Boys Basketball Division 4 Preseason Top 10

Juneau rosters one of the top players in the entire state in junior Dooney Johnson (6-5), a huge advantage in the second smallest division in the state. Johnson gave his commitment to Gonzaga early last week and leads a team that will now be under the tutelage of his father, and former UW-Milwaukee standout Torre Johnson. Behind their star, both Takis Tyler (2026) and Jaden Hardiman (2027) are game-changers on the court from inside and out. An early playoff exit last season may serve as fuel for the Pioneers who are in arguably the toughest sectional and sub-sectional in Division 4. Juneau competes in the toughest MCC sub-conference, the Gold Division, going up against Division 1, 2 & 3 teams. Marquee non-conference matchups for Juneau this season include West Allis Central, Whitnall, Kenosha St. Joes and Kenosha Bradford.

The Jets won 24 games last season and return three starters from that squad, making them one of the top contenders to get to Madison. Head coach Josh Erickson goes into year four with balance on his roster, depth, and a trio of game changers at the top of the rotation. Senior Donovan Cowley is a playmaking wing that can score, facilitate, rebound, and defend and serves as the engine for the Jets. Junior Maddix Gulseth can score in bunches and is lethal from deep where he made 61 triples at a 40% clip last year. Dominik Frozena (6-7) dominates the interior where he deters opposing scorers, while offensively he can score with is back to the basket, sucking defenses in and creating space for the offense around him. Roncalli has games with Bonduel, Sheboygan Lutheran, Minnehaha, and Little Chute all scheduled in non-conference action.

Darlington has had to watch rival Mineral Point get to the state tournament in back-to-back seasons. Those roles may very well reverse in 2025-26 as Tom Uppena’s Redbirds are loaded. The playmaking ability of Broker Buschor (2026), Zeke Zuberhubler (2027), and Ryder Fitzsimons (2028) are the cherry on top of what is a deep, experienced, and talented roster. To boot, the athletes that compete on the hardwood excel both on the gridiron and in the weight room, where the physical side of the game usually tips the scale towards Darlington. As always, the Redbirds will compete in a challenging SWAL conference, but also have a challenging non-conference schedule that includes tilts with Lodi, Monroe, Turner, and Platteville.

The Knights will compete in one of the best, if not the best, middle-to-small school conferences this season, the Metro Classic. Despite graduating Syracuse commit Aaron Womack, there is plenty to be excited about in Whitefish Bay. Zaihir Jones is an ultra-talented junior that alongside seniors Amare Nixon and Demetrius Taylor, are a formidable trio. Nick Ford comes over to Dominican from Fond du Lac where he led the Cardinals to 19 wins and a second-place finish in the tough Fox Valley Association. Ford’s teams were known for the effort and fundamentals on the defensive end, so that culture paired with the talent at Dominican, make the Knights a top team in Division 4. The Knights have a brutal schedule playing every team in the Metro Classic twice, while also playing Menomonee Falls, Brown Deer, Oshkosh North, and New Berlin West outside of its league.

Lomira won 19 games last season despite the fact that Jake Broeske (6-9) was limited to eight games due to an early season injury. That void of production served as an opening for a talented group of sophomores to step up and contribute. Here in 2025-26, Broeske is back, as is a strong group of guards around him. First year head coach Nick Kohler comes from the successful program of Germantown and will have a team that can win matchups at every level; post, perimeter, pressure defense, to name a few. Non-conference matchups with Horicon, Oostburg, and Xavier will serve as good measuring sticks throughout the season for the Lions, who hope for a deep playoff push.

Iola was young last season having played a handful of sophomores and juniors while reaching 18 wins. That youth is one more year experienced. The Thunderbirds also feature a pair of top-level athletes in junior Alex Robbins, a 6-6 wing with a Division 1 scholarship to Western Michigan, and fellow junior Korz Loken, a 6-5 forward that is one of the top football players in the state and nation. Those two alone are a handful, but the supporting cast that includes senior RJ Opperman are plenty to make Iola a player in Division 4 this year. The Thunderbirds size will be a problem for most opponents, especially with one more year of maturity for the top playmakers.

The Prairie School did last year what Kenosha St. Joseph did the two years prior. Battle all year in a brutal Metro Classic conference, drop down a level, and make a run to the state tournament. Head coach Jason Atanasoff is geared up to make a run at a return trip with the roster he’ll field in 2025-26. Nearly the entire roster is back for the Hawks that somehow still are a young squad. Juniors Dalton Ahlensdorf and Chandler Perry are bigger bodied playmakers that play beyond their years. Beyond those two, Ryan Vanoss (2027), Nolan Greb (2026), and Emmett Wassil (2028) will all have another offseason of improvement under them which makes for a rotation that can hurt teams in a multitude of ways. Coach Atanasoff’s squad will be battle tested all year in the Metro Classic, but he made sure to get a few non-cons that will do the same, in Brookfield Academy, Seymour, and Bonduel.

Bonduel is coming off a state runner-up in Division 4 a season ago. Three starters return from that group led by head coach Duke Copp. Senior big man Ryan Westrich is a top football recruit in the state that has committed to Western Michigan. On the hardwood he’s a force down low and can step out and knock shots down. Junior Quinn Wesenberg is ever-improving as the smooth lefty can put up points in bunches while his classmate Carter Moesch can also score the ball, especially from deep. The experience gained from a deep playoff run last season is invaluable to a group that is itching to repeat that success. Non-con matchups with Roncalli, Peshtigo, Kewaunee, and The Prairie School will serve as preparation for that push.

Regis has one of the top scorers in Division 4 this season in senior Blake Risler, the reigning Player of the Year in the Cloverbelt-West. DJ Cooper is a very talented sophomore for head coach Connor Miller, who’s team will be filled with players from a football team that is still playing deep into the playoffs. This Regis group can light it up from deep throughout the roster and space the floor on the offensive side. The Ramblers will be battle-tested competing in the Cloverbelt-West this season, but have Marathon, G-E-T, and Aquinas in non-conference action to build out a tougher overall schedule.

Kewaunee is looking to make waves this year after winning 17 games a season ago. Head coach Matt Bosdeck returns nearly his entire rotation from last season including double-digit scorers and all-league performers Avery Jerabek (2026), Connor Kilgore (2026), Diesel Bosdeck (2028), and Dane Harrell (2028). The Storm collectively do a great job of rebounding and facilitating, where five returners averaged over two assists per game. They’ll compete for a league title in the Packerland while scheduling Bonduel and Manitowoc Lutheran in non-conference action.

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].