Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Records Updated Through 12/25/12

Aquinas (6-2)
Led by University of Wisconsin recruit Bronson Koenig, the Blugolds enter the season ranked No. 2 among Division 3 schools in the state by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook …Koenig (6-3) is an outstanding point guard and four-year varsity performer who led Aquinas to the 2011 Division 3 state championship … Seniors Michael Conway (6-6), Nolan Ritter (5-10) and Carson Schneider (6-2) along with juniors Parker Weber (6-7) and Eldred Jones (6-2) are also expected to play key roles for coach Rick Schneider.

Arrowhead (9-1)
Four starters return from a year ago, when the Warhawks finished 14-10 under veteran coach Craig Haase … Seniors Kenny Finco (6-1), Kevin LeRoy (6-6) and D.J. Escamilla (6-1), along with physical junior Billy Hirschfeld (6-6), are returning starters for Arrowhead … Finco averaged 15.0 points per game as a junior and is receiving recruiting interest from NCAA Division II and III schools … Quality depth figures to come from varsity newcomers off a JV team that finished 18-4.

Ashwaubenon (6-2)
Led by Northern Iowa recruit Bennett Koch (6-10), the Jaguars could very well be the most improved team in the Fox River Classic Conference … In addition to the size, rebounding and scoring of Koch, Ashwaubenon featuers senior point guard Eddie Mattia (5-8), junior wing Jake Imig (6-2) and sophomore wings Kyle Monroe (6-4) and Sam Wisneski (6-1) … Coach Kevin Phillips has a deep roster with plenty of different scoring options.

Bay Port (6-2)
The Pirates have battled De Pere, Pulaski and Sheboygan North for the top spot in the Fox River Classic Conference over the past several seasons under coach Nate Rykal, who has won 128 of 168 games during his seven years at the school … Seniors Peyton Armstrong (6-1) and Steven Minzlaff (6-4) are returning starters from a club that went 20-4 a year ago … Look for seniors Ryan Frieder (6-1) and Ryan Grabig (6-0) to also play key roles for Bay Port, which qualified for the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament in 2008 and 2009.

Catholic Memorial (6-3)
Fresh off a WIAA Division 3 state championship in football, the Crusaders opened the 2012-13 basketball season by downing a pair of old Metro Conference rivals in Milwaukee Marquette and Milwaukee Pius XI at the inaugural Hank Raymonds Tournament over Thanksgiving … Coach Dean Bellanti has a talented roster that includes seniors Andre Bodden (6-4), Jake Giffhorn (6-4), Sam Browning (6-5) and Ty Sabin (6-1) … Juniors Ayinde Starling (6-2) and Jake Shomin (6-0) also figure to play key roles for Catholic Memorial.

Destiny (4-5)
With one of the state’s most prolific scorers on its roster, Destiny figures to make plenty of noise this season, especially in the playoffs when it competes at the Division 4 level … Through the first three games (against the likes of Milwaukee Hamilton, West Allis Central and Kenosha Indian Trail), junior Jerelle Deberry (6-4) was averaging a whopping 31.7 points per game for the Golden Eagles … Seniors Dreshawn Samuel (5-10) and D.J. Hicks (6-0) along with junior Dominique Patterson (5-7) also figure to play key roles for coach Branden Joseph.

Dominican (5-2)
The Knights are coming off a 27-1 record and WIAA Division 4 state championship … Senior point guard Duane Wilson (6-3) is a four-year letter winner who has signed a national letter of intent to play college basketball for coach Buzz Williams at Marquette … Sophomore center Diamond Stone (6-9) is ranked second nationally in the class of 2015 by Scout.com … First-year coach Derek Berger is a former Dominican standout who played college basketball at Concordia University in Mequon.

East Troy (6-1)
Led by the return of three starters, East Troy once again figures to be one of the premier teams in Wisconsin in 2012-13 … Seniors Nathan Dodge (Army), Brett Prahl (Milwaukee) and Alex Prahl (Milwaukee) will play at the NCAA Division I level and form a solid nucleus for second-year coach Darryl Rayfield, who guided East Troy to a 23-3 record last season … Junior Jacob Growel (6-3) also figures to play an important role for the Trojans after playing on the varsity squad at Badger the past two seasons.

Germantown (9-0)
The Warhawks finished 28-0 and won the WIAA Division 1 state title last season … Coach Steve Showalter must replace four starters from that squad, including his son, Zak, who is now a freshman on the basketball squad at the University of Wisconsin … Senior center Luke Fischer (7-0) has committed to coach Tom Crean at Indiana University … Juniors Jake Showalter (6-3), Evan Wesenberg (6-7) LaMonte Bearden (6-1) and Jon Averkamp (6-6) are all considered potential scholarship collegiate players.

Grafton (3-6)
First-year coach Bob Maronde guided the Black Hawks’ girls’ program to WIAA state championships in 2007 and 2009 … Senior Scotty Tyler (6-7) signed a national letter of intent to play college basketball at NCAA Division I Idaho State in November … Tyler averaged 14.1 ppg as a junior … Junior Beau Benzschawel (6-6) and senior Jake Wilde (5-10) are also expected to make significant contributions for Grafton. 

Kaukauna (5-3)
Coach Mike Schalow directed the Ghosts to a Fox Valley Association championship and runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament a year ago, but must replace four starters from that squad that finished 25-3 … Senior guard Riley VanderWyst (5-11) is the lone returning starter for Kaukauna, though seniors Jon Vande Wettering (6-3), Jon Stevens (6-3) and Evan Rabas (6-5), along with junior Kyle Schalow (6-2) saw plenty of playing time off the bench.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran (5-1)
A perennial title contender in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference, the Chargers bring back a pair of starters from a year ago in senior Nate Krause (6-4) and sophomore Jared Henning (6-4) … Sophomore Ethan Bublitz (6-0) and senior Alec Bergmann (6-6) also saw considerable action for coach Todd Jahns a year ago … With five players on the roster 6-4 or taller, size figures to be an asset for the Chargers in 2012-13.

Little Chute (9-0)
The Mustangs enter the season ranked No. 1 among WIAA Division 3 schools in Wisconsin and feature two Green Bay recruits in seniors Turner Botz (6-6) and Kenneth Lowe (6-8) … Coach Mickey Martin also returns three additional starters from a club that went 23-3 in seniors Mitch Ciske (6-1), Tyler Job (6-5) and Jed Albers (5-11) … Newcomers from a JV squad that went 20-2 figure to provide outstanding depth for Little Chute, which qualified for the WIAA State Tournament for the first time in school history in 2011.

Lodi (7-0)
The Blue Devils finished 24-3 and lost to eventual state champion Brillion in a WIAA Division 3 state semifinal last March at the Kohl Center in Madison … Coach Mitch Hauser welcomes back four starters from that squad in seniors Kris Seffrood (6-0), Jacob Haag (6-7) and Brady Moses (6-2), along with junior Jordan Shea (6-4) … Look for junior John Hatch (6-5) to also make a significant contribution in 2012-13.   

Milwaukee Marquette (5-2)
The health of senior A.J. Mueller (6-4) may determine how far the Hilltoppers go in 2012-13 … A versatile player who can score, defend and rebound, Mueller missed the summer grassroots season because of an injury … Junior Nick Klar (6-4) and promising sophomore Garrison Goode (6-5) figure to play key roles along the baseline for veteran coach David Cooks … Seniors Tom Beres (5-11) and Alex McBride (5-11) return to the Marquette backcourt.

Milwaukee Riverside (2-5)
Coach Tyrone (Rock) Lewis has a deep, experienced roster led by a frontline that includes senior Ravonn Posey (6-8), junior Robert Harris (6-9) and freshman Justin Wofford (6-9) … While the Tigers’ frontline is huge and gifted, it is the backcourt play of freshman Bobby Hambright (5-9) and junior Nick Cobbins (6-1) that will likely determine Riverside’s fate in the rugged Milwaukee City Conference … Look for seniors Elijah Briggs (6-3) and Raylan Wilborn (6-5) to also play key roles for the Tigers.

Milwaukee Vincent (7-0)
Led by Marquette University recruit Deonte Burton (6-5), the Vikings are among the favorites to capture the Milwaukee City Conference championship … First-year coach Marquis Hines, who previously coached the Vincent girls’ team as well as boys’ varsity teams at Milwaukee Messmer and Homestead, will count heavily on Burton, who can affect a game with his scoring, passing, rebounding and toughness … Senior point guard Juwan Merriwether (6-1), sophomore wing guard Mailk Brown (6-0), senior wing guard Jobari Hobson (6-2), junior forward Marcus White (6-6) and senior center Ronald Singleton (6-7) also figure to play key roles for Vincent.

Mukwonago (9-1)
With five regulars back from a club that won 19 games last season, the Indians are favored to capture the Classic Eight Conference championship in 2012-13 … Coach Jay Haasser has a rugged frontline performer back in senior Nathan Tanguay (6-4), who averaged 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as a junior … Junior guards Dominic Cizauskas (6-1) and Aaron Nixon (6-1) also return for Mukwonago.

Oak Creek (4-5)
Though the terrain is extremely difficult in the Southeast Conference, the Knights figure to be among the most improved teams in the eight-team circuit … Senior Terrence Garner (6-4) is a three-year varsity performer for coach Mike Jossie and a player who can score inside and outside while also defending at a high level … Junior Alex Medenwaldt (5-11) is a gym-rat type player who can score in bunches and freshman Harrison Cleary (5-9) showed plenty of promise for Oak Creek over the summer.

Oconomowoc (2-5)
Led by the return of junior T.J. Schlundt, Oconomowoc hopes to challenge Wisconsin Lutheran, Beaver Dam and Slinger for the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference championship … The son of former Marquette University forward Terrell Schlundt, T.J. Schlundt is a 6-4 wing guard who can get on a roll from beyond the three-point arc and has received scholarship offers from several NCAA Division I schools … Senior Mitch Pauers (6-0) and Aaron Cramer (6-2) along with junior Canton Larson (6-1) are also expected to play big roles for coach Kurt Melton.

Onalaska (5-2)
The defending WIAA Division 2 state champions are led by one of Wisconsin’s best all-time shooters in Iowa State recruit Matt Thomas (6-4) … Thomas is ranked among the elite players in the nation, primarily because of his consistency in knocking down perimeter jump shots … Coach Craig Kowal also welcomes back a three-year varsity starter in senior guard Clint Rihn (6-1) … Look for senior Dillon Racicot (5-11) to also play a very important role for the Hilltoppers, who must replace 6-8 forward Nick Arenz in their starting rotation. Arenz is now playing for coach Brian Wardle at Green Bay.  

Oshkosh North (8-2)
The Spartans boast one of the top young lineups in Wisconsin … The backcourt of junior Nathan Neveau (5-10) and sophomore Nick Bauer (5-9) is quick and athletic, not to mention skilled and hard-nosed … Up front, veteran coach Frank Schade relies on promising junior Cooper Radtke (6-5), an athletic combination forward who can score from the inside and outside … Oshkosh West transfer Blake Marquardt, a 6-4 sophomore, figures to provide another scoring option for the Spartans, who went 19-8 a year ago.

Plymouth (9-0)
The Tigers won 20 games a year ago and captured the Eastern Wisconsin Valley Conference championship in the process … Third-year coach Jason Duff welcomes back several key performers from that squad, including talented junior Kollin Neils, a 6-2 junior who averaged 13.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore … Senior point guard Cory Unger (5-10) also returns to the starting rotation for Plymouth … Seniors Owen Henriksen (6-2), Jordan Mueller (6-4) and Kevin Friederichs (6-6) will also play key roles for Plymouth.

Racine Case (6-2)
Coach Stephen Jaskulske has a roster loaded with outstanding young talent, led by junior guards D’Angelo Jackson (6-2) and James Trice (6-2), along with sophomores Darion King (6-5) and Tyrese Pinson (5-6) … The Eagles are among the favorites to capture the title in the always competitive Southeast Conference … Senior Davion Bell (6-0) and junior Malik House (6-0) are also expected to play big roles for Case.

Saint Thomas More (4-3)
Former Shorewood coach John Hoch takes over the coaching duties at Saint Thoams More from Pat Ross and welcomes back two outstanding players in junior point guard Daymeann Stewart (5-10) and senior wing guard Tyrone Lewis (6-3) … Stewart is one of the premier point guards in Wisconsin in the class of 2014 while Lewis is the son of Milwaukee Riverside coach Tyrone (Rock) Lewis … Saint Thomas More went 17-7 a year ago and is a charter member of the new Metro Classic Conference.

Wauwatosa East (6-2)
A strong senior class figures to help the Red Raiders remain in the thick of the race for the title in the Greater Metro Conference … Coach Tim Arndorfer has an outstanding point guard in senior Nate Moore (6-2), who was averaging better than 20 ppg through the first two games of the season … Seniors Ben Mihelich (6-2), Derrick Hurt (6-2), Ben Carpenter (6-0), Kyle Vnuk (6-4) and Anthony Carroll (6-1) also figure to make big contributions for the Red Raiders.

Wauwatosa West (4-4)
The Trojans enter their third season of rebuilding under the direction of coach Chad Stelse … There is definitely some extremely promising young talent in the program as sophomores Andre Carroll (6-1), Will Watkins (6-0), Jack Krenzien (6-4) and Steffan Brown (6-0) all saw considerable action on the varsity squad as freshmen … Juniors Ricky Landers (6-7) and Blake Harvey (6-0) are also expected to play key roles for Wauwatosa West.

Whitefish Bay (8-2)
After winning the WIAA Division 2 state title in 2011, Whitefish Bay went 16-7 a year ago under coach Kevin Lazovik … Senior guard Kelin Johnson (6-3) is a three-year varsity performer who was a key player on the Blue Dukes state-title team … Junior Joe Sherburne (6-6) is the younger brother of former Whitefish Bay standout Jimmy Sherburne, who played college basketball at Princeton.

Wisconsin Lutheran (4-2)
The Vikings always boast one of the premier teams in Wisconsin and that should be the case once again under coach Ryan Walz … Winners of seven straight championships in the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference, the Vikings boast a quick, dynamic backcourt led by senior Deiondre Cunningham (6-0), senior Larry Moore (5-6) and junior C.J. Polk (5-11) … Junior Caleb Tesch (6-6) figures to receive plenty of playing time along the frontline while sophomore Anthony Carver (6-3) is one of the state’s better class of 2015 prospects.