Here are the top 35 high school boys basketball players in the Post-Crescent area this season
The 2023-24 high school boys basketball season is underway.
Here’s a look at 35 of the top players in the Appleton area this season, plus a few others looking to make an impact for their teams:
Brayden Arndt, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont
The 6-foot guard was honorable-mention all-Central Wisconsin Conference East last season when he averaged 13.6 points per game. He also averaged 11.6 points per game as a sophomore.
Carson Awe, sr., Kaukauna
The 5-11 guard was honorable-mention all-Fox Valley Association last season. He led the Ghosts in scoring with 14.3 points per game and had 74 made 3-pointers. “He’s a very good shooter who can stretch the floor,” Kaukauna coach Mike Schalow said.
Riley Bechard, sr., Waupaca
The 6-7 center averaged 12.6 points and led the North Eastern Conference with 9.5 rebounds per game last season when he was honorable-mention all-conference. Waupaca coach Matt Resch said Bechard’s size, rebounding, shot blocking, leadership and interior scoring are his biggest contributions.
Tyler Brightman, sr., Xavier
The 6-5 forward was first-team all-Bay Conference last season. He averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Xavier coach Matt Klarner calls Brightman active and intelligent. “Great passer for a 6-5 player and has improved a lot around the rim,” Klarner said.
Jack Coenen, sr., Hortonville
The 6-2 guard averaged 7.6 points per game last season for the Polar Bears but is recovering from an ACL injury and won’t be available until late in the season, if at all.
Tru Cornell, sr., Seymour
The 6-foot guard was first-team all-Bay last season. He led the Thunder in scoring with 12.5 points per game and 2.8 assists. “Tru is one of the most skilled players I have ever coached. He leads by example with his outstanding work ethic and coachability. He is an all-around great basketball player,” Seymour coach Bobby Kuchta said. “He can shoot, rebound, pass and handle the ball as good as any player in the area. He is poised to have an excellent senior season.”
Brady Corso, sr., Neenah
The 6-2 guard and St. Leo University commit was second-team all-FVA last season. Corso was second on the Rockets in scoring with 15.8 points per game. He has started 59 games in his career. “We will lean on him to be a leader both on and off the court in his third and final year on varsity,” Rockets coach Lee Rabas said.
Sam Ferge, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran
The 6-3 guard was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference last season. He was second in scoring for the Foxes with 13.2 points per game.
Grady Geiger, sr., Brillion
The 6-5 Geiger was the second leading scorer for the Lions behind Jeremy Lorenz the past two seasons. He earned second-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference honors last season when he averaged 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. “Grady Geiger is a player who has great work ethic and drive. He has the ability to attack you inside and out,” Brillion coach Chad Shimek said. “He will be relied on heavily this season.”
Nathan Gorman, sr., Manawa
The 6-5 senior post averaged 20.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game last season and was runner-up for conference player of the year. He was unanimous first-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference East. “He is a smooth left-handed player that can play outside or inside. He shoots the 3 very well and has great quickness to blow by players,” Manawa coach Rick Zemple said.
Grant Hardy, so., Appleton North
The 6-3 wing was second-team all-FVA as a freshman. He led the Lightning in scoring with 12.0 points per game. North coach Chris Kellett said Hardy has a high IQ and is a gifted passer, in addition to having NBA 3-point shooting range. He has a lot of interest from Division I and Division II college programs. “Grant is as competitive as any player I have coached and pushes his teammates to improve daily,” Kellett said.
Andrew Jensen, so., Kaukauna
The 6-9 center saw action in 27 games as a freshman and averaged 4.0 points per game. He has Division I scholarship offers from Marquette, UW-Milwaukee and Bryant. “Very athletic who can impact a game both offensively and defensively,” Schalow said.
Ethan Joling, so., Hortonville
The 6-5 wing played a lot of minutes as a freshman for the Polar Bears and averaged 4.6 points per game. He holds a scholarship offer from UW-Milwaukee. “Skilled basketball player that with a year under his belt we are expecting big things,” Hortonville coach Matt Hintz said. “He has worked hard on his shot, good passer and knowledge of the game who is looking to take the next step.”
Drew Kortz, jr., Freedom
The 6-foot guard was honorable-mention all-North Eastern Conference last season. He was second in scoring on the Irish with 10.7 points per game and is an excellent 3-point shooter. “Drew does a nice job creating his own shot as well as creating great looks for his teammates,” Freedom coach Andrew Gibbons said.
Joey La Chapell, sr., Appleton East
The 6-foot guard was second-team all-FVA last season. He was second on the Patriots in scoring with 16.5 points per game and led them in assists with 5.7 per contest. “Joey’s best quality is his leadership and ability to score in multiple different ways,” Patriots coach Turner Botz said.
Adam Loberger, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran
The 6-3 guard was unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference and the league’s player of the year last season. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Trayveon Lockridge, jr., Menasha
The 6-2 forward averaged 10.9 points per game last season. He shot 38% from 3-point range and averaged 6.3 rebounds per game. Bluejays coach Dylan Wurtz calls him an “athletic slasher” and “relentless rebounder.”
Fisher MacKenzie, sr., St. Mary Catholic
The 6-3 guard was honorable-mention all-Big East North last season. He averaged 12.0 points per game and led the Zephyrs with 7.1 rebounds per game. “We will be looking to Fisher for his leadership as a three-year varsity starter and as a rebounder, shooter with great range and scorer,” Zephyrs coach Paul Bradshaw said.
Kyler Marks, so., Seymour
The 6-4 forward averaged 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season as a freshman and is expected to make a huge jump this year. An excellent rebounder who Kuchta said will be a “double-double machine” with increased playing time. “He is constantly expanding his game,” Kuchta said. “He is posting more, working on his midrange game and improving on his 3-point shot. Kyler will be a major piece of our team’s success this year.”
Thomas Meyers, sr., Kimberly
The 6-1 point guard was second-team all-FVA last season. He averaged 11.7 points and 3.6 assists per game for the Papermakers. Coach Jon Murphy called him a “team leader.”
Henry Mouw, sr., Waupaca
The 6-3 guard was second-team all-North Eastern Conference last season when he finished third in the conference in scoring with 15.2 points per game. Resch said Mouw’s experience, playmaking ability and leadership are his best attributes.
Riley Mueller, jr., Hortonville
The 6-foot guard averaged 11.1 points per game and was second on the team with 37 made 3-pointers last season. This is his third year on varsity. “Really good shooter whose defense has developed,” Hintz said. “Has gotten stronger and I’m excited for him to have a great season.”
Jon O’Neill, sr., Kaukauna
The 6-10 forward and recent University of New Hampshire verbal commit was second-team all-FVA last season. He averaged 12.8 points per game last year and led the FVA with 11.7 rebounds per game. “Plays with a great motor, rim protector and a tremendous rebounder,” Schalow said.
Ashton Peterson, sr., Freedom
The 6-5 guard was first-team all-North Eastern Conference last season. He led the Irish in scoring with 14.1 points per game. “Ashton has the ability to create his own shot and score from all over the floor. Ashton’s leadership will be important to this team’s success,” Gibbons said.
Sam Pfefferle, sr., Xavier
The 6-1 point guard is a complete player who creates, attacks, shoots the ball and finishes, Klarner said. He was honorable-mention all-Bay last season when he averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 assists per game. “He has worked hard to eliminate any holes in his game,” Klarner said.
Cade Prestigiacomo, jr., Appleton East
The 6-foot guard averaged 9.1 points per game and had 41 made 3-pointers for the Patriots last season. “Cade’s best quality is his ability to greatly impact a game on both sides of the floor,” Botz said.
Hayden Quimby, sr., Xavier
Klarner calls the 6-2 Quimby “the hardest worker we have.” He averaged 7.8 points per game last season. “He has made himself into a college basketball player,” Klarner said. “As good as any shooter in the state and emerging as a defensive stopper as well.”
Nathan Ramus, so., Appleton North
The 6-1 guard was honorable-mention all-FVA as a freshman when he finished second on the Lightning in scoring with 11.4 points per game. He is receiving interest from Division I and Division II programs. “He is extremely smooth and skilled. Has the ability to create his own shot at any time. Nathan allows the game to come to him and alters the game in many ways,” Kellett said.
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Jonah Schlueter, sr., New London
The 5-11 guard was second-team all-Bay last season. He averaged 11.0 points and 4.9 assists per game. “Jonah’s top skills and qualities are his leadership abilities and IQ on the basketball court. He also shoots it very well,” New London coach Zach Molner said.
Bennett Schmidt, sr., Shiocton
The 6-6 multisport athlete will play point guard for the Chiefs this season. He was honorable-mention all-CWC East last season after averaging 9.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He is drawing interest from colleges for track and field (high jump), baseball and basketball. “He handles the ball and sees the floor well with good passing skills,” Chiefs coach Chad Schmidt said. “He can score from all three levels and creates for his teammates. We are expecting big things from him this season.”
Will Sweeney, so., Appleton North
The 5-9 guard averaged 6.2 points for the Lightning last season. “Will is our unquestioned leader who shows tremendous toughness. He shoots it extremely well from deep and sets the tone for our offense. Will is another competitive player who we expect big things from,” Kellett said.
Abraham Tomari, jr., Appleton North
The 6-3 wing averaged 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game for the Lightning as a sophomore. “He is a phenomenal athlete who is capable of playing above the rim. He utilizes his athletic ability on the defense side on the ball,” Kellett said.
Keegan Van Kauwenberg, jr., Kaukauna
The 6-4 wing averaged 10.1 points for the Ghosts last year and was second on the team with 53 made 3-pointers. He is getting some interest from Division I and Division II schools. “Long levers, bouncy and can score at all three levels,” Schalow said.
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CK White, jr., Menasha
The 6-foot guard averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Bluejays last season. “Playmaker who has shown high level shot-making ability as well as being a strong finisher at the rim,” Wurtz said.
Jack Yaeger, sr., Clintonville
The 6-3 forward was second-team all-North Eastern Conference last season. He averaged a team-best 13.6 points and was second in rebounds with 5.0 per game.
Others to watch
Braeden Brenn, sr., St. Mary Catholic; Donovan Davis, fr., Freedom; Nathan Deprez, sr., Kaukauna; Preston Fields, jr., St. Mary Catholic; Ben Grabner, jr., Kimberly; Will Guilbeault, sr., Appleton North; Zac Halbach, sr., Chilton; Josiah Hibbler, jr., Menasha; Luke Jung, jr., Neenah (out until January); Drew Klobe, sr., Hortonville; Parrion Peace, so., Appleton West; Kade Rosenow, sr., Clintonville; Landon VanOfferen, jr., Kimberly; Sam Wegener, jr., Clintonville; Parker Wienandt, jr., Menasha; Mikey Wildes, jr., Kimberly; Aaron Wolff, jr., Waupaca; Charlie Wunderlich, sr., Neenah; Ben Zdzieblowski, so., Appleton North.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Top high school boys basketball players in the Appleton area
