With the 2024-25 WIAA boys basketball season on the horizon, NY2LA Sports takes a closer look at the Badger Large Conference…
Projected Standings
1. Waunakee
2. Deforest
3. Beaver Dam
4. Fort Atkinson
5. Oregon
6. Monona Grove
7. Milton
8. Watertown
THE FAVORITE – WAUNAKEE
The Warriors will be looking for a three-peat in 2024-25. There are some tough losses to overcome, including Keaton Frisch, but Waunakee is led by a pair of All-Conference guards in Kaden McKenzie and Eli Selk. The Warriors tend to be as deep, if not deeper than any team in the league and that likely won’t change this winter.
DARK HORSE – DEFOREST
The Norskies didn’t meet expectations last season, but started to figure things out late in the season by winning four of their last five conference games. A pair of returning All-Conference returners lead the way, including Jackson Accurardi, who is one of the biggest mismatch problems in the league. Accuardi is coming off a season in which he posted 18 points and seven rebounds per game.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE – Fort Atkinson
The Blackhawks won some good games at the WBCA June Jam. Despite finishing tied for sixth in the Badger Large last season, Fort Atkinson did win five league games. This will be a senior-laden team that gets its top eight scorers from back.
Preseason All-Conference
FIRST TEAM
G Kaden McKenzie – Sr. – Waunakee
G E.J. Salettel – Jr. – Beaver Dam
G Vaughn Karvala – Jr. – Oregon
F Brennan Dempsey – Sr. – Fort Atkinson
F Jackson Accuardi – Sr. – DeForest
SECOND TEAM
G Lincoln Hottmann – Sr. – DeForest
G Owen Geiger – Sr. – Fort Atkinson
G Eli Selk – Sr. – Waunakee
G Karson Lueck – Sr. – Fort Atkinson
F Austin Luchetti – So. – Monona Grove
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Vaughn Karvala
Karvala is going to have his work cut out for him as Oregon loses most of its supporting cast from last season. Still, Karvala is on a different level than the rest of the field. The state’s top ranked junior, Karvala put up 24 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game last season.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Kaden McKenzie
McKenzie is coming in different during his senior season. Picking up Division 2 scholarship offers and becoming a priority for some really good D3 programs over the summer, McKenzie is one of the fastest-rising players in the senior class. McKenzie averaged 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game last season. He’ll likely earn back-to-back first-team All-Conference honors.
SLEEPER TO WATCH – Austin Luchetti
Luchetti is a skilled, versatile post prospect who can give a defense a lot of problems. He displays excellent footwork down on the block and knows how to get defenders up off their feet. As a freshman, Luchetti posted nine points and five rebounds per game. With Monona Grove losing three seniors, all double figure scorers, Luchetti should see his numbers go way up and make a run for first-team honors.