Division One Preaseason Rankings

High school basketball season is just around the corner in Wisconsin so the post on my blog will begin to pick up again. As usual I will start off the year with my preseason rankings for each of the division, predictions for the two conferences that I follow closely and possibly preseason all state teams for each division.

In just about everyone's mind it comes down to two teams Madison Memorial and Milwaukee Hamiliton. In the past six years Memorial has been a given to get to state and has won the title twice and has been the runner up three times. Memorial is also led by the top player in the state in Marquette recruit 6'4 senior Vander Blue. Hamiliton on the other hand hasn't had a lot of success in recent but, that has changed as they have benefited from a laundry list of top ranked players transfering to Hamiliton for various reasons. Both teams have great coaches in Steve Collins at Memorial and Tom Diener at Hamiliton, that are very well respected throughout the state and have proven track records.

1. Madison Memorial- Defending state champs bring back Blue and have tons of young talent. May be hampered by an injury to super soph 6'4 Junior Lomomba who will miss the majority of the year with an injury.
2. Milwaukee Hamiliton- Lots and lots of talent here with at least seven players ranked in the top 25 in their class and three for sure D1 college recruits.
3. Madison East- 6'4 senior Marquis Mason and 5'11 junior Nimrod Hillard form one of the eastside outside combos in the state. They also bring back their entire bench which got the fourth quarter minutes in a lot of close games including handing Memorial their only loss a year ago.
4. Arrowhead- Return all five starters from a year ago highlighted by high scoring guard 5'10 senior Russell Finco and big man 7'1 senior Ben Mills.
5. Milwaukee King- King is always one of the most talented teams in the state and will be ultra hungry after being suspended from post season play a year ago.
6. Milwaukee Washington- State qualifying team a year ago returned three very talented starters in 6'5 junior Quevyn Winters, 6'7 senior Jon Cathey-Macklin, and 5'10 senior Terry Taylor.
7. Kimberly- Papermakers bring back strong senior class led by 6'6 Matt Craggs.
8. Menomonee Falls- Nationally ranked sophomore 6'5 JP Tokoto is looking to have a breakout year.
9. Depere- Redbirds bring back lots of size and talent.
10. Eau Claire North- New coach and not a lot of returning players but, they do have Badger recruit 6'11 senior Evan Anderson.

HM (in no particular order)
Hamiliton Sussex
Racine Park
Lacrosse Logan
Milwaukee Vincent

There are my preseason rankings. I know that they don't differ much from the Wisconsin Yearbook but, in the coming rankings there will be some difference in the lower divisions. For me the season will begin in a week and a half when I will be attending my first of many games this year.