https://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2025/8/20/haupt-returns-to-uwsp-as-assistant-baseball-coach.aspx

New assistant coach for UWSP is a familiar name.  Former Pointer player Zack Haupt is back in Stevens Point.  In his short time as an assistant coach after his playing days, has an impressive resume.

I recently came across another commitment for UWRF.  6'8" Sauk Centre(MN), Chad Herickhoff, will play basketball for the Falcons.

I also am almost positive I have found out who Coach Dernbach was talking about when he said there was another player enrolling at UWSP next semester that they are still waiting on clearance from the NCAA for.  That would be former Kewaskum/Kishwaukee CC/D2 Quincy 6'6" F Joshua Bocher.  Bocher had some impressive stats for 2 years while playing at Kishwaukee CC.  He also looked to be firmly in the rotation for D2 Quincy.  I have attached his bio from Quincy if you'd like to see his stats at his previous stops for yourself.

https://quhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/joshua-bocher/8523

Stumbled across this recently but it happened awhile ago...6'8" Sleepy Eye(MN) C, Landing Wendinger, will play basketball at Eau Claire.

Former North Central(MN) 6'3" G, Ja'Shon Simpson, is transferring to La Crosse to finish his eligibility and play hoops.  Simpson was a 2nd Team UMAC All Conference Selection 2 seasons ago.

I mentioned that the recruiting rankings wouldn't be how I'd rank the WIAC teams heading into this season.  So, I'll do those rankings now and I'll be done for the time being then.

1) La Crosse -  They probably have the best trio returning with Derousseau, Paider and Greiger.  They have tons of experience making the postseason multiple times.  Getting Fielding and Butler transferring in adds to their depth.  I expect to see La Crosse as a top 10 team in the preseason

2) Stevens Point - Dern's 1st recruiting class is now in their 3rd year of playing together, they should hopefully take off this season because of it.  Butler, Krohn, Miron and Baumgartner provide a really solid core.  Tyler Orr and Isaiah Moore should provide some more depth to the roster.  I would expect to see UWSP ranked in the top 25 somewhere in the preseason, if not in the preseason they should work their way into it throughout the season.

3) Oshkosh  - Oshkosh returns too much to ignore, including Metcalf-Grassman coming off injury.  Beck, Lachapell, Metcalf-Grassman, Rindfleish, Thomas, Seckar, Imig and Johanknecht is a top notch returning core.  This team has enough firepower to win the league and make a deep run in the tourney.

4) Platteville - They have been on a crazy good run lately, but gone are Pearson, Probst and Olson.  They were the main parts that kept it going.  Still have some solid pieces with Love, Lewis, Hettinger and Fuhremann.  New players will need to step up but a little drop off here is inevitable.

5) Eau Claire - I don't think anybody can replicate what Huschka brought to the Blugolds on offense and defense.  He is a monumental loss.  This team will go as far as Renta and the incoming transfers can take them.  I don't like having to rely so much on players who haven't been in the system before, so I may be lower on them than other people.

6) Whitewater - I like what Whitewater has in the backcourt with their incoming recruiting class.  My worry is their frontcourt.  I would expect they have a transfer or two in the frontcourt coming that nobody knows about now.  If that is the case, they could easily move up here.

7) Stout - Getting another year out of Shore vaults them ahead of River Falls for me.  They also return more contributors than River Falls does.  It's tough to move up in the WIAC when you've been down but Stout has gotten more competitive.

8) River Falls - Losing Johnson is huge for the Falcons and I don't think they did enough with their recruiting class to avoid not being at the bottom.  River Falls is another school that seems to have some commits from Minnesota that are unknown to me until we see rosters, maybe that's the case again.

1) Eau Claire -  Bryce Borowicz 6'1" West De Pere
                 Cole Wilcek 6'4" Farmington(MN)
                 Roan Demovski 6'1" De Pere
                 Roman Thompson 6'3" Kettle Moraine
                 Mondes Kelly 6'6" Bay Port
                 Tyler Haney 6'1" Sun Prairie West
                 Colin Shultz 6'2" Pulaski
                 Will Boser 6'5" Eau Claire Memorial(D2 CSP transfer)
                 Kenji Scales 6'2" D2 Sioux Falls transfer
                 Carter Koch 6'5" Oconto
                 Xavier Lewis 6'6" D2 University of Mary transfer
                 Luke Reder 6'5" D2 Missouri Western St transfer

4 D2 transfers is quite impressive for the Blugolds, I would expect these guys to provide some solid depth.  They did lose a lot of minutes played from last years' squad, so it was needed.  When you also include possible stars to build around in Demovsky and Thompson, that's what propelled the Blugolds to the top spot for me.

Well...this is really early.  Class of 2026 Marshfield 6'7" F, Valin Ramberg, has committed to La Crosse.  This is a really good get this early for the Eagles.

2) Whitewater - Trent Grunewald 6'4" Howards Grove
                Agape Keys Jr 6'3" Milwaukee Academy of Science
                Mikey Wildes 6'2" Kimberly
                Isaiah Robinson 6'0" Racine Park
                Tyshawn Teague-Johnson 6'5" UWSP transfer
                Zay Howard 5'11" Simpson transfer

This class doesn't have any size coming in and I would expect the frontcourt to be Whitewater's weakness next season.  With that said, this class is loaded in the backcourt and as I've said multiple times already, Teague-Johnson is a huge loss for the Pointers.  Keys, Robinson and Teague-Johnson all have the potential to be stars in this league with All-Conference laurels as strong possibilities.  Grunewald is also a highly regarded recruit with a lot of WIAC interest before committing to the Warhawks.

This leaves the Blugolds and their new facilities as my top dog recruiting class this season.

3) Stevens Point -

    Drew Daoust (6'2, Southern Door)
        Wisconsin's 2nd All-Time leading scorer with 3,096 career points
        Averaged 32+ ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg last season
        All-State selection, led his team to a 23-4 record and conference title
    Zach Orr (5'11, Rice Lake)
        Two-time Big Rivers All-Conference honoree
        Averaged 16 ppg, 5 apg — accounting for nearly 50% of his team's scoring
        WBCA All-Star Game selection
    Bobby Grganto (6'6, Downers Grove North, IL)
        All-Area selections in Illinois prep career
        Averaged 14 ppg, 7 rpg, shot 62% FG, 37% from 3
        Led team to a Sweet 16 finish (26-9 record)
    Isaiah Moore (6'5, Evanston HS / Oakton CC)
        1st Team Illinois Skyway Conference
        Led Oakton in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks
        Shot 46% FG, 47% from 3 (over 2 made per game)
    Emmitt Huhn (6'7, St. Mary's Springs)
        Averaged 17 ppg, 10 rpg, unanimous Flyway All-Conference pick
        Led team to 21-5 record and conference title
        WBCA All-Star Game selection
    Max Raimer (6'4, Sun Prairie East)
        1st Team All-Big Eight Conference
        Averaged 19 ppg, 7 rpg, helped lead team to 21-7 record and conference championship
    Tyler Orr (5'11, Rice Lake / Winona State)
        Big Rivers Player of the Year (2022-23), All-State selection
        1,600 career points
        Transferring from Winona State with 3 years of eligibility remaining

In my mind, this class is really tight with Platteville.  Daoust is the star of this group but I struggle with his lack of athleticism.  He is a good shooter, but not great.  Many of his points came going to the rim, he will face a lot more size going to the rim in the WIAC.  I am higher on Raimer than the rankings are, you are no slouch averaging almost 20 a game in the Big 8.  Tyler Orr is better offensively than Combs is and I hope Orr can take over that job, but I would expect Combs at PG because he is a returner.  Zach Orr was possibly the best player in the Big Rivers as a Junior, but not as efficient as a Senior.  I suspect he had some lingering football injuries, have to wait and see how his career progresses.  The key to this class, for next year anyways, might come with Isaiah Moore.  I would much rather have 3 more years of Tyshawn Teague-Johnson but I hope Moore can bring those same things to Point that Johnson did or could.

Maybe I shouldn't mention this, as I don't have a name.  But, UWSP is also waiting on the NCAA to make a decision on another possible recruit and his eligibility.  He is enrolling at UWSP next year but it's still up in the air if he will be able to play.

Will do a separate post for each of the top 4.

4)  Platteville - Danny Wresinski 6'7" Nazareth Academy(IL)
                  Elliot Bessen 6'1" Eau Claire North
                  Caleb Cunico 6'4" Rockridge(IL)
                  Ryan Prowicz 6'2" Hampshire(IL)
                  SaVont Johnson 6'3" Adams Friendship
                  Ben Forbes 6'9" McFarland
                  Cooper Hoffman 6'1" Pecatonica(IL)
                  Eli Selk 6'4" Waunakee
                  Nick Madema 6'7" Randolph
                  Kaden McKenzie 6'4"

Relied pretty heavily on Illinois kids, which I obviously don't know as much about as Wisconsin kids.  I know the Illinois kids were heavily recruited at the D3 level, so this ranking could be low if they end up being big contributors.  McKenzie is the star of this group, he's a great athlete that will bring an all around game to the Pioneers.  If Forbes develops at his size, he's also a steal at the D3 level.

Quote from: Mitch Hall on July 07, 2025, 01:26:18 PMI really appreciate recruiting updates from you folks. I hope someone will rank the classes as we approach the season. Thank you.

I think for the most part, recruiting classes are done.  I'll try my hand at ranking the classes how I would rank them.  I'll do it in 2 parts, bottom 4 and top 4.  This isn't how I expect the conference to play out this year but strictly the incoming recruiting classes.

8) Stout - Gavin Johnson 6'4" Cannon Falls(MN)
           Wesley Mboga 6'3" Eau Claire Memorial
           Kenari Parr 6'2" St Thomas More
           Tyrel Creger 6'2" Owatonna(MN) VCSU transfer

I'm sure that Stout has some other transfers that are unknown at this time, seems like it happens every year.  But, from what I've seen I am going with Stout taking up the rear.  Johnson can score in bunches, Mboga is a really good all around player and Creger probably has solid minutes in the rotation from day 1.  Stout has improved their talent level the last few years but it's still tough going in the WIAC.

7) River Falls - Daniel Cleary 6'7" Lake Country Lutheran
                 Evan Clausen 6'5" Baldwin-Woodville
                 Cody Loegering 6'1" Mounds View(MN)
                 Ian Johnson 6'4" Williston St transfer
                 Brody Variano 6'0"

I think this is a solid class with some good players, but no stars.  Cleary and Clausen will be multiple year starters I would expect.  Variano had quite a bit of D3 interest.  River Falls is another school that always has some new players that were unknown outside of their inner circle, so we will see if that happens again once their roster pops up.

6)  Oshkosh - Oskar Kangas 6"5" Iron Mountain(MI)
              AJ Ohrmundt 6'7" Arrowhead
              Adam Guyette 6'4" Green Bay Notre Dame
              Isaiah Lomax 6'5" Elkhorn
              Aidan Hawkinson 6'2" Waupun
              Ben Grabner 6'9"

This class has a little bit of everything, including a star in Hawkinson.  Oshkosh targets length and there is a lot of it here.  Solid class that will keep them competitive and they return a ton.

5)  La Crosse  -  Jack Crowley 6'2" Downers Grove North(IL)
                  Eli Schroeder 6'1" Shakopee(MN)
                  Carter Wollan 6'3" Amery
                  Carson Bauer 6'4" West Bend West
                  Griffin Hannah 6'3" Mt Horeb
                  Devon Fielding 6'2" La Crosse Central/Winona St transfer
                  Jake Butler 6'5" UWRF transfer
                  Cade Prestigiacomo 6'2" Appleton East

Very good work done by the La Crosse coaching staff.  They could use some size on the bench but that would be my only gripe on this class.  Wollan is a star in the making, very athletic and can hit shots from deep.  Bauer is an all around player that will stuff the stat sheet.  Fielding and Butler will jump right into the rotation I would expect.

Quote from: Mitch Hall on July 07, 2025, 01:26:18 PMI really appreciate recruiting updates from you folks. I hope someone will rank the classes as we approach the season. Thank you.

I think for the most part, recruiting classes are done.  I'll try my hand at ranking the classes how I would rank them.  I'll do it in 2 parts, bottom 4 and top 4.  This isn't how I expect the conference to play out this year but strictly the incoming recruiting classes.

8) Stout - Gavin Johnson 6'4" Cannon Falls(MN)

Former Carthage Big Man, Julian Campbell, is transferring to North Park.

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on July 01, 2025, 09:05:35 AMUnderwhelming? You obviously know the recruiting scene better than I do, but I thought picking up the 27th best player in the state (Daoust) and the Orr brothers, among other, was a pretty good class.

Losing Tyshawn was a big loss, especially to a conference rival. He showed flashes of being really good and I think there was at least one game he was the best player on the court. I think Whitewater is basically losing everyone and with Point adding the two Orr brothers, along with who we already have, may have influence Tyshawn's decision to transfer. Maybe he thinks he has a better chance of playing more and maybe starting than he does at Point. Who knows, maybe it is the NIL money.

I say underwhelming when I compare it to the rest of the WIAC.  Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville and Whitewater all have a commitment from someone with similar expectations as Daoust.  The older Orr is better than Combs, atleast on the offensive end.  The younger Orr was better as a junior than he was a senior so I expect him to take time before he gets minutes.

So, in my mind, if you compare the recruiting classes to the rest of the conference, and add in the fact you lost your best freshman from last year, yes it's underwhelming to me.  Again, I know they are still recruiting players for next season, they need another impact guy for me to not be underwhelmed.

Carroll has received a huge commitment from a transfer wing.  6'4" Northern Michigan transfer, Michael McNabb, will suit up for Carroll with 3 years of eligibility left.  McNabb was receiving D1 interest before committing to Northern Michigan as a senior at Grafton High School.