Both Germantown and Dominican have an outstanding big man, but the state's best player may reside in Milwaukee. Watch for King, Hamilton and Onalaska.
After finishing as the runner-up last season, Austin Malone-Mitchell and King look to dethrone Germantown in 2012-13.
File photo by Keith Owens
1. GermantownHead coach: Steve Showalter
2011-12 finish: 28-0, Division I state champion
Though losing heavily through graduation, the Warhawks return a great building block in Indiana University recruit
Luke Fischer. The 6-foot-11, 230-pound senior averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks last year while shooting a lofty 68.7 percent from the field.
A key returnee at guard is the coach's son, 6-3 junior
Jake Showalter, who averaged 7.6 points and shot 45 percent from the 3-point line. The backcourt will be bolstered by 6-1 junior transfer
LaMonte Bearden, who was a two-year starter at Homestead (Mequon, Wis.). Aiding Fischer up front will be a pair of sweet-shooting 6-7 juniors,
Evan Wesenberg and
Jon Averkamp.
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2. Dominican (Whitefish Bay)Head coach: Derrick Berger
2011-12 finish: 27-1, Division IV state champion
The Knights won their last 25 games following a loss to Division I champion Germantown and again will be chasing the Warhawks for state supremacy. They also have an outstanding big man,
Diamond Stone, though he is just a sophomore. The 6-10, 245-pounder averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks with strong hands and great footwork.
Other returning starters are 6-3 senior point guard
Duane Wilson Jr., who averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds; and 6-6 senior
Patrick Feldmeier. Wilson has made a commitment to Marquette University. The Knights also will count on 6-6 junior
Jack Jelacic and 6-1 sophomore, transfer
Tywon Bressler.
View last season's Wisconsin boys basketball stat leaders3. King (Milwaukee)Head coach: Jim Gosz
2011-12 finish: 25-2, Division I runner-up
The Generals will rely heavily on veterans
Austin Malone-Mitchell and
Montrell Hobbs, both seniors. The 5-11 Malone-Mitchell averaged 14 points last year, while the 6-2 Hobbs averaged six points and seven rebounds. Adding some muscle inside will be
Chris Howell, a 6-4, 190-pound junior who averaged five points off the bench last year.
View last season's Wisconsin boys basketball Freeman Rankings4. Hamilton (Milwaukee)Head coach: Tom Diener
2011-12 finish: 18-6
Having lost two transfers even before the season gets underway, the Wildcats, nevertheless, have two returning junior standouts, 6-8
Kevon Looney and 6-4
David Burrell. The slender Looney (175), who is a legitimate guard, averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and four assists while carving out a 3.5 GPA as a sophomore. Burrell, who has a vertical jump over 40 inches, averaged nine points and six rebounds.
Coach Tom Diener told MaxPreps that Looney "looks like and plays like Kevin Durant. Everybody in the country has offered him (a college scholarship). He's probably going to be a lottery pick (some day in the NBA draft)."
View last season's Wisconsin boys basketball playoff brackets5. OnalaskaHead coach: Craig Kowal
2011-12 finish: 26-1, Division II state champion
The Hilltoppers will bring an 18-game winning streak into the season with two returning starters: senior guards
Matt Thomas and
Clint Rihn. The 6-4 Thomas, who is pledged to Iowa State, averaged 22 points and eight rebounds last year, while the 6-1 Rihn averaged six points and shot 49 percent from the 3-point line.
Other key seniors are 6-3, 290-pound
Connor Hoelgeson, who is very mobile for his size and shoots well from outside, 6-2
Dustin Gordon and 5-11
Dillon Racicot. They will be joined by 6-3 sophomore
Hoza Wright.
