Classic Eight 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.

Arrowhead captured the conference crown by a wide margin in 2025-26 going 13-1 and finishing five games ahead of the second place teams. The conference as a whole struggled in the postseason however. Muskego was the surprise team as they knocked off West Allis Central in the regional final and were the only team from the Classic Eight to advance to sectional play, falling to Racine Case in the sectional semis. Oconomowoc head coach Jay Benish got win number 100 this past season.

The Classic Eight will be deep once again this year as all eight teams are bringing back some really good pieces. Depth is no issue in this conference when any of the teams likely to have success in many other conferences. Nick Ford can get to win number 100 with ten wins this year in his first season at Kettle Moraine.

Head Coach: Craig Haase - 27th year (468 wins)
Lost Contributors: Domanic Rasberry, Brady Thimmesch
Returners: Trey Resch, 6-2, sr; Blake Basich, 5-11, sr; Theo Toepel, 6-4, sr; Rylan Schulz, 5-10, sr; Evan Wozniak, 6-2, sr; Bennett Johnson, 6-5, soph, Thomas Toepel, 6-3, soph, Andrew Leoni, 6-3, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Colton Frederick; 6-1, jr; Jett Rortveldt, 6-5, soph
Breakout Candidate: Bennett Johnson

Outlook: Arrowhead returns four starters from a group that won 19 games and the conference crown a season ago. Craig Haase enters Year 27 with a team that has top end senior talent at the guard position, and some younger forwards that are primed to break out. Trey Resch, Blake Basich, and Theo Toepel were all first team All-Classic Eight selections. Ryan Schulz is the fourth returning starter and also earned all-league honors. Kettle Moraine transfer Jett Rortveldt will add depth to the guard position and sophomore Bennett Johnson and Thomas Toepel seem to be good choices to take a big step forward. The Warhawks non-conference schedule is grueling with games against Wisconsin Lutheran, Sheboygan North, Whitefish Bay and more. Arrowhead isn’t just the favorite in the Classic Eight, but one of the top teams in Division 1 coming into the 2026-27 season.

Head Coach: Kyle Johnsen - 4th year (137 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jake Pfister, Gabe Talla
Returners: Jackson Albee, sr; Matthew Goedheer, sr; Rigg Waterman, sr; Karti Calvert, soph, Dustin Roach, sr; Will Kinateder, sr; Will Schmitzer, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Rigg Waterman

Outlook: Four starters are back for the Crusaders in 2026-27 after 11 wins a season ago. This group is senior led with Rigg Waterman, Jackson Albee, and Matthew Goedheer as three talented senior guards on the perimeter. Karti Calvert started as a freshman a season ago and like the three mentioned above, earned all-conference laurels. There is plenty of depth as well for head coach Kyle Johnsen who will have Dustin Roach back after he missed most of last year to injury. Will Kinateder and Will Schmitzer both provide depth as will a handful of underclassmen vying for playing time.

Head Coach: Eric Hollow - 4th year (63 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Noah Daniel, Joey Carini
Returners: Tyson Busch, 6-0, sr; Ja’Quan Turner, 6-5, jr; Coleton Brukwitzki, 6-3, jr; Mason Botsch, 6-1, sr; Lincoln Hanson, 6-3, sr; Carson Peterburs, 6-3, sr; Ben Wucherer, 6-4, sr; Karas Masoad, 6-0, sr; Kenneth Green, 6-0, jr; Brody Lozer, 5-11, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Coleton Brukwitzki

Outlook: Oak Creek joined the Classic Eight last season and in its first year in the league went 8-6 and finished third. Four starters are back for head coach Eric Hollow including 20-point scorer Tyson Busch. Junior Ja’Quan Turner is a game changer and one of the top juniors in the entire state. Coleton Brukwitzki and Lincoln Hanson both were starters as well for the Knights who with consistency should be challenging for the top of the standings in 2026-27.

Head Coach: Nick Ford - 1st year (90 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Bryce Bestor, Charlie Dunham, Jett Rortveldt (transfer)
Returners: Sam Wagner, 6-8, jr; Dane Peters, 6-2, sr; Jackson Losenegger, 6-3, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Micah Belland, 6-5, soph; Braylon Bodden, 6-6, jr
Breakout Candidate: Sam Wagner

Outlook: Kettle Moraine finished second in the league a season ago and have a pair of starters back from that squad. Nick Ford comes over to coach the Lasers after a year at Dominican. He inherits a roster that is huge when you look at the height of the players on the roster. Sam Wagner is an extremely skilled junior forward while Micah Belland and Braylon Bodden both are big bodies that are poised to break out. Dane Peters and Jackson Losenegger are the top returning guards. That size alone gives Kettle Moraine an advantage. Coach Ford will bring over his style to mesh with that size in 2026-27.

Head Coach: Steve Liberto - 2nd year (13 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Brendan Larson, Dominic Musolf
Returners: Taylen Czarniak, sr; JJ DeFranco, sr; Braedon Dibb, sr; Trey Larson, sr; CJ Reitz, sr;
Newcomers/New Contributors: Madden Nye, 6-3, jr; Matthew DeFranco, 5-9, jr
Breakout Candidate: Taylen Czarniak

Outlook: Muskego had a heck of a playoff run last season after winning just 11 games during the regular season. In Steve Liberto’s first season, the Warriors went on the road to beat Racine Park and then knocked off one of the favorites in the state in West Allis Central in a regional final. Four seniors are back from that team, including starters Taylen Czarniak, JJ DeFranco, and Braedon Dibb. Juniors Madden Nye and Matthew DeFranco are poised to step into bigger roles with the Warriors in 2026-27. The playoff run last season was a great starting point in terms of creating momentum in 2026-27.

Head Coach: Don LaValle - 11th year (133 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Tyler Evenson, Prince Kuumba, Mason LaValle, Austin Lambert, Liam Bonell
Returners: Ben Arnold, sr; Will Still, jr; Logan LaValle, jr; Noah Didion, jr; Jordan Guilette, jr; Zion Vale, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Jordan Guilette, jr; Tyler Cattarozzle, sr
Breakout Candidate: Noah Didion

Outlook: Despite a good group of seniors graduated from last year’s 14-win team, Don LaValle is hopeful with the group back for West. Ben Arnold and Will Still are two very good players that can take up the scoring mantle for the Wolverines. Tyler Cattarozzle is back from injury and ready to compete. A large contingent of juniors saw varsity minutes as a sophomores a season ago including Logan LaValle, Noah Didion, Jordan Guilette, Zion Vale, and Jordan Schroeder. That experience is crucial for a team looking to replace four contributors. Depth and athleticism are two strengths pointed out by Coach LaValle.

Head Coach: John Witte - 2nd year (57 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Carson Greuel, Colton Janse, Oliver Maus, Evan Ploeckelman (transfer)
Returners: Blake Lindstedt, sr; Waylon Woda, jr; Ayden Andrysczyk, sr; Nathan Czarapata, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Waylon Woda

Outlook: John Witte’s Mukwonago squad took a major hit to its 2026-27 season when Division 1 college prospect Evan Ploeckelman announced his transfer to DME Prep for his senior year. Replacing his 23 points and 8 rebounds per game is no easy task, especially considering tow of the other top four scorers are gone to graduation. Blake Lindtsted, Ayden Andryszck and Waylon Woda are returning starters however which provides stability and leadership for this Indians squad coming into the year.

Head Coach: Jay Benish - 10th year (100 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Josh Platter, Noah Gricius
Returners: Mason Medina, 6-1, sr; Karter Zimmerman, 6-0, jr; Ethan Bloom, 6-0, jr; Layton Fish, 6-6, jr; Jacob Salas, 6-1, sr; Ethan Szablewski, 6-7, sr; Ben Gricius, 6-7, jr; Andrew DeMark, 6-3, jr; Brecken Callaghan, 6-0, jr; Dillon Arenz, 6-3, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Jacoby Bruntte, 5-10, sr; Demetrios Markopolous, 6-2, jr; Stefanos Markopolous, 5-9, jr; Ashton Lutz, 6-4, jr; Aric Coates, 6-2, jr
Breakout Candidate: Layton Fish

Outlook: The Raccoons finished at the bottom of the standings a season ago and return nearly the entire roster. That speaks volumes for this conference’s depth that they are picked eighth here in 2026-27. Jay Benish returns top scorer Mason Medina as well as Karter Zimmerman and Ethan Bloom from returning starters. There is a lot of size on this squad as well as Layton Fish, Ethan Szablewski, and Ben Gricius all stand 6-6 or taller. Despite being projected eighth here, don’t be surprised if Oconomowoc is competitive in many of its league games this season.

Muskego made a surprise run in the playoffs last year and a good chunk of that roster is back in 2026-27. With that experience and that momentum built, it’d be no surprise to see Muskego finished higher in the standings than what is projected here.

Jackson Albee, sr, Catholic Memorial
Albee was one of the top scorers in the league a season ago, averaging 19.0 points per as a junior. He was named to the All-Classic Eight first team. Albee holds a number of Division 3 college offers including Wisconsin Lutheran and Loras.

Ayden Andrysczyk, sr, Mukwonago
Andrysczyk’s value on a basketball court is understated. It speaks volumes when he earned honorable mention all-conference honors despite averaged just 2.7 points per game.

Ben Arnold, sr, Waukesha West
Arnold averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 assists per game a season ago earning honorable mention all-league honors. The 6-4 guard can light it up from deep as he buried 50% of his attempts a season ago.

Blake Basich, sr, Arrowhead
Basich runs the show and does it well for an Arrowhead team that is extremely talented. As a junior he earned first team all-conference honors as he averaged 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. He recently gave a commitment to Division 3 Wisconsin Lutheran.

Tyson Busch, sr, Oak Creek
Busch can absolutely light up the box score as he averaged 20.6 points per game a season ago. He also effects the game with effort and IQ as he averaged 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game and was named tot he Classic Eight First Team and Defense Teams. He holds a Division 2 offer from Barry University in Florida.

Karti Calvert, soph, Catholic Memorial
Calvert is one of the top sophomores in the state. As a freshman the 6-5 guard held his own in the difficult Classic Eight conference, averaging 12.4 points per game and earning honorable mention all-league honors.

Taylen Czarniak, sr, Muskego
Czarniak averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds per game and showed his ability to effect games with his relentless approach on the glass and in the paint. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection a season ago.

JJ DeFranco, sr, Muskego
DeFranco was a second team all-league selection as a junior. He averaged 17 points and three rebounds per game and is relentless, quick, and has a none stop motor from the point guard position.

Matthew Goedheer, sr, Catholic Memorial
Another very talented guard with CMH, Goedheer earned second team all-conference honors as a junior after averaging 13.4 points per game. The 6-4 wing has next level offers from Division 3 schools Bethel, Wheaton, and UW-Oshkosh.

Blake Lindstedt, sr, Mukwonago
Lindstedt averaged 8.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a junior a season ago. He was an honorable mention all-league performer and will be one of the senior leaders back in 2026-27.

Mason Medina, sr, Oconomowoc
Medina is one of the better scorers back in the Classic Eight this year. He averaged 20.2 points per game and was named second team all-Classic Eight.

Dane Peters, sr, Kettle Moraine
The steady leader at the guard position, Peters earned honorable mention all-Classic Eight honors a season ago. He averaged 11.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Trey Resch, sr, Arrowhead
Resch is a talented multi-sport athlete as he’s a top tier track athlete with a handful of offers to run at the college level. In basketball, he was an all-state honorable mention a season ago and the Player of the Year in the Classic Eight after averaging 21.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Ryan Schulz, sr, Arrowhead
Schulz can at times get lost in the shuffle of the Arrowhead guard rotation, but make no mistake, his impact on the game is profound. He earned honorable mention all-league recognition after averaging 6.5 points and shooting over 47% from beyond the arc.

Will Still, jr, Waukesha West
Still was second on the team in scoring as a sophomore last year, averaging 10.0 points per game. He also tallied 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as he was named to the honorable mention all-conference team.

Theo Toepel, sr, Arrowhead
The fourth senior guard listed here out of Arrowhead, Toepel has great size and length on the perimeter. His versatility shines through on the hardwood. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a season ago, earning first team all-conference honors.

Ja’Quan Turner, jr, Oak Creek
Turner is one of the top juniors in the state. He’s relentless, a skilled ball handler, and can take over any game at any point. As a sophomore he averaged 16.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while earning first team All-Classic Eight honors.

Samuel Wagner, jr, Kettle Moraine
Wagner is a very skilled big man that is on the rise in the Class of 2028. At 6-9, he’s a matchup nightmare. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and was a second team all-conference selection.

Rigg Waterman, sr, Catholic Memorial
Waterman is the fourth player from CMH that is returning after earning all-league honors. He was an honorable mention selection after he averaged 10.4 points per game. The athletic 6-4 guard holds a handful of Division 3 offers including Loras and St. Norbert.