2020-21 Preseason Top 10: Division 2

The 2020-21 season will get underway later this month with actual competition kicking off on Dec. 1.  Prep Hoops  Wisconsin breaks down the race in Division 2 with our preseason top 10 teams…   1. Nicolet 2019-20 Record:  (22-3, 16-2 North Shore) Key Returners:  Kobe JohnsonKobeJohnson6'5" | PGNicolet | 2021State#240NationWI (20.0 ppg), James GrahamJamesGraham6'9" | SFNicolet | 2021State#59NationWI  (20.0 ppg),  Donovan SparksDonovanSparks6'2" | SFNicolet | 2022StateWI (11.5 ppg), Darrius Bolden (5.4 ppg) Notable Losses: Jalen JohnsonJalenJohnson6'8" | SFNicolet | 2020State#3NationWI (25.2 ppg) The Knights were strong favorites to win the Division 2 state championship last season prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Nicolet won’t be able to claim a three-peat, but can perhaps settle for a repeat in Madison.  Johnson, a USC commit, and Graham, a Maryland commit, are the best 1-2 punch in the state. Look for sophomores Treshawn Jones and Miles NationMilesNation6'5" | SFNicolet | 2023StateWI to emerge in some form this season as well.    2. Pewaukee 2019-20 Record: 15-9 (9-3 Woodland West) [player_tooltip player_id="761419" first="Ashton" last="Janowski"] Key Returners: Milan MomcilovicMilanMomcilovic6'7" | SFPewaukee | 2023State#89NationWI (15.3 ppg),  Ashton JanowskiAshtonJanowski6'2" | CGPewaukee | 2022StateWI (12.3 ppg),  Josh TerrianJoshTerrian6'3" | SFPewaukee | 2022StateWI (12.3 ppg) Notable Losses: Travis Bentley (12.5 ppg) Might be a surprise here to some, but this was a young team last season that has a chance to take a big step forward. The Pirates  also didn’t have a healthy Janowski during the second half of the season, but still managed to win five of their last six games and clinch a share of the Woodland West title.  Momcilovic is the top ranked player in the 2023 class. Terrian is a blue-collar wing that produces in a  variety of ways and will do so consistently.    3. Onalaska 2019-20 Record: 23-2 (12-0 Mississippi Valley) Key Returners: Sam KickSamKick6'1" | PGOnalaska | 2021StateWI (9.4 ppg), Victor DesmondVictorDesmond6'6" | SFOnalaska | 2021StateWI (6.8 ppg), Gavin McGrathGavinMcGrath6'10" | COnalaska | 2021StateWI (6.0 ppg) Notable Losses: Tyrell StuttleyTyrellStuttley6'4" | PFOnalaska | 2020StateWI (14.2 ppg), Carson ArenzCarsonArenz6'5" | SFOnalaska | 2020StateWI (13.3 ppg) This team loses quite a bit of firepower from last season in a pair of Division 2 players. Being one of the best-coached teams in the state, you can still expect Onalaska to keep trucking along. Desmond is expected to be one of the most improved players in the state. Kick provides valuable experience at the point guard position and someone who knows how to win. McGrath, a North Dakota commit, is a late blooming big man who’s still just scratching the surface.   4. River Falls 2019-20 Record: 18-6 (9-3 Big Rivers Conference) [player_tooltip player_id="804899" first="Zac" last="Johnson"] Key Returners: Zac JohnsonZacJohnson6'3" | SGRiver Falls | 2021StateWI (20.8 ppg),  Jameson DoughertyJamesonDougherty6'9" | PFRiver Falls | 2021StateWI (10.2 ppg),  Liam DoughertyLiamDougherty6'7" | PFRiver Falls | 2021StateWI (6.0 ppg) Notable Losses: Mike Johnson (10.4 ppg) Johnson, an Augustana commit,  leads the charge for the Wildcats, who finished second in a very competitive Big Rivers Conference last season.   Army commit Jameson DoughertyJamesonDougherty6'9" | PFRiver Falls | 2021StateWI has shown significant progress over the last several months. Along with twin brother Liam DoughertyLiamDougherty6'7" | PFRiver Falls | 2021StateWI,  River Falls has  a long, athletic frontcourt that’s tough to match up with.   5. Monroe 2019-20 Record: 18-6 (11-3 Badger South) Key Returners: Cade MeyerCadeMeyer6'7" | PFMonroe | 2021State#237NationWI (18.0 ppg), Carson LeuzingerCarsonLeuzinger5'11" | PGMonroe | 2022StateWI (14.6 ppg),  J.T. SeagreavesJ.T.Seagreaves6'5" | PFMonroe | 2022StateWI (11.2 ppg), Max Golembiewski (8.0 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A The Cheesemakers fell a bit short of expectations last season. The good  news? Just about everything is back, including their top five leading scorers from 2019-20. Meyer, a UW-Green Bay commit  is coming off a breakout junior season.  Monroe has two other guys who can act as go-to scorers as well in Leuzinger and Seagreaves.    6. Cedarburg 2019-20 Record: 14-9 (10-8 North Shore) [player_tooltip player_id="879984" first="Drew" last="Biber"] Key Returners: Drew BiberDrewBiber6'3" | SFCedarburg | 2021StateWI (20.3 ppg), Matthew Pilch (8.5 ppg) Notable Losses: Jake Leir (10.5 ppg),  Nick Johnson (10.3 ppg) This might take some time to come together, but the 1-2 punch of Biber, a Purdue football commit, and Brookfield Academy transfer Logan LandersLoganLanders6'9" | PFCedarburg | 2021StateWI (18.8 ppg) could be a scary duo. While Biber has chosen the gridiron over the hardwood in college, he was a mid-major prospect with a handful of offers. A 3-and-D wing with toughness, he’ll pair nicely with Landers, a stretch forward who can put together dominant streaks.    7. Ashwaubenon 2019-20 Record: 15-8 (14-4 Fox River Classic) Key Returners: Kyle Kreuger (16.6 ppg),  Marcus TomashekMarcusTomashek5'11" | CGAshwaubenon | 2022StateWI (12.7 ppg), Matt ImigMattImig6'0" | CGAshwaubenon | 2022StateWI (12.4 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A Think this could be one of the biggest sleepers in Division 2. The Jaguars won 15 games last season, including 14 in a strong and deep Fox River Classic Conference. Ashwaubenon also didn’t lose much and their top three scorers Krueger, Tomashek, and Imig all showcases substantial gains in the off-season.    8. Wisconsin Lutheran 2019-20 Record: (16-8, 9-3 Woodland West) Key Returners: Prentice YoungPrenticeYoung6'4" | PGWisconsin Lutheran | 2023State#118NationWI (10.8 ppg),   Jordan Glenn (10.4 ppg), Jonah Rindfleisch (9.9 ppg),  Isaiah Hopf (8.9 ppg),  Landon KeyLandonKey6'3" | SFWisconsin Lutheran | 2023StateWI (4.9 ppg) Notable Losses: Tyrese EnglandTyreseEngland6'1" | CGWisconsin Lutheran | 2020StateWI (17.9 ppg) Despite the loss of England, Wisconsin Lutheran shouldn’t have too many problems rebuilding. The rest of the core was quite young last season and the late bloomer Rindfleisch could help replace the firepower lost in the scoring department. Young is a top 2-3 prospect in the 2023 class and a versatile, high-IQ weapon for the  Vikings.  Key, Glenn, and Hopf are all expected to make gains in 2020-21 as well, rounding out a deep and talented roster.   9. Waukesha West 2019-20 Record: 13-12 (9-7 Classic Eight) [player_tooltip player_id="830582" first="Cameron" last="Palesse"] Key Returners: Cameron PalesseCameronPalesse6'3" | CGWaukesha West | 2021State#249NationWI (24.5 ppg), Sam ZiebellSamZiebell6'2" | SGWaukesha West | 2021StateWI (6.5 ppg), Cal KrohnCalKrohn6'6" | SFWaukesha West | 2022StateWI (6.3 ppg) Notable Losses: Avery Owusu (5.3 ppg) The Wolverines showed a lot of fight and heart last season. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing four starters, including three college prospects, Waukesha West still won 13 games and were above .500 in the always-tough Classic Eight Conference. They were also a couple of breaks away from reaching the sectional finals. Led by the Valparaiso commit Palesse, West most of its core back and should be ready for another run.    10. Westosha Central 2019-20 Record: (15-9, 12-2 Southern Lakes) Key Returners: Jack RoseJackRose6'4" | SGWestosha Central | 2022StateWI (17.5 ppg),  Kenny GarthKennyGarth6'2" | CGWestosha Central | 2022StateWI (12.0 ppg), Bradley BellBradleyBell6'6" | PFWestosha Central | 2022StateWI (5.8 ppg) Notable Losses: N/A The Falcons over-achieved last season despite a young roster and earned a share of the Southern Lakes title.  Central now reloads with its top five scorers from  a year ago, including Rose, a Division 1 recruit with multiple scholarship offers. Garth was one of the biggest surprises in the state last season and will build on a promising sophomore campaign. Juniors Bell and Devin Griffin are also talented  players to watch.    Honorable Mention: Catholic Memorial, New Berlin Eisenhower, La Crosse Central, New Richmond, Hortonville, Grafton, Whitnall, Milwaukee Bay View,  Wauwatosa West,    Whitefish Bay, Elkhorn,  Milton, Stoughton,  DeForest, Luxemburg-Casco, Plymouth, Seymour, Kaukauna, Milwaukee Vincent, Burlington