Milwaukee City Gold Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Milwaukee Hamilton 11-1 (19-6); 2. Carmen Northwest 10-2 (20-8); 3. Milwaukee Bradley Tech 6-6 (19-9); 3. Milwaukee North 6-6 (15-10); 5. Milwaukee Rufus King 5-7 (11-12); 6. Milwaukee Marshall 4-8 (4-14); 7. Milwaukee Riverside 0-12 (1-22).<br><br><em>Editor's Note:</em> Milwaukee Juneau moves from the Blue Division to the Gold Division while Riverside switches from the Gold to the Blue for 2024-25.<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Juneau</strong> -- The jump from the Blue Division to the City Conference's top tier in the Gold Division is a big one, to be sure. But Juneau has the talent and experience to make the jump with success. Coach Aaron Spiering will rely on the state's top-ranked class of 2027 prospect in combination guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'] (6-5, 24.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg). Johnson can do it all on the court, and his leadership, ball skills and desire will be huge assets for the Pioneers. Also returning to the starting rotation from a club that went 18-5 are senior [player_tooltip player_id='2610609' first='Raylen' last='Jones'] (5-11, 7.3 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2045272' first='Takis' last='Tyler'] (5-10, 14.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Jaden Haridem (6-3, 9.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Juneau will use its speed and transition game to play an up-tempo style. Up front, the Pioneers could get some help from freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2530851' first='Corey' last='Collins'] (6-6).<br><br><strong>2. Bradley Tech</strong> -- Few coaches in Wisconsin work as many hours as Bradley Tech's Shon Haralson. The ninth-year mentor of the Trojans has put in a lot of time and energy to restore Bradley Tech into a City Conference power. His stick-to-itiveness could pay off big time in 2024-25. Four starters return from a club that went 19-9, including one of the state's top juniors in wing [player_tooltip player_id='1749722' first='Jakari' last='Smith'] (6-5, 14.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.5 spg) and one of the league's most improved backcourt performers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2435115' first='Rashad' last='Fenner'] (6-2, 12.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.0 apg). Smith and Fenner form a solid combination with seniors Arvell Lockhart (5-8, 10.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2394366' first='Jabari' last=''] Lee (6-7, 10.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg) also expected to play big roles. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2224521' first='Lajalin' last='Overton'] (6-7, 3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and sophomore Bryce Ingram (6-1), a transfer from Florida, also could work their way into the rotation. <br><br><strong>3. Rufus King</strong> -- This program boasts some of the top young talent in the state with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'] (6-6, 13.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2371706' first='Caesar' last='Bond'] (6-5, 9.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg) leading the way for coach Doug Lewis. McDuffie and Bond are outstanding collegiate prospects who play with purpose, energy and a diversified skill set. In addition to McDuffie and Bond, the Generals figure to get big production from senior Kory Ahmed (6-1, 7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) along with juniors Quincy Mckinnie (5-10, 8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1561926' first='Bryce' last='Samuel'] (6-3, 8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg). <br><br><strong>4. Carmen Northwest</strong> -- Carmen Northwest finished one game behind league-champion Hamilton a year ago and won 20 games under coach Dupree Fletcher Sr. His oldest son, Dupree Fletcher Jr., averaged 27.6 points and 7.9 rebounds, but now is playing at Grambling State. Despite the significant loss of Fletcher Jr., Carmen Northwest still figures to field a formidable squad. Senior Javante Edwards (6-1, 20.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, committed to Canisius) is one of the state's best backcourt players and will team with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2685659' first='Carmelo' last='Fletcher'] (5-8, 6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) to comprise a stellar backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2685659' first='Carmelo' last='Fletcher'] is the son of the coach and younger brother of Fletcher Jr. Also back is talented senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2631846' first='Josiah' last='Posey'] (6-3, 12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg).<br><br><strong>5. Hamilton</strong> -- Hamilton's defending league-champion Wildcats lost some key players to graduation, including top scorer Ky'Moni Hunt (5-9, 24.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg). Still, coach Pat Bell has built a stellar program on the southside of the city as should again have the Wildcats in the hunt for a league crown. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2631840' first='Rashad' last='Rogers'] (6-7, 11.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg) is an elite big man in the Gold Division and headlines a list of four returning regulars that also includes promising sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2625083' first='Jayden' last='Burrell'] (5-11, 10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2416364' first='Latayvious' last='Brown'] (5-9, 5.4 ppg) and sophomore Justin Speed (6-0, 4.1 pppg, 2.4 rpg).<br><br><strong>6. Marshall</strong> -- The Eagles have an uphill fight competing against so many gifted teams in the Gold Division of the City Conference. Coach Randy Dillon lost his top three scorers to graduation so scoring punch is a concern along with size, depth and experience. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2417501' first='Sire' last='Brown'] (6-2, 4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and sophomore Jokell Lipsey (5-10, 2.2 ppg) saw action a year ago for a team that finished 4-14. Also back for Marshall are junior Billyen Hall (5-10) and sophomore Devenote Bell (6-1).<br><strong><br>7. North Division</strong> -- Replacing double/double forward John Adams (6-7, 15.6 ppg, 15.3 rpg) is an obstacle to overcome for the Blue Devils and coach Mickell Harrell. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2392701' first='Kenneth' last='Maclin'] (5-11, 10.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) is the top returning player for North Division.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'], Juneau (24.7 ppg)<br>Javante Edwards, Carmen Northwest (20.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1749722' first='Jakari' last='Smith'], Bradley Tech (14.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045272' first='Takis' last='Tyler'], Juneau (14.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'], Rufus King (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2631846' first='Josiah' last='Posey'], Carmen Northwest (12.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2435115' first='Rashad' last='Fenner'], Bradley Tech (12.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2631840' first='Rashad' last='Rogers'], Hamilton (11.2 ppg)T<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2625083' first='Jayden' last='Burrell'], Hamilton (10.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2392701' first='Kenneth' last='Maclin'], North Division (10.3 ppg)<br>Arvell Lockhart, Bradley Tech (10.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2394366' first='Jabari' last=''] Lee, Bradley Tech (10.0 ppg)<br>Jaden Haridem, Juneau (9.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371706' first='Caesar' last='Bond'], Rufus King (9.7 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1749722' first='Jakari' last='Smith'], 6-5, Jr., Bradley Tech<br>Javante Edwards, 6-1, Sr., Carmen Northwest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2631840' first='Rashad' last='Rogers'], 6-7, Sr., Hamilton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'], 6-5, Soph., Juneau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'], 6-6, Soph., Rufus King<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2435115' first='Rashad' last='Fenner'], 6-2, Sr., Bradley Tech<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2631846' first='Josiah' last='Posey'], 6-3, Sr., Carmen Northwest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2625083' first='Jayden' last='Burrell'], 5-11, Soph., Hamilton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2045272' first='Takis' last='Tyler'], 5-10, Jr., Juneau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371706' first='Caesar' last='Bond'], 6-5, Soph., Rufus King<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><strong><br>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'], Juneau<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'], Rufus King<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2631840' first='Rashad' last='Rogers'], Hamilton<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'], Juneau<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2435115' first='Rashad' last='Fenner'], Bradley Tech</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->