Way-Too-Early Top 10 For 2020-21: Division 2
An early look at the top 10 teams to beat in Division 2 for the 2020-21 season… 1. Nicolet James Graham James Graham 6'9" | SF Nicolet | 2021 #59 Nation WI (20.6 ppg) and Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'5"…
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Continue ReadingAn early look at the top 10 teams to beat in Division 2 for the 2020-21 season…
1. Nicolet
James Graham James Graham 6'9" | SF Nicolet | 2021 #59 Nation WI (20.6 ppg) and Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'5" | PG Nicolet | 2021 State #240 Nation WI (19.6 ppg) enter their senior years and went more than half the season without Jalen Johnson Jalen Johnson 6'8" | SF Nicolet | 2020 State #3 Nation WI during their 22-3 campaign, so losing the Duke commit won’t be as big of a blow. Most of the core for the Knights returns as well including Donovan Sparks Donovan Sparks 6'3" | SF Nicolet | 2022 State WI (12.0 ppg) and Darrius Bolden (6.4 ppg) — two of the more undervalued talents in the state.
2. Pewaukee
This was a young team that’s going to be scary over the next two seasons. The Pirates will have a dangerous trip of junior Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (12.5), junior Josh Terrian Josh Terrian 6'4" | SF Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (12.2 ppg) and sophomore Milan Momcilovic (14.6 ppg), who may be the top player in the 2023 class. Pewaukee won a share of the Woodland West Conference title last season and won eight of their last 10 games to close the 2019-20 campaign.
3. New Berlin Eisenhower
This group went 20-5 last season and won a share of the Woodland West Conference title. The Lions also get two of their top three scorers back in Sam Ludwig Sam Ludwig 6'2" | PG New Berlin Eisenhower | 2021 State WI (18.6 ppg) and honorable mention All-State pick in 2019-20 and Josh Crubaugh Josh Crubaugh 6'4" | SF New Berlin Eisenhawer | 2021 State WI (12.6 ppg), who hit 69 3-pointers and shot 43.4 percent from downtown as a junior.
4. River Falls
The Wildcats didn’t quite live up to expectations this season, but a big part of that was just being in the grind of a very strong Big Rivers Conference. River Falls will likely go into 2020-21 as the overwhelming favorite in the league after finishing in second place this year, including an 18-6 overall record. Zac Johnson Zac Johnson 6'3" | SG River Falls | 2021 State WI (20.8 ppg) is back for his senior season as are the twin towers Jameson Dougherty Jameson Dougherty 6'9" | PF River Falls | 2021 State WI (10.2 ppg) and Liam Dougherty Liam Dougherty 6'9" | PF River Falls | 2021 State WI (6.0 ppg). If their sectional stays relatively similar, Falls also has a very nice path to the state tournament.
5. Monroe
The Cheesemakers were 18-6 last season, but had an up and down year. On paper, this is one of the most talented teams in Division 2, featuring Cade Meyer Cade Meyer 6'8" | PF Monroe | 2021 State #237 Nation WI (18.7 ppg), Carson Leuzinger Carson Leuzinger 6'0" | PG Hutchinson | 2022 State WI (15.2 ppg), and J.T. Seagreaves J.T. Seagreaves 6'6" | PF Monroe | 2022 State WI (11.8 ppg). All in all, Monroe will return its top five scorers from last season and should be favored strongly in the Badger South Conference.
6. Wauwatosa East
This team was much better than its 12-12 record, having to play in the Greater Metro Conference with three ranked Division 1 teams at the top. That was proven in the regional final where the Red Raiders nearly took down top seed Milwaukee Lutheran on the road. Leading scorer John Lovelace John Lovelace 6'4" | SF Brown Deer | 2021 State WI transferred to Brown Deer, which will hurt, but Tosa East gets back Brian Parzych Brian Parzych 6'2" | PG Wauwautosa East | 2021 State WI (11.8 ppg), Leon Bond Leon Bond 6'5" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2022 State #62 Nation WI (11.8 ppg), who may be the top player in the 2022 class, Alex Singleton (8.9 ppg), Jay Hinson Jay Hinson 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI (6.6 ppg), Parker Thompson Parker Thompson 6'5" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2022 State WI (6.6 ppg), and Marcus Mbow Marcus Mbow 6'5" | PF Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI (4.1 ppg), who are all ranked prospects.
7. Cedarburg
The Bulldogs are going to have one of the top 1-2 punches in the state. After improving by 11 wins from 2018-19, Cedarburg is going to add Brookfield Academy transfer Logan Landers Logan Landers 6'9" | PF Cedarburg | 2021 State WI to the fold. Landers (18.8 ppg) nearly averaged a double-double last season in a starting lineup that had two other college prospects on it. Oh, and then there’s Drew Biber Drew Biber 6'3" | SF Cedarburg | 2021 State WI , a top 20 prospect in 2021, who averaged 20.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season.
8. Waukesha West
Thought this team would fall off after losing four starters, including three college prospects. It was still a rebuilding year for the Wolverines, but they definitely didn’t roll over in the Classic Eight Conference, finishing with a 13-12 record and taking 1-seed Elkhorn down to the wire in the sectional semifinals. This team also played a portion of its season without do-it-all guard Cameron Palesse Cameron Palesse 6'3" | CG Waukesha West | 2021 State #249 Nation WI (24.5 ppg), who will be back for his senior season. West will also return its top four scorers from last season.
9. Westosha Central
This season was supposed to be a bit of a rebuilding project. Despite their youth, the Falcons still went 15-9 and won a share of the Southern Lakes Conference. Central was led by four sophomores in Jack Rose Jack Rose 6'5" | SG Westosha Central | 2022 State #213 Nation WI (17.5 ppg), Kenny Garth Kenny Garth 6'2" | CG Westosha Central | 2022 State WI (11.9 ppg), Bradley Bell Bradley Bell 6'6" | PF Westosha Central | 2022 WI (5.8 ppg), and Devin Griffin (5.5 ppg) and will get their top five scorers back.
10. Luxemburg-Casco
Logan Doell (18.3 ppg) and Ryan Robillard Ryan Robillard 6'3" | SG Luxemberg-Casco | 2021 State WI (17.6 ppg) are both back as are a couple of younger pieces who could make some sizable jumps. The Spartans had an impressive playoff win over Ashwaubenon, dismantling the Jaguars by 33 points and then hung with 1-seed Seymour in the regional finals. Playing in a strong North Eastern conference that featured three of the top teams in Division 3, things should clear out for Casco quite a bit in 2020-21.
Honorable Mention: Onalaska, Hortonville, DeForest, Stoughton, Elkhorn, Whitnall, Milwaukee Bay View, Wisconsin Lutheran, Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee Washington, Kaukauna, Seymour, Milwaukee Vincent, Milton, Ashwaubenon, New Richmond, Tomah, Medford, Mosinee, Notre Dame