Way-Too-Early Top 10 For 2020-21: Division 1
An early look at the top 10 teams to beat in Division 1 for the 2020-21 season… 1. Brookfield Central If Central could have beaten Sussex Hamilton in the sectional finals, maybe the only thing stopping them from a three-peat …
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Continue ReadingAn early look at the top 10 teams to beat in Division 1 for the 2020-21 season…
1. Brookfield Central
If Central could have beaten Sussex Hamilton in the sectional finals, maybe the only thing stopping them from a three-peat was a national pandemic. The Lancers will return leading scorer and rebounder David Joplin David Joplin 6'8" | SF Brookfield | 2021 State #54 Nation WI (23.2 ppg) as well as their leading facilitator Ben Nau Ben Nau 6'1" | PG Brookfield Central | 2021 State WI (5.2 apg), who also scored in double figures last season (12.5 ppg). There are some tough losses to overcome, including a pair of Division 2 recruits in the front line — Eric Radisevic Eric Radisevic 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2020 State WI and Malik Abdul-Wahid Malik Abdul-Wahid 6'6" | SF Brookfield Central | 2020 State WI . If Andrew Rodhe (8.5 ppg) makes the jump he’s expected to during his junior season, Central should be able to stay on top in Division 1.
2. Sussex Hamilton
Even though Hamilton and Central will be somewhat different in 2020-21, we’re still kind of splitting hairs here. The Chargers lose sharpshooter Carson Smith Carson Smith 6'1" | CG Sussex Hamilton | 2020 State WI to Northern Michigan, but they’ll have the Wisconsin version of the splash brothers in Patrick Baldwin Jr. Patrick Baldwin Jr. 6'9" | SF Sussex Hamilton | 2021 State #2 Nation WI (24.3 ppg), who will be the frontrunner to win Mr. Basketball, and Tanner Resch Tanner Resch 6'0" | PG Hamilton | 2021 State WI (14.1 ppg). Luther Smith Luther Smith 6'1" | SG Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI , who played in spots as a freshman could give them something as well. However, the losses of J.T. Hoytink J.T. Hoytink 6'0" | PG Sussex Hamilton | 2020 State WI and Lucas Finnessy Lucas Finnessy 6'4" | PF Sussex Hamilton | 2020 State WI is where you give the edge to Central. Those are two x-factors who provide toughness and energy that Hamilton just likely won’t be able to replace next season.
3. Racine Case
Would have liked to see how this team performed at the state tournament. The Eagles were probably still a year away from being a legit contender, but that won’t be the case in 2020-21. The reigning Southeast Conference champs will be one of the state’s most exciting squads. They’ll have to replace Jonathan Rankins and Nick Fugiasco Nick Fugiasco 6'3" | SG Racine Case | 2020 State WI , but Case has a dangerous trio in JaKobe Thompson (19.0 ppg), Terryon Brumby Terryon Brumby 6'0" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI (14.4 ppg), and Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI (8.5 ppg), who will now all be upperclassmen.
4. Brookfield East
The one thing you know about this program — they don’t go away. No matter who they lose, nobody likes seeing Joe Rux and the Spartans on the opposite sideline, because they don’t beat themselves and they’ll put you in a fistfight for 36 minutes if they have to.
All-State guard Hayden Doyle Hayden Doyle 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2021 State WI (21.0 ppg) returns. East will have to replace Sam McGath Sam McGath 6'2" | PG Brookfield East | 2020 State WI (15.8 ppg) and Michael Poker Michael Poker 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2020 State WI (13.5 ppg), but the Spartans will welcome in the No. 1 player in Wisconsin’s 2024 class Tayshawn Bridges next season.
5. Milwaukee King
King suffered its only loss of the 2019-20 season in the regional finals to Brookfield East as part of a loaded sectional that had five ranked teams in it. Leading scorer Quinton Murrell Quinton Murrell 6'5" | SG Milwaukee King | 2021 State WI (18.0 ppg), a first-team All-State pick is back for his senior season as is senior guard Rickey Bradley Jr. (11.7 ppg). The Generals do lose a lot of role players and will need junior Jayquon Hickles and senior Mohamed Niang to step up next season.
6. Waunakee
The Warriors went 19-6 last season and won the Badger North Conference. Waunakee will also get its top three scorers — junior Andrew Keller Andrew Keller 6'5" | PF Waunakee | 2022 State WI (12.7), senior Caden Nelson (12.2), and senior Jaxson Zibell Jaxson Zibell 6'1" | SG Waunakee | 2021 State WI (11.0) back. A gritty, blue collar group that defends at a high level and can space the floor with numerous 3-point shooters, look for the Warriors to potentially repeat in the Badger North and make a deep run in March.
7. Kimberly
The losses of Jake Buchanan Jake Buchanan 5'11" | PG Kimberly | 2020 State WI and Logan Pearson Logan Pearson 6'2" | SG Kimberly | 2020 State WI are going to hurt, but junior Jackson Pavaletzke is ready to be ’the guy’ and take over the Fox Valley Association. Averaging 13.1 ppg as a sophomore, Pavaletzke will likely be one of the biggest breakout performers in 2020-21. Senior Grant Asman Grant Asman 6'11" | PF Kimberly | 2021 State WI (9.5 ppg) will also likely benefit and flourish with more minutes and give the Papermakers a strong 1-2 punch.
8. Arrowhead
Wisconsin commit Carter Gilmore Carter Gilmore 6'7" | SF Arrowhead | 2020 State #250 Nation WI is gone, but there’s still enough left in the tank to keep Arrowhead viable. Senior Sam Hytinen Sam Hytinen 6'3" | SF Arrowhead | 2021 State WI (12.1 ppg) is one of the state’s best shooters and will get his due as a top 3-and-D talent in the state. Coming off a fantastic freshman season, Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI (11.4 ppg) will emerge as a force in the Classic Eight Conference as well.
9. De Pere
Perhaps the most interesting team right now is De Pere. The Redbirds went 16-8 and finished two games out of a very tough Fox River Classic Conference race. De Pere was led by a freshman in John Kinzinger, who put up 16.5 ppg in his first season. Double figure scorer Will Dehn (12.6 ppg) is also back. Aside from a blowout loss to Sussex Hamilton in the regional finals, this team had to be feeling good about themselves, winning seven of their last eight games before that point, including wins over conference leaders Bay Port and Ashwaubenon.
10. Franklin
A team that’s been slowly building, 2020-21 could be the year for the Sabres. Just about everything is back for a team that went 13-11 last season, including senior forward Carter Capstran Carter Capstran 6'6" | PF Franklin | 2021 State WI (19.8 ppg). Franklin will pretty much field the same group as last season, returning its top 10 scorers and could challenge Racine Case in the Southeast Conference. This group played well late, beating Kenosha Tremper in the regular season finale and then taking them down to the wire in the regional finals.
Honorable Mention: Neenah, Hudson, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln, Janesville Craig, Oak Creek, Menomonee Falls, Ashwaubenon, Stevens Point