D2 Top 10: Summer Edition
Brett Pickarts - Wisconsin High School Basketball Content Manager
The Division 2 State Field last year was arguably the most “open” for the taking at the Kohl Center last March. There are numerous intriguing prospects in this year’s D2 Field with Power 5 collegiate talent. Geographically speaking, the D2 teams may have the biggest gripes in how stacked the Milwaukee Metropolitan areas are with a handful of very solid ball clubs hailing from the Madison area. A potential top ten team in West De Pere was removed in the process of writing of this as Tref Rademaker (6-10, Jr.) announced he was transferring to DME Prep in Delafield. Here is the way too early top ten for Division 2.
Thanks to Mark Miller’s Wisconsin Yearbook, the WIAA, and Wissports.net for providing statistics and historical context for this article.
The Top Ten
#1 Tosa West
24-25 Record- 24-6, division 2 state champions.
The Guys Coming Back:
Jalen Brown- 6’4 Jr.- 22.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 5.2apg, sensational backcourt prospect who had a massive summer with KL Power 5 garnering the attention of Georgetown, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington and Indiana amongst numerous other Division 1 schools. Brown has improved his consistency on pull-up jumpers and overall consistency from behind the 3 line.
Matthew Kloskey 6’5- Sr.- 22.0ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.1apg, elite wing player with high major athleticism. Relentless attacking the hoop and the glass. Kloskey is a premier athlete in the Class of 2026 and is poised for a breakout senior season.
David (DJ) Hennings Jr.- 5’9 Sr.- could be Tosa West’s Pat Bev this year. I had a chance to see him play in Kaukauna. Hennings Jr. competes with relentless hustle and physicality on the defensive end. Lightning quick and great at getting downhill to his left hand.
The Bottom Line:
Tosa West and Head Coach Christopher Newbauer look to repeat as Division 2 State Champions continuing the tradition of Milwaukee area schools owning this division. The D2 field has not seen a non-Milwaukee area team hoist the gold ball since 2018. Tosa West arguably has the most athletic 1-2 punch with Brown and Kloskey, but lost sharpshooting guard and the school’s all-time leading scorer Jake Hansen to the University of Oklahoma. Tosa West has three legitimate dogs to lock up teams defensively in Brown, Kloskey, and Hennings Jr. Their defensive identity and the experience of their top two scorers returning should allow for them to hit the ground running.
#2 Slinger
24-25 Record-24-3, lost in sectional semifinal to Cedarburg.
The Guys Coming Back:
Jack Kohnen and Joey Kohnen- a dynamic duo of their own. Both are longer wing players with great skill, athleticism, and shooting ability. Both competed with Herro EYBL this summer. Jack has picked up offers from Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tulsa, Nebraska, Iowa State, Western Illinois and Marquette. Joey has received interest from multiple division 1 schools and currently holds an offer from Nebraska. The brothers at various points have been ranked #1 respectfully in the 2027 and 2028 classes.
Fogle/ Palm/Mantz: The other three starters for the Owls of Slinger cannot be underestimated. This trio of players can knock down shots and give Slinger experience needed to go to Madison.
The Bottom Line:
Slinger was two games away from reaching the Kohl Center last year despite having a very young squad coached by Head Coach Alex Lavine. Slinger is built for a multi-year window of contention in division two with their young talent. The Owls have tons of depth and talent with scoring punch and complimentary role players to make a deep run to Madison in 2026. Slinger has a loaded non-conference schedule taking on teams like Tosa West, Freedom, Wisconsin Lutheran, and Mount Horeb. The Owls have never made the state tournament and have a legitimate shot to be playing on Championship Saturday this season.
#3 Mount Horeb
24-25 Record- 25-3, lost in the sectional final to Tosa West.
The Guys Coming Back:
Josh Manchester- 31.1ppg 91 made threes. Manchester competed with Herro EYBL where he was able to garner division 1 interest from several schools. He has been an elite shooter and scorer since he was a freshman competing for the Vikings of Mount Horeb. He put up a monster year last season and has a legitimate chance to contend for Mr. Basketball in the state if Mount Horeb can put together a season like last year.
Alex Chapman- 6-3 Jr., 41% 3 point shooter. Chapman stepped in the playoffs when Josh Manchester missed time due to injury. Look for Chapman to help shoulder the scoring load when teams undoubtedly box and 1 or faceguard Manchester.
The Bottom Line:
Mount Horeb is in the dreaded sectional three that features a good chunk of teams in this preview. Manchester is one of the best scorers in state history coming into the year with 1,765 points and has a shot to finish in the top ten in scoring in Wisconsin High School Basketball history. Mount Horeb has state experience under longtime coach Todd Nesheim who won the state championship in 2015 defeating Rice Lake. The Vikings are well coached through a motion offensive system and are poised to contend in Division 2.
#4 Brookfield Central
24-25 Record- 19-8, lost to Tosa West in the sectional semifinal.
The Guys Coming Back:
Henry Gruetzmacher- 6-8- 14.9ppg, 9.0rpg- committed to the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay. Dominant force inside and uses his strength and athleticism to punish defenders inside. Great left handed prospect who ran with a very talented Wisconsin Playground Club this club season.
The Bottom Line:
Henry Gruetzmacher joins a long run of Brookfield Central basketball players that have committed to Division 1 programs. He joins Jack Daughtrey (IL State), David Joplin (Marquette), Ben Nau (St. Thomas), Andrew Rohde (St. Thomas/Virginia/Wisconsin), Steven Tipton (NIU/WIU) and Anthony Rise (Iowa State). The Lancers will certainly miss the production of Rise but bring back sharpshooters Evan Prusko, Nasir Avery, and Ethan Koceja who will compliment Gruetzmacher’s inside presence. Head Coach Dan Wandrey is no stranger to Madison having made appearances with the Lancers in 2019 and in 2022. Central will be another team competing for a state spot in sectional 3.
#5 McFarland
24-25 Record- 17-9, defeated by Mount Horeb in the Regional Final
The Guys Coming Back-
Junior Duo- there might not be a better combination of juniors in the state than frontline player Eli Krueger and dynamic left handed combo guard Garrett Crull. Neither will probably play at a power 5 school as the guys mentioned above, but they are elite players in the 2027 class. Krueger (6-9) who competes with the Wisconsin Swing, has received division two offers from Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, and Winona State in the past three weeks. Krueger is an active frontcourt player and is extremely skilled and physical. Crull (6-4) who also competes with the Swing, is an athletic guard who can fill it up at all three levels. Crull figures to receive division two and division three interest as the year goes on.
The Bottom Line-
McFarland has not made the state tournament since 1974 and are seeking to compete in the loaded sectional 3 to make a run at Madison. The Spartans have other role players that will help manage the scoring load for McFarland. McFarland will compete with Mount Horeb, Stoughton and Fort Atkinson as favorites to contend for a Badger Small title. They might be a year away from a deep, deep run but look for Crull and Krueger to take the next step to lead the Spartans into a fantastic year of basketball.
#6 Waterford
24-25 Record- 24-4, lost to Racine Park in the Sectional Final.
The Guys Coming Back:
Caden Gustafson- 6-4 Sr..- Another great combo guard in the 2026 class. Competes with 24:UP UA and recently committed to Northern Michigan to continue his basketball career. Deadly shooter from the perimeter but can truly score at all three levels in the games I observed this summer. Will be a premier player in the Southern Lakes Conference
Jayce Brechtl 6-6 Sr.- physical strong frontcourt player that can also step out and shoot the three. Had a career high 22 points against Sussex Hamiliton last season and looks to step into the #2 scoring role with the departure of Jamison Beesley.
The Bottom Line:
The Wolverines lost Jamison Beesley to graduation but bring back some great talent to compete in Sectional 4. Head Coach Nick Roeglin has quietly constructed a winning culture in Waterford and is a serious contender in the sectional. The Wolverines are not afraid to give different teams looks defensively and are extremely physical. In the games I watched from last year, it is no secret that the physical strength of the Wolverines helps them win in tight situations and impose their will defensively. Caden Gustafson is an absolute stud and Waterford has a chance to repeat their success from last season under his leadership and scoring.
#7 New Berlin West
24-25 Record- 17-9, lost to Whitnall in the Regional Final.
The Guys Coming Back:
Jayce Cook- 6’0 Jr.- 15.5ppg with 85 made threes on 40% three point shooting. Son of Head Coach Scott Cook. Jayce is a lethal perimeter shooter and competes with 24:UP UA Rise during the club season. Shot very well this spring and summer and looks to continue to success in 25-26.
Evan Kern 6 '2 Sr- 14.4ppg, also a very good shooter. Competed with 24:UP UA Rise this spring and summer as well. Kern and Cook form a flamethrower duo of shooting for the Vikings.
The Bottom Line:
The Vikings compete in the tough Woodland West Conference that features teams like Wisconsin Lutheran, WAC, and Pewaukee just to name a few. The lone state appearance for NB West was in 2000, where former Wisconsin Badger Jason Chappell was part of the state championship team. Cook, Kern, and Zach Hewitt (6-3 Jr.) are just a few of the dudes back for the Vikings this year. They will be battle tested in their conference schedule and again will be one of the many challengers competing in sectional three in division two. If they can continue to hit threes at the clip they did last season, New Berlin West can beat anyone in this sectional.
#8 Milwaukee Academy of Science
24-25 Record: 25-1, division three state champions.
The Guys Coming Back:
Deuce Burkes- 6’2 senior point guard. Deuce showed flashes in the division three state tournament of his capabilities to impact the game with scoring, high level defense, and playmaking. He has missed some time due to injuries during his high school career, but looks to breakout for a big senior year for MAS.
D’Anthony Brown- 6’6 junior- long, athletic and physical. He is an elite rim protector and was a major disrupter blocking shots at the rim this club season. Again, was behind some very talented players last year, but has all of the tools at being a major contributor for MAS.
Gavin Valeri- 6’2 left handed junior sharpshooter. Competed with Team Haliburton this spring/ summer while developing his offensive game. He has added a midrange pullup in the games I was able to watch this summer. He shot 42 percent from three last year and will look to play a bigger role in initiating offense for the Novas with all the major pieces moving on to college basketball.
The Bottom Line:
There will be a lot of new faces and new roles to be carved out for the Novas including a change in leadership as the school parted ways with longtime coach Agape Keys. Raymont McElroy is the new leader for MAS and has connections to the elite Power 5 Adidas club that features some of the premier players in the state. There is no sugar coating this, any team that lost Devin Brown (Coastal Carolina), Jamarion Bateman (Iowa State), Agape Keys Jr. (UW-Whitewater), Amare Jackson (Western Nebraska Community College) and their head coach, may not be featured in the top ten. However MAS reloads with Deuce Burkes, Jamir Bateman, Gavin Valeri, and D’Anthony Brown coming into the fold and stepping into major roles. Look for the Novas to continue their success and be a formidable candidate to contend in sectional four.
#9 Beaver Dam
24-25 Record: 14-13, lost to Brookfield Central in Regional Final.
The Guys Coming Back:
3 Dudes averaging double digits- EJ Salettel (6-3 Sr.) 15.4ppg, Isaiah Yuenger (6-4 Jr.) 10.4ppg, Parker Blank (5-10 Sr.) 10.2ppg. Salettel continues the longtime tradition of great Beaver Dam guards that can score the basketball. He comes into the year with 973 career points and should become the latest guard to join the 1000 point club at Beaver Dam High School. Yuenger is a versatile left handed player who caught fire late in the season. Blank is a physically strong two way player, is a very good shooter and can lock up the teams best player on any given night.
The Bottom Line:
Beaver Dam has a lot of experience and depth coming back for longtime coach Tim Ladron. In addition to bringing back Salettel, Yuenger, and Blank, the Beavers also boast one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2028 class in 6 '5 wing Ben Wittnabel who competes with Wisconsin Academy. Wittnabel is long, athletic, and plays with confidence. He could develop into another elite scoring option for the Beavers. Jaxon Ladron and Blank will provide a 1-2 punch on the defensive end as you will see them chase around and defend the premier players in the Badger Large Conference. Without sounding like a broken record, Beaver Dam is also in sectional three that is stacked with great teams coached by outstanding coaches. If the Beavers can get hot from 3, do not be surprised if they upset one of the “big dogs” in sectional three.
#10 Onalaska
24-25 Record: 19-8, lost in the sectional semifinal against West Salem
The Guys Coming Back:
The Kowal Family- Craig (head coach) is 326-97 in his 18 impressive years at Onalaska. The Hilltoppers have not had a losing season in over ten years under Coach Kowal. Ian (6-3 Sr.) will be a four year varsity player and is the returning co-POY in the MVC. Tyler (5-11 So.) is another key piece back for Onalaska and is a three level scorer that competes with Davis Brothers during the club season.
The Bottom Line:
The western part of the state, sectional one, is pretty wide open in terms of teams competing to get to Madison. Onalaska in addition to the Kowal brothers, bring back Brendan Chenault and Tristan Molling who should step into bigger roles with graduation affecting the Hilltoppers. Onalaska has been to state four times, most recently in 2021, and in 2012 winning the gold ball with standouts Nick Arenz and Matt Thomas leading the effort to winning a championship. Onalaska could find a way back to Madison in 25-26.
Thanks for reading and be sure to follow my X (Twitter) account @Coach_Pickarts for more updates in regards to high school basketball content in Wisconsin.
