Division Five Preseason Rankings

I know that I complained about the previous two divisions being tough to pick but, D5 might be the toughest division of all to predict. I don't see that many D5 games during the regular season which leads to me not following D5 that closely. I see state and that might be all of D5 I see all year long. This year there is a clear cut number one with Hillsboro and after that there is a lot of mystery.

1. Hillsboro- State runner ups a year ago and they bring all five starters back led by Mr. Everything in 6'5 senior Max Stockwel who averaged 18 points a game last year and did everything from play in the post to bringing the ball up at times last year.

2. Almond-Bancroft- Yearbook had them sitting at two and they won 18 games a year ago and bring back four starters. All the returning starters are between 6'2 to 6'6 so they have pretty good overall team size.

3. Shullsburg- Have some really nice size coming back in a pair of double digit scoring junior big men in 6'5 Hunter Mayte and 6'8 Joseph Meyer. Through a third starter in 6'3 junior Lance Lieman and sixth man 6'4 junior Noah Wand. They also won 24 games last year and could be a challenge to Hillsboro in the Southwest.

4. Green Bay NEW Lutheran- A private school playing in a bigger division that always comes to play come playoff time. Three starters back from last years team and they are tough to judge because they may go .500 but, will always be a tough out.

5. Washburn- State final four team a year ago and they have 6'7 senior Brant Schick back fresh off committing to D2 Minnesota Duluth.

6. McDonnell Central- Sectional finalist a year ago after winning 19 games. Leading scorer 6'1 senior Ben Retzlaff is back and they have three returners that are 6'5 or taller.

7. Blair Taylor- Benefit from moving down a division this year when they've always been one of the top teams in D4. 6'5 senior Dillon Zinn and 6'6 junior River Kirschner who are both three year starters and both averaged 13 points a game.

8. Seneca- 20 win team a year ago and bring back four starters from that team.

9. Pecatonica- Three starters back from a 19 win team led by AJ Hendrickson a 6'5 junior who averaged 23 points and 7 boards a year ago.

10. Port Edwards- Won 23 games a year ago and they lost four starters but, they have 6'7 senior Jared Joslin back who was their second leading scorer a year ago and averaged a near double double.

11. Clayton- All five starters are back including two seniors who averaged nearly 20 a game last year in 6'3 Brandon Gilbertson and 5'9 Cameron Bodsberg.

12. NEW Catholic- Went 19-7 last year and have there top two scorers back in 6'3 senior Dane Fronek and 6'2 senior Jake Gajewski.

13. Gresham- Three starters back from a 21 win team a year ago.

14. Columbus Catholic- Three double digit scorers return for the Dons.

15. Young Coggs Prep- Only here because they are the defending champs and the yearbook had them even higher. I think losing Tiwon Jones and their back court is just too much to over come.