Capitol-South Conference Preview - Boys Basketball

Below is a boys basketball conference preview. Included in each preview is the previous year standings, review, returning all-conference players, projected standings with writeup, a sleeper team, top players to watch, conference break out candidates.

The league title was split between the top three teams as New Glarus swept Cambridge, Cambridge swept Marshall, and Marshall swept New Glarus leading to an 8-2 finish for all three. Cambridge outlasted them all come playoff time. In Alex Ranney’s second season with the Blue Jays, he led his team to a Division 4 state tournament birth and a runner-up finish in an electric Division 4 State Championship game.

This conference was one of the most difficult to project as any of the top three teams are capable of winning the conference title. The coaches within the conference felt the same way as all three received two votes as the top team.

Head Coach: Alex Ranney - 3rd year (43 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Cal Nottestad, Jett Horton, Owain Nelles
Returners: Evan Harbort, 6-4, jr; J’Kari Crawford, 6-1, sr; Oscar Brown, 6-3, jr; Cash Cunningham, 6-0, jr; Jack Baker, 6-3, sr; Ian Nelles, 6-0, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Crew Cunningham, 6-1, soph; Hawkins Olson, 6-1, soph; Nathan Rahn, 6-0, jr
Breakout Candidate: Oscar Brown

Outlook: Cambridge got hot at the end of the year and rode that all the way to a silver ball in Division 4. Losing senior leaders Jett Horton and Cal Nottestad are tough, but Coach Ranney has a lot of experience and talent back. This group is gritty, plays well together, and buys in to what Coach Ranney is teaching. J’Kari Crawford will likely step into that lead guard role this year with Oscar Brown and Evan Harbort providing size and playmaking ability on the wings. Depth is not an issue with this group as well as they can go eight to nine deep. Non-cons with The Prairie School, Darlington, and Oregon will push this Blue Jays squad to get to where they want to be come February.

Head Coach: TJ Zweifel - 3rd year (90 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Brady Kleinheinz, Drew Chadwick, Isaiah Pauley, Jackson Reichelt
Returners: Jaylen Miggins, 6-2, sr; Reid Christenson, 5-10, jr; Logan Ney, 6-0, sr; Santiago Alvarez Cano, 6-0, sr; Max Moses, 5-10, jr; Landon Connelly, 5-11, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Lavonte Johnson, 6-5, soph (transfer); Luis Gamon, Joshua Wilke, 6-7, sr; Abubacarr Senghore,
Breakout Candidate: Lavonte Johnson

Outlook: Marshall shared the crown a season ago and it would not surprise me if once again there’s a multi-team tie atop the standings with Marshall included. Head coach TJ Zweifel has the best player back in the conference in league Player of the Year Jaylen Miggins. Madison Memorial transfer Lavonte Johnson started for the Spartans as a freshman and instantly becomes one of the top players in this league. Reid Christenson and Logan Ney are both steady guards that can score the ball, defend, and cause havoc. The guard play on offense is the strength of this Cardinals team as is the controlled chaos they can play with on the defensive side. The two styles mesh well with each other and make Marshall a team to watch in Division 4.

Head Coach: Travis Sysko - 25th year (370 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Matt Roth, Tatem Stampfli, Grady Johnson
Returners: Nolan Julseth, 5-9, sr; Brent Weeden, 6-1, sr; Quinn Marty, 6-3, sr; Tyse Hoesly, 6-2, sr; Blake MacLean, 6-3, soph; Tucker Sysko, 6-0, sr; Liam Crawford, 5-9, sr; Brock Roth, 5-10, jr; William Glotfeity, 6-1, sr;
Newcomers/New Contributors: Brock Weeden, 6-3, frosh; Kaden Dammen, jr; Kamm Nehmer, 5-9, jr; Taydon DeRouin, 6-1, jr; James Oehlof, jr; Roman Mimetz, jr
Breakout Candidate: Brock Weeden

Outlook: New Glarus is the third team in this conference that is likely to be a contender and a team that will push for the conference crown. Travis Sysko is one of the more tenured coaches in the state and has done an incredible job of building his program. He will have Nolan Julseth leading the way in 2026-27 as he’s one of the top point guards in Division 4. There’s a plethora of experience behind Julseth in Bretn Weeden, Quinn Marty, Tucker Sysko, and more. Freshman Brock Weeden seems to be the real deal and likely contributor right away with the Glarner Knights. Chemistry, experience, and a high team IQ are strengths for this squad coming into the year.

Head Coach: Aleck Sharma - 1st year
Lost Contributors: Ryder Jaehnke, Kian Ahrendt
Returners: Avery Peachey, 6-5, sr; Aiden Arians, 6-2, jr; Logan Powers, 6-0, jr; Alejandro Unzueta, 6-1, jr; Kayden Bird, 5-11, sr; Lucas Gier, 5-11, soph; Brenan Ahorner, 5-11, jr; Ryder Ebert, 5-9, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Avery Peachey

Outlook: Waterloo will be much improved from last year’s five-win team as all but two players return from that group. First year head coach Aleck Sharma inherits a roster where nearly the entire production is back. Avery Peachey is the man in the middle as he averaged nearly a double-double. Alejandro Unzueta, Logan Powers, Aiden Arians, and Kayden Bird all started games a season ago.

Head Coach: Drew Shrader - 3rd year (19 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jackson Scholey, Hazeon Edmond, Isaac Patrow, Cooper Nemec
Returners: Brody Funseth, 6-3, jr; Evan Edge, 5-11, jr; Randy Raven, 5-10, sr; Adam Johnson, 5-11, sr; Austin McKinley, 5-7, sr; Jackson Fahey, 5-10, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Dawson Smith, 5-10, jr; Dylan Kremer, jr; Jared Arano, 5-10, jr; Wes Henry, jr
Breakout Candidate: Brody Funseth

Outlook: Shrader enters Year 3 with a little bit of overhaul as he must replace his top four scorers from graduation. With that comes a lot of new roles for new players. Brody Funseth, Evan Edge, Randy Raven, Jackson Fahey, and Austin McKinley all played in 20+ games but none scored more than four points per game. That loss of production opens up opportunities for the returning players and a handful of newcomers to take advantage of.

Head Coach: Isaiah Crowe - 1st year
Lost Contributors: Zach Sander, Austin Stephenson
Returners: Graham Crowe, 6-0, jr; Jayden Starcer, 6-2, jr; Griffin Crowe, 6-0, soph, Brooks Behn, 6-1, sr; Graham Payne, soph; Lucas Ramsden, 5-11, jr; Tyson Theobald, 6-2, sr; Gavyn Wells, 5-9, sr; Beckham Schaefer, 5-11, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Jayden Starcer

Outlook: Heights played a lot of underclassmen a season ago as three sophomores and three freshman were regulars in the rotation. Graham Crowe led the Vanguards in scoring and serves as the go-to playmaker. First year head coach Isaiah Crowe steps to the sideline where his sons Graham and Griffin both were starters a season ago. Jayden Starcer, Tyson Theobald, Brooks Behn, and Beckham Schaefer all started at least five games a season ago for the Vanguards which are well-experienced and familiar with one another on the court.

Though Waterloo may not contend for a conference crown and might not even knock off one of the top three behemoths in the conference, the Pirates will be much improved from their five-win team a season ago. A solid core back, a new coach, and pathway forward is in store for Waterloo in 2026-27.

Oscar Brown, jr, Cambridge
Brown has shown glimpses of handling the go-to guy role as he has all the tools to be a playmaker for the Blue Jays. As a sophomore last year he averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and has gotten better with an offseason of development.

Reid Christensen, jr, Marshall
Christensen continues to develop his game as he was an honorable mention all-league selection a season ago. He averaged 11 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game and shot 37% from three on the season.

J’Kari Crawford, sr, Cambridge
Crawford will be given the reigns this season as he get the opportunity to step into the primary ball handler role. The 5-11 guard averaged 8.3 points a season ago and has a no-backdown mentality on the court.

Graham Crowe, jr, Wisconsin Heights
Crowe averaged 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a season ago for the Vanguard, earning honorable mention all-league honors. He was the scoring bright spot for a team that did struggle to put the ball in the hoop and with another offseason of development behind him, look for Crowe’s efficiency as a scorer and playmaker to improve.

Evan Harbort, jr, Cambridge
Harbort showed his value on the court throughout the state tournament as his size, physicalness, and toughness shown thru. As a sophomore he averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game and was a second team all-league selection.

Lavonte Johnson, soph, Marshall
Johnson started on the Division 1 State runner-up Madison Memorial team a season ago. He now is at Marshall and is one of the top playmakers in the conference. At 6-5, he’s lanky, skilled, and can play above the rim or on the perimeter.

Nolan Julseth, sr, New Glarus
Julseth is a dog on the court, as though he’s just 5-8, he averaged 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game and was a first team all-league performer. He’s a great multi-sport athlete as well, as he’s committed to NCAA Division 2 MSU-Mankato for baseball.

Jaylen Miggins, sr, Marshall
Miggins is the reigning conference Player of the Year int he Capitol-South. He is the epitome of a bucket getter as his skillset is that of a three-level scorer with an improving shot from deep. On top of that, his passing ability is underrated. As a junior he averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.

Avery Peachey, sr, Waterloo
Peachey nearly averaged a double-double a season ago, putting up 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He earned honorable mention all-league recognition. Peachey is fleet of foot

Brent Weeden, sr, New Glarus
Weeden was a second team all-league honoree a season ago as he averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. The 6-1 guard is steady, does all the little things, and effects the outcome of games without having to score the ball.

Brock Weeden, frosh, New Glarus
Weeden comes in as a freshman and there is a good possibility he makes a splash right away. The 6-3 combo guard plays with poise beyond his years and with the mix of athleticism and skillset he possesses, he’s one of the better freshman in the area, and state overall.