Boys Basketball Division 2 Preseason Top 10

The Trojans of Wauwatosa West are the defending state champion in Division 2 and sit atop our preseason rankings of a loaded group in the state. Head coach Christopher Newbauer returns nearly his entire roster from last year’s state championship team including Division 1 recruits Matthew Kloskey (2026) and Jalen Brown (2027). The Trojans buy into the defensive side of the ball where the length of the perimeter defenders causes major problems for opposing offenses. On that offensive side, Coach Newbauer has two bucket getters, shot makers around those two, and versatility up and down his lineup. This team is full of experience and talent, and with a year of development for last year’s role players, Tosa West should make a run at Madison once again. The Trojans have scheduled a brutal non-conference slate with games with Kettle Moraine, Waterford, Racine Lutheran, and Slinger.

The Owls of Slinger are incredibly talented going into this season; one of the most talented in the state. Brothers Jack (2027) and Joey (2028) Kohnen are high level collegiate recruits and two of the top players in the entire state, regardless of class. The two wings can score with the best of them and effect the game on so many different levels, and now are a year further in their skillset progression. Head coach Alex Lavine has a loaded roster around the Kohnen’s with UW-Superior commit Colton Mantz, as well as Brett Palm, Bryson Fogle, and Jude Siikarla forming one of the best rotations in the division. Size, experience, and talent make Slinger one of the favorites to get to Madison. Coach Lavine has scheduled Wisconsin Lutheran, Arrowhead, Oshkosh North, Freedom and others in one of the tougher non-conference schedules in the state this season.

Nicolet and Slinger are in the same North Shore conference and are two of the most talented teams in the state. The Knights return a lot of talent from last year’s 19-win team, led by do-it-everything lead guard Rashaad Davis. Head coach Terence Smith will welcome in one of the top juniors in the state in Deuce McDuffie, who transfers in from Milwaukee King. Edward Bullock and Jayden Phillips are two more talented junior guards for a Nicolet team that won’t lack in that department. There is plenty of playmaking ability up and down the Nicolet lineup, as the Knights will be able to score in the open court and in the half court setting. Outside of playing in a tough North Shore conference, Nicolet has scheduled West Allis Central, Milwaukee Academy of Science, Wisconsin Lutheran, Racine St. Catherine’s and a few out-of-state games that will be stiff competition for the Knights.

Catholic Memorial is poised to break out in Kyle Johnsen’s third season at the helm. Junior Dusty Roach is an extremely talented multi-sport athlete that can score, defend, and play off-ball at a very high level. The depth behind Roach is a big reason why Catholic Memorial should be a top contender this season, as four starters return and six contributors from a year ago. On top of the skill for the Crusaders, Catholic Memorial competes in a Classic Eight conference where all but two of the teams are Division 1 schools, and solid Division 1 programs at that. That competition and the the drop down to division two after playing a mostly Division 1 conference schedule will serve Coach Johnsen’s group well come playoff time.

Science finally got the monkey off its back and took home gold last season, winning a state title in Division 3. Due to the tournament performance factor, the Novas will move up to Division 2 in 2025-26. Raymont McElroy steps into the head coaching position for the first time and will have to replace four starters from a year ago that averaged double-digit scoring, many of who were 3-4 year varsity players. Good thing for him, there is still Division 1 college talent back in Deuce Burkes, Gavin Valeri, and D’Anthony Brown. Marion Boyland transferred in from Sheboygan Lutheran to add another high-level player and depth to the Nova rotation. Playing an independent schedule, Science of course schedules one of the toughest slates in the state; with games against Nicolet, Racine St. Catherine’s, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield Central, and more.

The Vikings compete in a Woodland-West conference that has been dominated by Wisconsin Lutheran and Pewaukee over the past decade. West is going to be the top contender to Wisco this season in that conference and a top contender in Division 2 as a whole. Head coach Scott Cook returns a good deal of his lineup from last season, including his son and lights out shooter, Jayce Cook (2027). Evan Kern, Elijah Gammage, and Luke Krueger are all seniors that have taken a step forward in their development while junior Zach Hewitt is another bonafide scorer for the Vikings. West shares the ball well and shoots it from deep even better. Matchups with Arrowhead, Plymouth, Brown Deer, Lake Country Lutheran, and Dominican are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the non-conference slate.

Craig Kowal has done a great job of building a contender year in and year out in his 19 seasons with Onalaska. Despite losing three starters, Kowal’s group this season may be deeper 1-9 than it was last season. Leading the group is senior Ian Kowal, the elder son of Craig, and reigning Player of the Year in the Mississippi Valley. Tristan Moling, Rowan McGrath, and Brendan Chenault provide leadership roles for the Hilltoppers, as all three have a lot of experience between the trio. Tyler Kowal, Wylder Burch, Gabe Whited, and Gavin McRoberts (transfer from Melrose-Mindoro), are a talented group of sophomores that will all contribute major minutes and production this season. Guard play, versatility at the wing position, and team cohesiveness make Onalaska a top team on the western part of the state. Non-con matchups with Kimberly, Caledonia, Winona, and Apple Valley are all tough matchups over the course of the year.

Waterford took home the Southern Lakes conference title last season for the first time in 15 years and head coach Nick Roeglin’s squad is poised to run it back. Senior and Northern Michigan commit Caden Gustafson is the reigning Southern Lakes Player of the Year and a highly efficient scorer at all three levels. Jayce Brechtl is a 6-6 forward that will likely play at the next level and is a defensive deterrent in the lane where he blocked 48 shots a season ago. Behind those two, there is a large group of seniors that were key contributors that return with the experience and a winning pedigree. Roeglin has put together a grueling non-conference schedule that includes games against Germantown, Wauwatosa West, Whitnall, Beaver Dam, and Notre Dame.

The Golden Beavers will be an extremely balanced squad in 2025-26 with five guys that can legitimately score the ball and effect a opposing team’s defensive scout. Seniors EJ Salettel and Parker Blank are a pair of strong, heady, and lead guards for head coach Tim Ladron. Isaiah Yuenger is one year older and stronger, with the ability to score from anywhere in the half court. The biggest jump has been from sophomore Ben Wittnebel who is 6-6, has a lanky frame, and has worked at his game exhaustively to the point where he’ll be on most opposing teams scouting report. They’ll compete in a tough Badger-Large conference but also have non-con matchups with Monroe, Oostburg, Waterford, Ashwaubenon, and Whitefish Bay.

The Greater Metro is one of the top conferences in the state and continually produces some of the best teams and individual talent year in and year out. Head coach Dan Wandrey has been doing it a long time, entering year 28 coaching at the high school level and his 12th on the boys side. The Lancers have the pieces to be a top contender in Division 2 this season. Senior big man Henry Gruetzmacher is committed to Green Bay next season and has taken massive strides year after year, the past three offseasons. Behind him Evan Prusko, Nasir Avery, and Pius XI Catholic transfer Vinnie Walker can put pressure on opposing defenses with the dribble and shot creation. Competing in the Greater Metro will add calluses to this Lancer team, preparing them for playoff basketball, as will non-conference matchups with Homestead, Freedom, Wisconsin Lutheran, and Milwaukee Academy of Science, among others.

Colton Wilson serves a contributor and member of Bound Wisconsin. Wilson has worked in high school sports for 10 years, covering the state of Wisconsin in various sports. He has had roles in content creation, boys basketball coverage, director of events, and data management. Wilson is a graduate of Richland Center High School where he will currently serves as the Varsity Reserve boys basketball coach, entering his eleventh year coaching at the high school level. Wilson also has officiated basketball and organized youth tournaments for multiple years. You can follow him on Twitter at @ColtonWilson23 or reach him at [email protected].