The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association has presented the prestigious Mr. Basketball Award since 1982, honoring the most outstanding senior girls basketball player in the state of Wisconsin. For more more information on the award and past winners, please click here. The WBCA will announce a list of finalists in the first week of February.
As we move past the midway point of the season, it is time to look at some of the favorites and contenders for the WBCA’s Mr. Basketball award. It takes the right combination of name recognition, statistical success, and team success to win the award, with college potential and commitment sometimes playing a part in how players are viewed as well. Generally, the player must be from a very successful team that has a chance to compete for a state title.
This year, there are a few frontrunners, a handful of strong contenders, and a few more to mention within the race.
These are our opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or selections of the WBCA.
The Favorites
(Alphabetical order)
Gray Jr. is the catalyst for one of the most explosive offenses in the state, as the Bulldogs average nearly 90 points per game. The 6-5 wing is one of the more explosive off the dribble and has proven himself to be a three-level scorer this year, as he averages 23.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Gray Jr. was a WBCA All-State selection as a junior and has amassed over 1,500 career points. Next season he’s heading to Iowa State to play for to TJ Otzelberger.
Wisconsin Lutheran has been as dominant this season as any team in recent memory in the state of Wisconsin, and Zens has been at the forefront of the train. A Northern Iowa recruit, the 6-7 wing has the pedigree of being a two-time defending state champion, WBCA All-State selection as a junior, and 1,000 point scorer. This season Zens is averaging 26.1 points per game while shooting an incredibly efficient 62.1% from the field. He is also averaging 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Top Contenders
(Alphabetical order)
The Lancers play in one of the toughest conferences in the state, the Greater Metro, and each night Gruetzmacher is putting up monster double-doubles. A Green Bay recruit, the 6-9 big man is a smooth lefty with an arsenal of scoring abilities. As a junior Gruetzmacher was a WBCA All-State Honorable Mention selection and has vastly improved over the past three seasons. Through 12 games he is averaging 22.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
Hamilton is a blur and one heck of a multi-sport athlete as he is headed to Minnesota next year to play football. On the hardwood, he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hand and leads one of the best teams in Division 3. Though his scoring is down from a season ago, Hamilton continues to be one of the most impactful lead guards in the state. He was a WBCA All-State selection a season ago and is averaging 24.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Hereford is one of, if not the, most electric player with the ball in his hands in the entire state. He’s a blur, has improved his perimeter shooting year after year, and is one of the top scorers in the state, averaging 36.4 points per game as well as 9.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 4.8 steals per game. He is a two-time WBCA All-State selection and closing in on 2,000 career points. Hereford is one of the top unsigned players in the state and has the Purple Knights out to a 9-2 record halfway through the season.
The top two-way post player in the state, Jensen isn’t your normal back-to-the-basket post. At 6-9, he runs the floor extremely well and can play in the pick and roll or bury shots out on the wings. Defensively Jensen is a nightmare, altering shots with his timing and vertical athletic ability, both reasons why he was a WBCA All-State Honorable Mention pick as a junior. The DePaul recruit has tallied 16.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while leading the Galloping Ghosts are 12-1.
One of the most prolific scorers in the state over the past three seasons, Manchester can light it up from anywhere the second he takes the court. An unfortunate shoulder injury suffered last week will keep the 6-3 sharpshooter on the shelf the next few weeks, which is extremely unfortunate for his Vikings squad. Last year he was a WBCA All-State selection and eclipsed the 2,000 point mark in his prep career in the third game of the season. This year he once again is averaging over 35 points per game.
Pitrof has been on an absolute fiery tear scoring the ball as of late for the Crusaders. His current season average sits at 27.7 points per game while tallying 58/38/80 shooting splits. The 6-4 wing is also averaging 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He oozes athleticism and versatility on the court and leads a Lutheran team that is vying for a state tournament run. A WBCA All-State selection a season ago, Pitrof has collected a few Division 1 offers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if his recruitment picks up as the season progresses.
Other Contenders
Caden Gustafson, Waterford: 13-2 team record; 23.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.2 apg
Cahlil Jones, Germantown: 6-5 team record; 22.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg
Matthew Kloskey, Wauwatosa West: 9-4 team record; 22.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
Ian Kowal, Onalaska: 10-0 team record; 15.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Chris Pohl, Marshfield: 12-2 team record; 19.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg
Kayden Schultz, Plymouth: 9-6 team record; 28.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.9 apg
JJ Zavatchin, Oostburg: 13-2 team record; 30.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.9 apg
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].