2021-22 Season Preview: Badger East

<p>Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the inaugural year of the Badger East Conference...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED STANDINGS</strong></p> <p>1.   DeForest</p> <p>2. Milton</p> <p>3. Waunakee</p> <p>4. Stoughton</p> <p>5. Beaver Dam</p> <p>6. Fort Atkinson</p> <p>7. Watertown</p> <p>8. Monona Grove</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>TOP FAVORITE - DeFOREST</strong></p> <p>The Norskies reached the state tournament  last season in Division 1. Behind Northern Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"], DeForest returns its top seven scorers from a club that went 16-6 in 2021-11. [player_tooltip player_id="865844" first="Nolan" last="Hawk"], Deven Magli, Josh Jansen, and [player_tooltip player_id="1024442" first="Brody" last="Hartig"] give the Norskies a very deep, talented, and experienced core.</p> <p><b>TOP CONTENDER - Milton</b></p> <p>Milton has looked pretty good this fall, even without [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1039320" first="Brogan" last="McIntyre"], who are with the football program at the moment. The Redhawks are deeper than people know with five of the top six scorers back from last season and that doesn’t include junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1141622" first="Matt" last="Kirk"] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1289020" first="Ayden" last="Goll"], two of the better youngsters on the team.</p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE -  Waunakee </strong></p> <p>This was a senior-laden team a year ago, but there are still some good pieces back, headlined by Iowa State football commit [player_tooltip player_id="761421" first="Andrew" last="Keller"]. As a junior, Keller averaged 12.6 ppg and has been in double figures in each of the last two seasons. If sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="1116321" first="Robert" last="Booker"] can take a step forward, the Warriors will be a force in 2021-22.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE</strong></p> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"] - Sr. (Milton)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"] - Sr. (DeForest)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1134927" first="Jordan" last="Hibner"] - Sr. (Monona Grove)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1144570" first="Ty" last="Fernholz"] - So. (Stoughton)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="865860" first="Luke" last="Fernholz"] - Sr. (Stoughton)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="761421" first="Andrew" last="Keller"] - Sr. (Waunakee)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="865840" first="Nathan" last="Gapinski"] - Sr. (Watertown)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="865844" first="Nolan" last="Hawk"] - Sr. (DeForest)</p> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1039384" first="Carson" last="Baker"] - Sr. (Fort Atkinson)</p> <p>G Oliver Meyers - Sr. (Watertown)</p> <p>G Tyler Bunkoske - Sr. (Beaver Dam)</p> <p>G Deven Magli - Sr. (DeForest)</p> <p>G Brady Helbing - Sr. (Beaver Dam)</p> <p>W [player_tooltip player_id="1039320" first="Brogan" last="McIntyre"] - Jr. (Milton)</p> <p>F Drew Evans - Sr. (Fort Atkinson)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1116321" first="Robert" last="Booker"] - So. (Waunakee)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR --  [player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"] and [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"]</strong></p> <p>Think it’s going to be tough to choose between these two outstanding seniors.</p> <p>Weisbrod, a Northern Michigan commit, led DeForest in scoring (18.0), rebounding (5.7), and assists (8.0) last season. A high-IQ combo guard with the clutch gene and ability to take over late in games, Weisbrod is one of the most cerebral players in the state.  He’ll control games as a scorer/facilitator, play mistake-free basketball, and always seems to play his best when the game is in the balance.</p> <p>Like Weisbrod, Campion also led Milton in scoring (22.6), rebounding (5.2). and assists (6.7). The senior guard can carry a team offensively, using his explosive handles, in-the-gym shooting range, and break-you-down ability on the ball. The fastest player in the state when the ball is in his hands, Campion is a blur even in the halfcourt and one of the most difficult matchups for opposing defenders.</p> <p><strong>BREAKOUT PLAYER - [player_tooltip player_id="1144570" first="Ty" last="Fernholz"]</strong></p> <p>Coming off a big summer, Fernholz established himself as one of the top sophomores in the state. A sniper who moves exceptionally well without the basketball, Fernholz has the ability to get hot and stay hot throughout the course of the game. As a freshman, he gave Stoughton 9.7 ppg while playing alongside a Division 2 prospect.  He also shot a cool 45.3 percent from downtown. </p> <p><strong>SURPRISE PLAYER - [player_tooltip player_id="1116321" first="Robert" last="Booker"]</strong></p> <p>Booker just got better and better on the AAU circuit over the summer. A big body who can move and is flashing versatility as a ball handler/shooter, Booker averaged nearly four points per game as a freshman and played in 17 games for Waunakee last season. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>