Bay Conference Preview
Looking ahead to the 2018-19 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Bay Conference.
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Seymour
2. Xavier
3. New London
4. West De Pere
5. Menasha
6. Green Bay East
7. Green Bay West
8. Shawano
FAVORITE
Seymour was fourth in the Bay Conference last season, but should trend forward in 2018-19. The Thunder have reigning second-team All-Conference selection Trent Blake (16.4 ppg) and a likely All-Conference pick in Riley Murphy (12.4 ppg) returning. Seymour had to rely on some youth last season and now returns five players who played in at least 22 games a year ago.
DARK HORSE
Don’t expect Xavier to fall off too much. The Hawks need to rebuild without Hunter Plamann, Sam Ferris, and Nate DeYoung, but Nick Otto and Henry Eagan are back and each averaged better than 13 ppg behind that strong trio. This is a program that’s gone a combined 101-9 over the last four seasons.
SURPRISE TEAM
They were 1-13 in conference play last season, but the talent is there for Green Bay West to dig themselves out. Leading scorer Freeman Jackson (15.0 ppg) is back for the Wildcats. With how strong the conference is this season, West may not move up in the standings a ton, but expect them to be much more competitive.
PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
G Rafe Whalen – Green Bay East
G Jacob Everson – Menasha
F Nick Otto – Xavier
F Trent Blake – Seymour
F Jake Karchinksi – West De Pere
SECOND TEAM
G Garret Locy – New London
G Prince Robinson – Green Bay West
G Riley Murphy – Seymour
G Freeman Jackson – Green Bay West
F Henry Egan – Xavier
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jake Karchinski is the lone returning first-team All-Conference selection. He’s one of the few top players in the league without a strong running mate, only adding to his value this season. The Iowa football commit was fourth in the conference in scoring last season at 17.5 ppg.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
On a loaded Xavier squad, Nick Otto was his team’s fourth leading scorer (13.6 ppg). The senior wing will push for Player of the Year honors in 2018-19. A deadly 3-point shooter, Otto hit 66 triples last season and shot a blistering 49.6 percent from the field.
SURPRISE PLAYER
We saw some terrific flashes from Prince Robinson over the summer. An athletic guard with a unique ability to create his own shot, Robinson averaged a modest 9.3 ppg as a junior, but looks like he’s capable of much more. Robinson did a little bit of everything last season for Green Bay West, adding 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game as well.