Southeast Conference Preview
Looking ahead to the 2018-19 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Southeast Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Racine Park
2. Racine Case
3. Racine Horlick
4. Franklin
5. Kenosha Indian Trail
6. Kenosha Bradford
7. Oak Creek
8. Kenosha Tremper
FAVORITE
Following a 21-5 campaign, Racine Park has just about everything back with the exception of Jalawn Farrell, who transferred. The Panthers finished second in the conference last season, but by the end of the year, looked like the best team in the Southeast Conference. Park won eight-straight against in-state foes and fell to eventual Division 1 runner-up Brookfield East in the sectional semifinals. This team is a strong favorite with experienced veterans Nobal Days, Larry Canady, Zyiere Carey, Ricky Canady, and Richie Warren ready to make a push to the state tournament.
DARK HORSE
Liked what we saw from Racine Case in some fall league action. Sophomore JaKobe Thompson is coming off a monster freshman season, averaging nearly 18.0 ppg. Sophomore Jonathan Rankins (8.5 ppg) should also build off a fine first year on the varsity level. Case was a very young team that won 10 games last season and had it not been for a very ugly first half, may have upset Milwaukee Riverside in the playoffs.
SURPRISE TEAM
Franklin was 22-2 last season and lost some very valuable seniors. However, this program doesn’t seem to have lost its identity. The Sabres had some impressive wins in the Brookfield Central fall league. Senior guard Jacob Vonderwell is the straw that stirs the drink and ties everything together. As a junior he averaged 7.6 apg to lead the Southeast Conference. Franklin has an equal opportunity offense that’s tough to lock in on and still plays hard-nosed, fundamentally sound defense. Even without Max Alba and others, this team won’t be easy to defeat.
PROJECTED FIRST-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
G JaKobe Thompson – Racine Case
G Larry Canady – Racine Park
G Marquise Milton – Racine Horlick
G Jacob Vonderwell – Franklin
F Nobal Days – Racine Park
SECOND TEAM
G Ezra Stargell – Kenosha Indian Trail
G Quinn Stulo – Oak Creek
G Zyiere Carey – Racine Park
F Maxwell Glass – Kenosha Bradford
F T’Juan Bradford – Kenosha Indian Trail
F Jonathan Rankins – Racine Case
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Larry Canady is one of the top two-way players in the state. The senior guard is not only the go-to scorer from Park, but their defensive stopper as well. Last season, Canady averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
We have undersold Ezra Stargell with the second-team pick. A talented sophomore, Stargell averaged nearly 12 ppg as a freshman. At 5-foot-7, Stargell is a terrific penetrating guard with excellent quickness and handles.
SURPRISE PLAYER
Maxwell Glass of Kenosha Bradford should transition into the team’s leading scorer in 2018-19. As a sophomore, Glass averaged just shy of eight points per game behind high volume scorer De’Monte Nelson (28.6 ppg). The sharpshooting wing had some huge performances during the travel season and might be one of the better unknown commodities within the conference.