Big Eight Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings</strong><br><br>1. (tie) Madison Memorial 16-2 (27-3); 1. (tie) Middleton 16-2 (22-5); 3. Verona 15-3 (22-5); 4. Madison La Follette 11-7 (15-10); 5. Sun Prairie West 8-10 (9-16); 6. (tie) Janesville Craig 7-11 (11-14); 6. (tie) Madison West 7-11 (12-14); 8. Madison East 5-13 (7-18); 9. Sun Prairie East (4-14 (4-21); 10. Janesville Parker 1-17 (4-21)<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/verona/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/verona/">Verona</a> -- The Wildcats were a few plays away from winning the Big Eight crown a year ago, but fell just short, finishing a game behind co-champions Madison Memorial and Middleton. Coach Curtrel Robinson has the luxury of having the top player in the league on his side this winter as Northern Illinois recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2505503' first='Will' last='Stremlow'] (6-4) is back for his senior year after averaging 20.0 ppg and 7.1 rpg as a junior. The athletic and strong Stremlow is a relentless offensive force and teams with quick, skilled and smart junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2618890' first='Terrin' last='Jackson'] (5-9) to give Verona perhaps the best one-two punch in the league. Jackson's ability to put pressure on opposing point guards is second to none among the 10 teams in the conference and he's also a capable scorer as he netted 11.1 ppg as a sophomore. Other key returning players for the Wildcats include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2140892' first='Caden' last='Jonjak'] (6-3) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2682935' first='Max' last='Crimmings'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2430744' first='Deonte' last='Phillips'] (6-2). Jonjak is one of the better perimeter shooters in the Madison area while Crimmings and Phillips both played big roles off the bench last season. <br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/middleton/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/middleton/">Middleton</a> -- The Cardinals lost four starters and the Big Eight Player of the Year (Jackson Guerrero) to graduation. Still, no team in the conference has more depth and versatility than Middleton. Talented junior [player_tooltip player_id='2824423' first='Carter' last='Parks'] (6-4) started on a 22-5 squad and averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. He is a bull to stop around the basket and has excellent finishing ability. Classmate [player_tooltip player_id='3196154' first='Cormac' last='Carlson'] (6-0) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2396705' first='Parker' last='Klein'] (6-4) were key reserves for veteran coach Kevin Bavery and both will compete for starting berths this time around. The senior class at Middleton may lack star power, but wings [player_tooltip player_id='3693793' first='Eli' last='Breunig'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3196153' first='Will' last='Russell'] (6-3) are both proven performers with good size, length and skill. Look for incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2410779' first='Grant' last='Parks'] (6-3) to potentially work his way into the regular playing rotation as well.<br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/la-follette/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/la-follette/">Madison La Follette</a> -- There are not many players in the Big Eight Conference who can score at the rate of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2140977' first='Reece' last='Jordan Jr.'] (6-2), an aggressive backcourt performer with tons of varsity experience and the physicality and nose-for-the-basket attributes that led to a 21.4 ppg average as a junior. Jordan's ability to score, draw fouls and use his strength to keep opposing guards away from the basket will be big assets for coach Torrance Holmes and the Lancers in 2026-27. Jordan, who has committed to NCAA Division II Augustana in South Dakota, will get plenty of backcourt help from junior [player_tooltip player_id='2399542' first='CJ' last='Costello'] (6-1) and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140969' first='Origin' last='Prewitt'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='2992404' first='Patrick' last='Toomey'] (5-11). Costello and Prewitt are both multi-year varsity players who understand the La Follette system. Experienced depth might be a concern for La Follette as will lack of size in the post. <br><br>4.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sun-prairie-west/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sun-prairie-west/"> Sun Prairie West </a>-- Paced by a skilled and smart lead guard in [player_tooltip player_id='2454568' first='Jahleel' last='Weah'] (5-10) along with two improved wing with size in [player_tooltip player_id='2369860' first='Almir' last='Dervishi'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3218057' first='TJ' last='Foy'] (6-3), Sun Prairie West is going to be a difficult team to beat in 2026-27. Weah can make plays with the game on the line and led the Wolves in scoring a year ago at 12.3 ppg. Dervishi is a good scorer (9.4 ppg) and rebounder (4.1 rpg) while Foy is one of the more improved players in the entire conference after netting 6.5 ppg and grabbing 4.3 rpg as a junior. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3270291' first='Ben' last='Sadler'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2438260' first='Thomas' last='Malone'] (6-2) will challenge for starting berths along with three gifted sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='2719044' first='Antoine' last='Jordan Jr']. (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2433738' first='Andrew' last='Malone'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2539171' first='Jude' last='Ogunsola'] (6-4). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2897682' first='Miles' last='Gale'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3626721' first='Griffin' last='Schmidt'] (6-4) also could factor into the rotation for coach Jay Swanson.<br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-west/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-west/">Madison West</a> -- Drew Stempkes starts his third season as the head coach at Madison West looking to better a 12-14 mark. And he has a group of quick and athletic players to accomplish the feat. Leading the way for the Regents is junior [player_tooltip player_id='2615535' first='Corvalis' last='Stewart'] Jr. (6-2), a versatile wing prospect who averaged 16.5 ppg and 6.3 as a sophomore starter. Stewart is a first-team all-league caliber performer and figures to be the go-to scorer for the Regents. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194445' first='Ka'Maria' last='Carter'] (5-10) also is back after averaging 5.3 ppg and 4.2 rpg. In the frontcourt, West figures to get production from [player_tooltip player_id='2779805' first='Sam' last='Strange'] (6-5), [player_tooltip player_id='2416499' first='Owen' last='Smith'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3734235' first='Elliot' last='Lightbourn'] (6-5), among others. A talented group of sophomores could provide quality depth for the Regents, who look to play an up-tempo style characterized by plenty of full-court defensive pressure. <br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-memorial/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-memorial/">Madison Memorial </a>-- Former Madison Memorial guard Billy Wilson, an assistant with the program the past several seasons, replaces Steve Collins as the Spartans' head coach and will have to carve out an entirely new starting lineup from that one that led Collins' final team to a 27-3 record and a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament. There is some returning talent in the program, though, so don't think Memorial will be a pushover in league play. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2460859' first='KJ' last='Cross Jr']. (6-5) might be the most improved player in the conference and is coming off a junior season where he averaged 5.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg as the top reserve. Cross' size, physicality and ability to score inside and outside will be important strengths for Memorial, which also welcomes back seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2509460' first='Will' last='Lisowski-Semb'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2509464' first='Jahcari' last='Boyd'] (6-2) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2866900' first='Martin' last='Runde'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3561631' first='Gotti' last='Carreon'] (6-5). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2504947' first='Jack' last='Braun'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3790436' first='Jacob' last='O'Neill'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='2779122' first='Connor' last='Skjervem'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3790439' first='Jayon' last='Boone'] (6-1) could also factor into the rotation.<br><br>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-east/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/madison-east/">Madison East</a> -- A familiar face is back on the sidelines for Madison East as Matt Miota has returned to serve as the Purgolders' head coach after a two-year absence. Miota previously served 13 years as head man at Madison East so he's very familiar with the program and the quality of teams in the Big Eight. Four starters are back for the Purgolders, led by the talented senior tandem of wing [player_tooltip player_id='2454321' first='DJ' last='Nash'] (6-3) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='2452028' first='Jawuan' last='Chester'] (6-1). Nash led the team in scoring (20.0 ppg) while Chester (14.1 ppg) ranked second in that department. Nash and Chester give Madison East a potent scoring duo and will get plenty of help from Madison West transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2140992' first='Tre' last='Turner'] (5-10), a quick senior who averaged 12.3 points and 2.0 rebounds for the Regents as a junior. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2452290' first='Zion' last='Ellis'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3341007' first='James' last='Hassell'] (6-1), both regulars on last year's squad that finished 7-18, along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3341008' first='Jordan' last='Boyton'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3490453' first='Matteo' last='Miota'] (6-0) also figure to battle for substantial playing time. <br><br>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/janesville-parker/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/janesville-parker/">Janesville Parker</a> -- With just one league win over the past two seasons, the Vikings figure to enter the new campaign hungry for success. And coach Matt Bredesen has a veteran roster loaded with balance, athleticism and depth in order to move up in the league standings. Five senior starters will set the table for Parker and that group includes [player_tooltip player_id='2641822' first='Javonte' last='Johnson'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3020417' first='Tyrell' last='Jordan'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2972859' first='Henry' last='Simmons'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2820347' first='Keyondre' last='Johnson'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972865' first='Nolan' last='Pagel'] (6-1). [player_tooltip player_id='2641822' first='Javonte' last='Johnson'] topped the club in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) as a junior while the other four returnees all averaged between 6.4 ppg and 8.6 ppg. Two additional seniors figure to provide depth as both [player_tooltip player_id='2972858' first='Carter' last='Salas'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972864' first='Nolan' last='Ziegelman'] (6-4) played decent minutes off the bench. <br><br>9. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/janesville-craig/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/janesville-craig/">Janesville Craig</a> -- Guard play figures to be a strength for third-year coach Jack Hoag as seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2452081' first='Keyon'Dre' last='Thornton'] (5-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2991950' first='Dru' last='DeGraaf'] (6-0) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2699549' first='Griffin' last='Roth'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2448768' first='Jayvon' last='Davis'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2699550' first='Malachi' last='Schoonover'] (5-11) all played substantial minutes for a team that finished 11-14. Thornton is a multi-year varsity performer and the lone returning starter of the group. His quickness on defense sets the tone for the Cougars and he also is a capable scorer as he netted 10.6 ppg as a junior. Roth, the top returning scorer for Craig at 13.3 ppg, is one of the league's top three-point shooters. Up front, the Cougars will count heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2442324' first='Alex' last='Villapando'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2415503' first='Jonah' last='Sookraj'] (6-4). Both forwards will need to step up their production to help offset the loss of the graduated Nolan Duffy (6-7), who led Craig in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounding (11.6 rpg).<br><br>10.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sun-prairie-east/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sun-prairie-east/"> Sun Prairie East</a> -- This is no ordinary last-place team. In fact, you could make a case for Sun Prairie East finishing among the top six or seven teams in the circuit as coach Steve Maselter's young group continues to grow and mature. Three senior starters are back in [player_tooltip player_id='3223939' first='Jaxson' last='Pegeese'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2993039' first='Camden' last='Glusick'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3223935' first='Carson' last='Selmer'] (6-4). Glusick is the top returning scorer (12.3 ppg) and rebounder (5.1 rpg) from a club that finished 4-21. His presence on the floor is huge for the Cardinals, who figure to get big production from its talented core of solid young players that includes junior [player_tooltip player_id='3218664' first='Aiden' last='Dworak'] (6-5), [player_tooltip player_id='2993044' first='LJ' last='Benedict'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2993045' first='Evan' last='Saugstad'] (5-9) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3295404' first='Carter' last='Kavanaugh'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2402964' first='Kellen' last='Russell'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2435287' first='Taylor' last='Matthews'] (5-10). <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140977' first='Reece' last='Jordan Jr.'], Madison La Follette (21.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2454321' first='DJ' last='Nash'], Madison East (20.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505503' first='Will' last='Stremlow'], Verona (20.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2615535' first='Corvalis' last='Stewart'] Jr., Madison West (14.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2641822' first='Javonte' last='Johnson'], Janesville Parker (14.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2824423' first='Carter' last='Parks'], Middleton (14.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2452028' first='Jawuan' last='Chester'], Madison East (14.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2699549' first='Griffin' last='Roth'], Janesville Craig (13.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2993039' first='Camden' last='Glusick'], Sun Prairie East (12.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140992' first='Tre' last='Turner'], Madison West (12.3 ppg) *<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2454568' first='Jahleel' last='Weah'], Sun Prairie West (12.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2618890' first='Terrin' last='Jackson'], Verona (11.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2452081' first='Keyon'Dre' last='Thornton'], Janesville Craig (10.6 ppg)<br><br>* Turner has transferred to Madison East<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505503' first='Will' last='Stremlow'], 6-4, Sr., Verona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2454321' first='DJ' last='Nash'], 6-3, Sr., Madison East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140977' first='Reece' last='Jordan Jr.'], 6-2, Sr., Madison La Follette<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2615535' first='Corvalis' last='Stewart'] Jr., 6-2, Jr., Madison West<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2824423' first='Carter' last='Parks'], 6-4, Jr., Middleton<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2460859' first='KJ' last='Cross Jr']., 6-5, Sr., Madison Memorial<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2454568' first='Jahleel' last='Weah'], 5-10, Sr., Sun Prairie West<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2618890' first='Terrin' last='Jackson'], 5-9, Jr., Verona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2641822' first='Javonte' last='Johnson'], 6-3, Sr., Janesville Parker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2396705' first='Parker' last='Klein'], 6-4, Soph., Middleton<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2140892' first='Caden' last='Jonjak'], Verona<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2824423' first='Carter' last='Parks'], Middleton<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2618890' first='Terrin' last='Jackson'], Verona<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2505503' first='Will' last='Stremlow'], Verona<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2460859' first='KJ' last='Cross Jr'], Madison Memorial<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->