Preseason Predictions: Division 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023-24 WIAA boy's basketball season on the horizon, Prep Hoops Wisconsin reveals our preseason predictions in Division 1...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SECTIONAL 1 (SPASH)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Semifinals:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaukauna over Appleton East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshfield over Eau Claire Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Winner: </strong>Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The depth for Kaukauna powers them to Madison. The Ghosts should be one of the most improved teams in the state. A 16-11 squad in 2022-23, Kaukauna returns its top seven scorers. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1139306' first='Carson' last='Awe'] (14.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1141075' first='Jonathan' last='O'Neill'] (12.8 ppg), and Finley Doriot (12.5 ppg) will have plenty of help from junior [player_tooltip player_id='1289073' first='Keegan' last='Van Kauwenberg'] (10.1 ppg), one of the state's top shooters, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen'] (4.0 ppg), a top-five player in his class with massive upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1289073"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653f92c939feb"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SECTIONAL 2 (OSHKOSH NORTH)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Semifinals</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oshkosh North over Homestead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Pere over Arrowhead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Winner: </strong>De Pere</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Pere will have to cope with the loss of John Kinziger, now at Illinois State, and a few other seniors, but there's still plenty left in the cupboard. Coming off a 30-0 season, the Redbirds will be led by Northern Iowa bound [player_tooltip player_id='1193234' first='Will' last='Hornseth'] (16.6 ppg) and Wisconsin commit [player_tooltip player_id='1351717' first='Zach' last='Kinziger'] (15.4 ppg). Looking for a repeat, De Pere is still very deep and will count on role players such as [player_tooltip player_id='1908410' first='Pryce' last='Gregoire'] (6.2 ppg), Ben Willihnghanz (5.7 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id='1598992' first='Roan' last='Demovsky'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1351717"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653f92c93a04f"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SECTIONAL 3 (Janesville Craig)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Semifinals: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sun Prairie West over Middleton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muskego over Madison Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Winner: </strong>Sun Prairie West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may take a half a season or more to come together, but the Wolves are the most talented team in a relatively wide open division. Transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1193219' first='Theo' last='Schofield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1274622' first='Clevon' last='Easton'] may put West over the top through to Madison. Coming off a 15-8 season, the Wolves got a breakout season from junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1481180' first='Chris' last='Davis Jr.'] (24.1 ppg) and also get senior [player_tooltip player_id='1481177' first='Tyler' last='Haney'] (9.6 ppg) back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1481180"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653f92c93a09d"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SECTIONAL 4 (Kenosha Indian Trail)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brookfield Central over Kenosha Indian Trail</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette over Westosha Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Winner: </strong>Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's most improved teams last season, Marquette went from 11 wins to 21 in 2023-24. The Hilltoppers now reload behind St. Thomas commit [player_tooltip player_id='1203205' first='Nolan' last='Minessale'] (22.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1203206' first='T.J.' last='Adams'] (12.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1887198' first='Ryan' last='Meehan'] (11.3 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id='1418518' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'] (6.2 ppg). Marquette will have to go through the always challenging Greater Metro Conference, but a number one seed is well within their grasp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1203206"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653f92c93a0e3"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">STATE TOURNAMENT</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Pere over Sun Prairie West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette over Kaukauna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Pere over Marquette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Redbirds have a very cohesive unit and still have the ability to come at teams in waves. The 1-2 punch of Kinziger and Hornseth, a pair of prospects that play very well off each other, will overwhelm most teams. However, I'm still very high on De Pere's supporting cast, which is why I think they're the favorites to repeat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->