first='Brent' last='Weeden'] (6-1). Both were regulars on a 16-10 squad with Julseth averaging a team-high 19.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg and Weeden adding 8.0 ppg and 5.4 rpg. Julseth is a four-year varsity performer while Weeden and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3003021' first='Tucker' last='Sysko'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021381' first='Quinn' last='Marty'] (6-3) are both three-year varsity players. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3645346' first='Tyse' last='Hoesly'] (6-2) could battle for a starting spot as will freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2829064' first='Brock' last='Weeden'] (6-3), a multi-talented and versatile player who ranks among the best class of 2030 prospects in Wisconsin. Coach Sysko begins his 25th year as the head coach at New Glarus with 330 wins at the school and 370 wins overall. <br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/belleville/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/belleville/">Belleville </a>-- Capitol South Conference coaches outside of Belleville are relieved Jackson Scholey has finally graduated. The talented 5-foot-9 guard scored 1,098 career points and averaged 22.1 ppg as a senior last winter, helping the Wildcats to a 9-17 record. Coach Drew Shrader welcomes back six varsity players, including a pair of starters in junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3139293' first='Brody' last='Funseth'] (6-4) and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3019018' first='Jackson' last='Fahey'] (5-10). Funseth averaged 3.7 ppg and 4.1 rpg and figures to take a big step forward in both areas while Fahey contributed 1.3 ppg and 2.2 rpg. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3139291' first='Randy' last='Raven'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3019014' first='Adam' last='Johnson'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019017' first='Austin' last='McKinley'] (5-7) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019013' first='Evan' last='Edge'] (5-11) also return for a balanced squad that might struggle at times with putting points on the scoreboard. <br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/wisconsin-heights/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/wisconsin-heights/">Wisconsin Heights</a> -- The Vanguards have averaged just one win per year within Capitol South Conference play the past four seasons. The trekking might be a bit difficult again this winter, but Wisconsin Heights figures to surpass its 2-23 finish of a year ago. Four starters return for first-year coach Isaiah Crowe in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3023001' first='Brooks' last='Behn'] (5-11), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2613996' first='Graham' last='Crowe'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2779137' first='Jayden' last='Starcer'] (6-4), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3025314' first='Griffin' last='Crowe'] (6-1). [player_tooltip player_id='2613996' first='Graham' last='Crowe'] finished as the top scorer (13.0 ppg) and rebounder (6.1 rpg) on the team and headlines the list of returnees. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3183767' first='Tyson' last='Theobald'] and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3580418' first='Graeme' last='Payne'] (5-6) and [player_tooltip player_id='3183758' first='Beckem' last='Schaefer'] (6-1) also could factor in the playing rotation for the Vanguards.<br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/waterloo/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/waterloo/">Waterloo</a> -- The high coaching turnover at Waterloo continued again over the summer when Kristofer Chwala left the school in order to take the head-coaching job at Waupun. Chwala spent just one year as the Pirates' head coach and helped the team to a 5-21 record a year after finishing 2-23. Four starters will greet first-year coach Aleck Sharma when practices get underway next month. That foursome includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='3029361' first='Avery' last='Peachey'] (6-5) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3033957' first='Alejandro' last='Unzueta'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3033954' first='Logan' last='Powers'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3033956' first='Aiden' last='Arians'] (6-2). Peachey is the top returning scorer (9.7 ppg) and rebounder (8.6 rpg) for Waterloo, which also brings back seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022731' first='Kayden' last='Bird'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022721' first='Shea' last='Sellnow'] (6-5). There is some size, some experience and some hunger to get better at Waterloo. More than anything else, the Pirates need some stability in the coaching position after four different head coaches in four years. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], Marshall (27.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'], New Glarus (19.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613996' first='Graham' last='Crowe'], Wisconsin Heights (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613994' first='Reid' last='Christenson Vacha'], Marshall (11.1)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2933467' first='Evan' last='Harbort'], Cambridge (10.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019292' first='J'Kari' last='Crawford'], Cambridge (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Teams</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019292' first='J'Kari' last='Crawford'], 6-0, Sr., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2933467' first='Evan' last='Harbort'], 6-4, Jr., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], 6-2, Sr., Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2450160' first='Lavonte' last='Johnson'], 6-5, Soph., Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'], 5-9, sr., New Glarus<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'], 6-3, Jr., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613994' first='Reid' last='Christenson Vacha'], 5-10, Jr., Cambridge<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829064' first='Brock' last='Weeden'], 6-3, Frosh., New Glarus<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3029361' first='Avery' last='Peachey'], 6-5, Sr., Waterloo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613996' first='Graham' last='Crowe'], 6-1, Jr., Wisconsin Heights<br><br><strong>The Big Five<br>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'], New Glarus<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], Marshall<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3029361' first='Avery' last='Peachey'], Waterloo<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2450160' first='Lavonte' last='Johnson'], Marshall<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2714923' first='Oscar' last='Brown'], Cambridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->