skip navigation

Standout teams, players comprise lineup for 2024 Wisconsin vs. Illinois Border Battle

08/03/2023, 3:30pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Highly regarded individual players and teams are slated to participate in the sixth annual Wisconsin versus Illinois Border Battle, set for February 10, 2024 at The Prairie School in Racine. 

Sixteen teams -- eight from Wisconsin and eight from Illinois -- will take part in the event.

Wisconsin currently holds a 20-13 edge in the all-time series with Illinois. 

Following is a quick breakdown of each of the contests:

Burlington vs. Antioch


Conner Roffers

Game Time: 10:00 a.m.
2022-23 Records:
Burlington: 20-6, 12-2 in Southern Lakes Conference.
Antioch: 17-14, 9-5 in Northern Lake County Conference
Enrollments:
Burlington: 1,001
Antioch: 1,290
Top Returning Players:
Burlington
-- Connor Roffers (6-4, Sr., 16.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Drew Lang (6-0, Sr., 7.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Karsen Skiles (6-4, Sr., 6.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Tommy Teberg (5-10, Sr., 6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Jack Sulik (6-4, Sr., 5.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg).
Antioch -- Marshall Gehrke (6-3, Jr.). 
Notes:
Burlington returns all five starters from a club that won 20 games last winter. Co-head coaches Steve Berezowitz and Kyle Scott have a team more than capable of winning the competitive Southern Lakes Conference and are led by returning first-team all-league pick Connor Roffers ... Antioch finished third in the Northern Lake County Conference a year ago. Coach Sean Connor's squad is led by promising junior wing Marshall Gehrke. 


West Allis Central vs. Prospect


Yusef Gray Jr.

Game Time: 11:30 a.m.
2022-23 Records:
West Allis Central: 6-19, 1-11 in Western Division of Woodland Conference.
Prospect: 20-13, 7-3 in Eastern Division of the Mid-Suburban Conference
Enrollments:
West Allis Central: 1,126
Prospect: 2,155
Top Returning Players:
West Allis Central -- Yusef Gray Jr. (6-3, Soph., 19 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Kayden Travis (5-6, Soph., 8.2 ppg), Drevion Parks (5-10, Soph., 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Kevin Pittman (6-8, Soph., 2.8 rpg), Kamarion Johnson (6-2, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), MJ Kloeskey (6-3, Soph., 6.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg).
Prospect -- Ben Schneider (5-10, Jr.), Cole Chapman (6-3, Sr.), Brian Cantieri (6-4, Sr.), Shavez Rodgers (6-4, Sr.), Frankie Poshnjari (6-3, Sr.). 
Notes:
West Allis Central may have been the youngest varsity team in Wisconsin a year ago as coach Dave Mlachnik played five freshmen extensive minutes. Yusef Gray Jr., a talented 6-foot-3 wing, led the Bulldogs in scoring at 19 ppg and is the top-ranked class of 2026 prospect in Wisconsin in the WisSports.net Player Rankings ... Prospect lost a hard-fought 63-62 decision to a very good Saint Thomas More squad in the Wisconsin vs. Illinois Border Battle last year. Cole Chapman had 22 points and Ben Schneider added 17 for Prospect in that game.


The Prairie School vs. Waubonsie Valley


Carson Eeg

Game Time: 1:00 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
The Prairie School: 11-14, 6-10 in Metro Classic Conference.
Waubonsie Valley: 15-16, 5-5 in DuPage Valley Conference
Enrollments:
The Prairie School: 226
Waubonsie Valley: 2,462
Top Returning Players:
The Prairie School -- LaTrevion Fenderson (6-4, Jr., 17.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg), Carsen Eeg (5-11, Jr., 11.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Ben Fiegel (6-1, Sr., 7.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Caden Roehl-Landrum (5-10, Sr., 5.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Elijah Gordon (6-1, Jr., 3.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Nick Peterson (6-0, Sr., 2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg).
Waubonsie Valley -- Treshawn Blissett (6-5, Sr.). 
Notes:
The Prairie School went with a youth movement a year ago, starting two sophomores and two juniors. The Hawks went 11-14, but got impressive play from LaTrevion Fenderson and Carson Eeg, among others. Fenderson owns a NCAA Division I scholarship offer from the University of Wisconsin while Eeg runs the show for veteran coach Jason Atanasoff ... Waubonsie Valley is led by the considerable all-around talents of senior Treshawn Blissett, one of the top 40 class of 2024 prospects in the state of Illinois. 


Kenosha St. Joseph vs. Buffalo Grove


Lowell Werlinger

Game Time: 2:30 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
Kenosha St. Joseph: 19-11, 7-9 in Metro Classic Conference
Buffalo Grove: 13-17, 4-6 in Eastern Division of Mid-Suburban Conference
Enrollments:
Kenosha St. Joseph: 229
Buffalo Grove: 1,917
Top Returning Players:
Kenosha St. Joseph -- Eric Kenesie (6-0, Sr., 22.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Lowell Werlinger (6-3, Sr., 3.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Tommy Santarelli (6-1, Sr., 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Dominic Santarelli (6-1, Soph., 6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Jamire Davis (6-1, Sr., 3.3 ppg), Peter Visconti (5-11, Jr.).
Buffalo Grove -- Connor Woodin (6-0, Sr.), Lucas Anam-Ndu (6-2, Sr.), Jalon Marshall (6-3, Sr.), Matthew Maradkel (5-10, Sr.), Ryan Stefani (5-10, Sr.). 
Notes:
Kenosha St. Joseph is led by senior point guard Eric Kenesie, who set a WIAA State Tournament record last March when he went off for 51 points in a Division 4 semifinal victory over Saint Mary Catholic. Also a standout football and baseball player, Kenesie is one of the top all-around athletes in Wisconsin ... Buffalo Grove registered an 84-59 win over The Prairie School in last year's Border Battle behind 27 points and nine three-point baskets from Connor Woodin. Lucas Anam-Ndu added 19 points in that game for the Bison.


Mukwonago vs. Fremd

Game Time: 4:00 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
Mukwonago: 13-14, 8-8 in Classic Eight Conference
Fremd: 18-10, 6-4 in Western Division of Mid-Suburban Conference
Enrollments:
Mukwonago: 1,619
Fremd: 2,608
Top Returning Players:
Mukwonago -- Caleb Polling (6-4, Jr., 6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Owen Kilton (6-1, Sr., 4.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Peyton Pollnow (6-0, Jr., 4.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Josh Hayden (6-3, Jr., 3.1 ppg), Jack Karrels (5-10, Jr.), Luka Tess (6-4, Soph.).
Fremd -- Samuel Hirsch (6-3, Jr.). 
Notes:
Mukwonago and Fremd appear to be on equal footing in terms of having younger teams with plenty of potential .. Mukwonago has two regulars back from a year ago and two key reserves while also welcoming newcomers from a successful JV program to the varsity level ... Mukwonago coach Steve Pollnow will rely heavily on junior forward Caleb Polling and senior guard Owen Kilton ... Fremd is led by junior Samuel Hirsch, who showed plenty of potential and promise as a sophomore for the Vikings.


Milw. Academy Science vs. Niles North

Game Time: 5:30 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
Milwaukee Academy of Science: 18-7, no conference affiliation
Niles North: 25-8, 9-1 in Northern Division of Central Suburban Conference
Enrollments:
Milwaukee Academy of Science: 395
Niles North: 2,002
Top Returning Players:
Milwaukee Academy of Science -- Agape Keys Jr. (6-2, Jr., 11.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Devin Brown (6-7, Jr., 22.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Jamarion Batemon (6-3, Jr., 20.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Elijah Thornton (6-7, Sr., 6.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Amare Jackson (6-4, Jr., 4.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg).
Niles North: Yaris Irby (5-10, Jr.).  
Notes:
Milwaukee Academy of Science boasts two of the state's top-ranked prospects in the 2025 class in guard Jamarion Batemon and forward Devin Brown. Batemon and Brown already own multiple NCAA Division I offers, including an offer from Illinois for Batemon and an offer from Mississippi State for Brown ... Milwaukee Academy of Science plays and independent schedule and has played in the WIAA State Tournament in each of the past two seasons ... Niles North is the defending champion in the Northern Division of the Central Suburban Conference, one of the more highly regarded leagues in the greater Chicago area.


Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Deerfield


Kon Knueppel

Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
Wisconsin Lutheran: 23-5, 10-2 in Western Division of Woodland Conference.
Deerfield: 22-7, 9-1 in Northern Division of Central Suburban Conference
Enrollments:
Wisconsin Lutheran: 938
Deerfield: 1,489
Top Returning Players:
Wisconsin Lutheran -- Kon Knueppel (6-6, Sr., 19.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Logan Rindfleisch (6-4, Sr., 6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Grayson Young (6-2, Sr., 4.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Trey Raabe (6-3, Sr., 2.0 ppg), Alex Greene (6-4, Jr., 2.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg)< Isaiah Mellock (6-0, Jr., 4.0 ppg), Zavier Zens (6-6, Soph.).
Deerfield -- Charlie Robin (6-2, Sr.), Quinn Schimanski (5-11, Jr.), Drew Rodgers (6-8, Jr.), Zach Friedman (5-10, Jr.), Tyler Kustusch (6-4, Sr.), Aaron Pelts (5-11, Jr.). 
Notes:
Wisconsin Lutheran boasts a Top 50 national recruit in senior Kon Knueppel, a 6-foot-6 wing player who can score, pass, rebound, defend and shoot from long distance. As of early August, Alabama, Duke, Marquette, Virginia and Wisconsin ranked among his leaders for college. Also returning for coach Ryan Walz's perennially strong program are seniors Grayson Young, Logan Rindfleisch and Trey Raabe, key reserves on last year's club that went 23-5 ... Deerfield is 2-2 in its four-year history with the Wisconsin vs. Illinois Border Battle. The Warriors defeated Madison Edgewood 52-49 in last year's event with returnees Charlie Robin, Quinn Schimanski and Drew Rodgers all playing key roles. 


Verona vs. Chicago Brother Rice


Aidyn Chatman

Game Time: 8:30 p.m.
2022-23 Records:
Verona: 15-10, 12-8 in Big Eight Conference.
Brother Rice: 30-5, 11-2 in Blue Division of Catholic Conference
Enrollments:
Verona: 1,801
Brother Rice: 1,301 (All boys)
Top Returning Players:
Verona -- Andrew Murphy (6-5, Jr., 19.2 ppg), Tre Poteat (6-1, Jr., 16.4 ppg), Kamarr Bridges-Miller (6-2, Jr., 11.0 ppg), Cameron Williams (6-1, Jr.), Aidyn Chatman (6-4, Jr.), Bennett Buss (5-10, Jr.). 
Brother Rice -- Zavier Fitch (6-7, Sr.), Cale Cosme (5-7, Sr.), Marcos Gonzales (6-3, Jr.), Caden Workman (6-3, Jr.). 
Notes:
Verona is dominated by an extremely talented junior class ... Junior wing Andrew Murphy (6-5) owns NCAA Division II scholarship offers from Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan ... Verona junior Tre Poteat is one of the state's premier football prospects in the 2025 class ... Brother Rice advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Illinois Class 4A Tournament last March in Conte Stamas' first year as head coach ... Stamas replaced former Brother Rice and Duke standout Bobby Frasor as the Crusaders' head coach prior to the 2022-23 season.

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark by clicking here.

Boys Basketball News

Tag(s): News Archive  BBB News  Mark Miller