Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

(Editor's Note: WisSports.net basketball writer Mark Miller is using the extra time available due to COVID-19 to research the high school basketball history of some of Wisconsin's larger cities. His All-Time Best series will run on WisSports.net during the next few months).

Criteria For All-Time Sheboygan Teams
1) In order to be chosen to the first, second, third or fourth all-time team, a player must have earned first, second, third or fourth team all-state honors from either the Associated Press or United Press International. Exceptions will be made, but will be rare.

2) In addition to the accomplishments a player achieved in high school, their college honors in the sport also weigh heavily when selecting the teams.  

Sam Dekker, 6-7, F, 2012, Lutheran
First-Team All-State 2012 AP 
After somewhat quiet freshman and sophomore years playing for his father and coach, Todd Dekker, at Lutheran, Sam Dekker exploded onto the scene the spring and summer prior to his junior season. He played outstanding on the club circuit for the Wisconsin Playground Warriors, committed to Wisconsin in mid June and then scored 720 points and averaged 28.8 ppg in 2010-11 for a Lutheran squad that went 18-7. But that was just a warm-up for Dekker's senior season. He was nothing short of sensational as a senior, scoring a whopping 942 points, averaging 32.5 ppg and leading Lutheran to a remarkable come-from-behind 67-66 victory over Racine Lutheran in the WIAA Division 5 state-title game. Dekker finished that game with 40 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots. And he buried three triples and converted a three-point play in the final minutes of the game to help the Crusaders erase a nine-point fourth-period deficit. Dekker was chosen as Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and scored 2,593 career points to rank fourth on the state's all-time scoring list. He then had three strong seasons at the University of Wisconsin playing for coach Bo Ryan and the Badgers. Dekker averaged 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 2014-15 when the Badgers went 36-4 and lost to Duke in the national-championship game. He went on to play four seasons in the NBA, scoring 1,094 points in 200 career games. 

Kurt Portmann, 6-10, F, 1986, North
First-Team All-State 1986 AP & UPI
The state's Player of the Year by UPI in 1986, Portmann was a smooth, athletic forward who could rebound, block and alter shots and score. He averaged 15.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots in 1985-86 while helping coach Tom Desotell's Golden Raiders to a 24-1 record and the WIAA Class A state title. In a sectional semifinal game against Waupun, Portmann finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and nine blocked shots. He scored 51 points in three state-tournament games and was chosen as the MVP of the event in 1986. Portmann was the focus of an intense recruiting battle with programs across the country seeking the services of the mobile 6-foot-10 forward. He narrowed his choices to Marquette, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin. He eventually picked Wisconsin and played four years for coach Steve Yoder and the Badgers, averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 118 career games.

Troy Rudoll, 6-5, F, 1986, North
First-Team All-State 1986 AP & UPI
A physical, skilled and relentless scorer and rebounder, Rudoll earned Player of the Year honors in the Fox River Valley Conference as a junior and senior. Of North's three state-tournament teams in 1984, 1985 and 1986, Rudoll is the lone player to score more than 1,000 career points at 1,117. As a senior in 1985-86, Rudoll averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds while leading North to a 25-1 record and the WIAA Class A state title under coach Tom Desotell. A first-team all-state pick by both the AP and UPI, Rudoll scored 13 points in the Golden Raiders' 47-38 win over Appleton East in the state-championship game. He went on to score 1,129 rebounds and grab 694 rebounds in 118 career games at NCAA Division II St. Cloud State. 

Jacob Ognacevic, 6-8, F, 2020, Lutheran
First-Team All-State 2020 AP
Only one player in the history of high school basketball scored more points in a single season than the 1,024 points Ognacevic dumped in for coach Nick Verhagen and the Lutheran Crusaders in 2019-20. Ex-Wausaukee and Marquette University wing Anthony Pieper scored 1,063 points 1992-93 and 1,032 points in 1991-92 to surpass Ognacevic, who likely would have become the state's all-time single-season scoring leader had COVID-19 not wiped out the Crusaders' sectional final and potential WIAA State Tournament contests. Ognacevic averaged 39.4 points, 16.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots in 2019-20 while leading Lutheran to a 25-1 record and the Big East South Conference championship. As a junior, the smooth, athletic and highly skilled forward scored 877 points and had 35 points and 19 rebounds in the Crusaders' 77-69 victory over Columbus Catholic in the WIAA Division 5 state-title game. Ognacevic finished his stellar prep days with 2,501 points to rank sixth in state history for most career points. Ognacevic's father, Brian, was a first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference choice at Sheboygan South in 1991. Jacob Ognacevic will play NCAA Division I college basketball in the fall at Valparaiso.  

Gordy Zastrow Jr., 6-1, G, 1977, South
Second-Team All-State 1977 UPI
After earning first-team all-state honors at quarterback in the fall, Zastrow picked up third-team all-state recognition in basketball as a senior in 1977. Despite playing on a team that went just 4-15, the 6-foot-1 scoring whiz netted 585 points for a robust 30.8 ppg average. He set the Fox River Valley Conference record for most points in a 14-game season (422) and had 34 points in his final high school game, a 67-62 WIAA regional loss to Two Rivers. Zastrow scored 1,054 points in just 41 career games for the Redman and coach John Schumann. Zastrow went on to enjoy a prolific career at Cathage College in Kenosha. He currently ranks fifth in all-time scoring at the NCAA Division III school with 1,746 points. Zastrow most recently served as the head boys' basketball coach at Manitowoc Lutheran. 

Davis Larson, 6-4, F, 2016, North
Second-Team All-State 2016 AP
Larson's impact on the North basketball program from 2012-16 is most evident in the fact he averaged in double figures for four consecutive seasons while playing for coach Tom Desotell. And when he was finished, he became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,641 career points. A three-time first-team all-Fox River Classic Conference performer, Davis averaged 20.0 ppg as a senior and led North to a 24-3 record, the FRCC title and a berth in the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament. He scored a career-high 43 points in a loss to De Pere as a senior and went on to have solid four-year career at Hillsdale College, a NCAA Division II school in Michigan.

Mark Schmidt, 6-2, PG, 1993, North
Fourth Team All-State 1993 AP
Those who watched North's stellar 1992-93 team won't soon forget the sight of Schmidt driving the lane and dropping off an important assist or his ability to elevate and throw down a dunk off a steal. Indeed, Schmidt was a vital member of coach Tom Desotell's squad that went 24-2 and lost to Milwaukee Washington 70-67 in the WIAA Division 1 state-title game. The first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference performer averaged 14.7 points and 8.0 assists on a loaded team that included center Nathan Schrameyer (6-8) and wing Chad Renzelmann (6-2) among others. Schmidt poured in a career-best 31 points in the Golden Raiders' regional-final victory over Sheboygan South and then played steady ball for coach Tom Desotell in the sectional and state tournament. He went on to play NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Maine. 

Chip Simenz, 6-5, F, 1983, North
Fourth Team All-State 1983 AP
Simenz led the Fox River Valley Conference in scoring by a wide margin as a senior in 1982-83, averaging 18.1 points for the league runners-up. The first-team all-league performer helped the Golden Raiders of coach Tom Desotell to a 17-3 record. As a junior, Simenz averaged 11.0 ppg while playing a key role on a team that went 15-4 and won the league championship. Unfortunately for Simenz and his teammates, he lost in the regionals as both a junior and senior to cross-town rival South. He later played three seasons of college basketball at NCAA Division I Fairfield University in Connecticut. 

Josh Govek, 5-10, PG, 2020, South
No All-State mention
Occasionally, there are some very deserving players who, for whatever reason, are left off the Associated Press All-State team. Such is the case with Govek, an exceptionally skilled point guard who played four years of varsity basketball in the Fox River Classic Conference for South. Govek scored 333 points as a freshman, 432 as a sophomore, 594 as a junior and 511 as a senior for a total of 1,870, easily the most in school history. It's hard to believe a player who scored that many points at a WIAA Division 1 school didn't even warrant honorable mention all-state laurels, but that's exactly what happen with Govek, who scored a career-high 42 points in a loss to Ashwaubenon as a sophomore. Govek earned all-league honors in each of the last four seasons -- honorable mention as a freshman, second-team as a sophomore and first-team the past two years. In addition to being the school's all-time leader in points, Govek also is the all-time leader in assists. He has decided to attend the University of Wisconsin, but will not play basketball.

Trent Wurtz, 6-8, F, 2002, North
No All-State Mention
Despite being named one of the state's top 25 seniors by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook in the preseason, earning a NCAA Division I scholarship to George Mason and helping North to a 19-4 record and Fox River Valley Conference title, Wurtz did not even receive honorable mention as a senior in 2001-02. He did earn first-team all-league honors and averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds, capping a three-year varsity career for coach Tom Desotell and the Golden Raiders. Wurtz played two years at George Mason and two years at Indiana State. As a senior at Indiana State in 2006-07, Wurtz averaged 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. 

Nolan Free, 6-2, 2009, North
Second Team All-State (AP)
Even though North finished just 11-11 in 2008-09, guard Nolan Free (6-1) was voted as the Player of the Year in the Fox River Classic Conference. The sharpshooting backcourt ace averaged 26.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for coach Tom Desotell, and had 39 points in victories over both Pulaski and Sheboygan South. He went on to play college basketball at NCAA Division III Whitewater.

Brad Wehner, 6-3, 2003, North
Fourth Team All-State (AP)
Wehner led North to a 26-2 record and back-to-back Fox River Valley Conference titles as a junior and senior playing for coach Tom Desotell and the Golden Raiders. As a senior, Wehner averaged 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds and helped North to a 20-3 record. As a junior, he sank a 35-foot three-point shot at the buzzer to help North defeat Cedarburg 72-71 in double overtime in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal contest. He went on to play four years of college basketball at NCAA Division III Lake Forest College and earned second-team all-Midwest Conference honors as a senior in 2006-07.

Notes (1950s): Bob Krause (6-1) earned first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior. He led the Redmen of coach Cully Huebner to a combined 38-9 record between 1952-54. He finished with 23 points in a 37-29 loss to Waukesha in a 1954 sectional-final contest to end his prep career. Krause went on to play college basketball at Carroll College ... John Schreiber (5-8) joined Krause on the all-FRVC teams in 1953 and 1954. He was a unanimous pick for first-team all-league as a senior and scored a team-high 19 points in Central's 64-62 state-semifinal victory over Superior East before popping in a team-best 16 points in the title-game loss to Menasha. Like Krause, Schreiber went on to play college basketball at Carroll ... Gordy Zastrow Sr. (5-11) was an integral part of Central's 1952-53 squad that went 20-4 and lost to Menasha in the WIAA state-championship game. Zastrow led the Redmen in scoring during their eight playoff games and received second-team all-league honors in the Fox River Valley Conference. After a stint in the Navy, Zastrow went on to play college basketball at Carroll College in Waukesha. His son, also named Gordy Zastrow, would become an all-time player at South in the 1970s ... Wally Reklaitis (6-1) earned unanimous first-team
all-Fox River Valley Conference as a junior and senior for Central and coach Carl Huebner. He scored a career-high 45 points in an 87-65 WIAA regional victory over Kiel.

Notes (1940s): Al (Dick) Schroeder helped Central to a 13-5 record as a senior and a 16-2 mark as a junior while playing for coach Carl Huebner and the Redmen. He earned unanimous first-team all-league laurels in 1946-47 after finishing second in the league scoring race and averaging 13.2 ppg. As a junior, Schroeder earned second-team all-league honors after finishing fifth in the league in scoring and averaging 10.9 ppg. Also an outstanding football and baseball player, Schroeder went on to play professional baseball in the Brookyln Dodgers organization for six years, though he never reached the major-league level ... Spence Van Ess led the Fox River Valley Conference in scoring in 1941-42 as the Redmen of coach Carl Huebner won their first league title. Van Ess helped Central extend its all-time record against North to 8-0 by pumping in 20 points in a 33-29 victory over the Golden Raiders in 1942. He later played at Lakeland College ... Bill Schroeder (6-1) earned first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior for coach Carl Huebner at Central. As a senior in 1940-41, Schroeder teamed with center Eddie Fessler to help the Redmen win the league title with a 13-1 record. He went on to play both football and basketball at the University of Wisconsin and, after serving in World War II, Schroeder went on to play professional football with the Chicago Rockets and professional basketball with the Sheboygan Redskins.

Notes (2000s): Brent Widder (6-0) earned Player of the Year honors in the Fox River Classic Conference as a senior in 2019 for coach Eric Worth at North. He averaged 23.2 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game while helping the Golden Raiders to an 18-6 record and second-place finish in the league standings Widder also received first-team all-league recognition as a junior and finished his prep career with more 1,327 points. He now is playing collegiate baseball at the University of Evansville ... Jared Jurss (6-3) excelled as a pass-first lead guard for coach Nick Verhagen at Lutheran and averaged in double-scoring figures all four of his years on the Crusaders' varsity team. Jurss averaged 15.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists as a senior in 2017-18 while helping Lutheran to a 21-5 record. He scored a career-best 36 points in a victory over Reedsville as a senior and will be a junior in the men's basketball program at Concordia University in Mequon in the fall. Jurss is coming off a sophomore season at Concordia in which he earned first-team all-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference laurels ... Jacob Jurss (6-1) was a long-distance specialist while nearly unlimited range during his four-year varsity career at Lutheran. As a freshman Jurss averaged 9.1 ppg for coach Todd Dekker and the Crusaders, who rode the remarkable season of Sam Dekker all the way to the WIAA Division 5 state championship. Jurss averaged 13.8 ppg as a sophomore and 16.8 ppg as a junior before playing at a different level as a senior for coach Nick Verhagen in 2014-15 when he averaged 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists for a team that went 18-8. Jurss made 80 three-point shots as a senior and went on to play four years of college basketball at Concordia University in Mequon ... Caleb Kelley (6-0) was voted to the first-team all-Central Lakeshore Conference squad as a junior and senior while playing for coach Brett Flipse at Christian. He averaged 16.5 ppg as a senior in 2014-15 while helping the Eagles to a 12-12 record ... Ethan Guske (6-1) earned a NCAA Division II scholarship to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and spent two seasons in the Auggies program. He later transferred and play at UW-Whitewater. At North, Guske received first-team all-Fox River Classic Conference recognition as a senior playing for coach Tom Desotell in 2012-13. He averaged 22.2 ppg and netted 40 points in triumphs over Notre Dame and Sheboygan South ... A strong, persistent point guard with very deep shooting range and the ability to score off the dribble, Tyler Zastrow (5-10) was a double-figure scorer for Lutheran as a sophomore (14.6 ppg), junior (17.9 ppg) and senior (19.5 ppg). He helped the Crusaders of coach Nick Verhagen to an 18-8 record as a senior in 2012-13, and scored 15 points in Lutheran's 67-66 Division 5 state-title game win over Racine Lutheran in 2012. He went on to play college basketball at Concordia University in Chicago ... Devin Yurk (6-3) had very good size and skill while playing at North and earned first-team all-league honors as both a junior and senior. He averaged 13.7 ppg as a sophomore, 17.8 ppg as a junior and 13.9 ppg as a senior in 2011-12 when the Golden Raiders went 21-4. Yurk later attended UW-La Crosse and averaged 14.2 points and 3.5 rebounds as a senior in 2015-16 ... Even though North finished just 11-11 in 2008-09, guard Nolan Free (6-1) was voted as the Player of the Year in the Fox River Classic Conference. The sharpshooting backcourt ace averaged 26.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for coach Tom Desotell, and had 39 points in victories over Pulaski and Sheboygan South. He went on to play college basketball at NCAA Division III Whitewater ... TJ Kellner (6-3) earned first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior for coach Tom Desotell at North. He averaged 17.3 ppg and led the Golden Raiders to an 18-4 record as a senior in 2007-08. Kellner went on to play college basketball at UW-Oshkosh ... John Dekker (6-6), Sam Dekker's older brother and the son of long-time Lutheran coach Todd Dekker, played four years of varsity basketball for the Crusaders and scored a whopping 1,919 career points. As a senior in 2005-06, the smooth shooting forward averaged 25.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists while helping his team to a 16-7 record. John Dekker went on to play four years of college basketball for former Sheboygan North standouts John Tharp and JoJo DePagter at Lawrence University ... Four-year starter and two-time first-team all-Central Lakeshore Conference selection Nick Leibham (6-0) averaged 23 points as a senior in 2001-02 for Lutheran and coach Todd Dekker. Leibham finished his prep career with 1,541 points. He went on to play college basketball Concordia University in Mequon ... 

Notes (1990s): Brian Bastil (5-9) was a prolific scorer during his three years of varsity basketball at North. He finished his prep career with 1,108 points and averaged 23.0 ppg as a senior for coach Tom Desotell and the Golden Raiders. As a junior Bastil averaged 17.2 ppg and helped North to a 17-4 record and share of the Fox River Valley Conference title. The two-time first-team all-league performer played college basketball at Lawrence University ... James Leibham (6-3) helped Lutheran to a 14-11 record as a senior in 1996-97. In a WISAA regional semifinal contest against Manitowoc Lutheran, Leibham scored 25 points to help the Crusaders to a 61-58 come-from-behind triumph under coach Todd Dekker. Leibham went on to play college basketball at Concordia University in Mequon ... Todd Van Ess (6-3) scored 1,030 points during his prep career playing for coach Bob Adams at Christian. As a junior in 1994-95, he had 16 points in a 72-68 loss to powerful Racine Lutheran in the WISAA Division 3 state-title game. A year later, Van Ess averaged just over 17 ppg for a very young Christian squad that went 10-12 ... Chad Wisse (6-3) set a then-city record with his 1,436 career points. As a senior, the versatile guard/forward scored 707 points and averaged 28.3 points and 9.4 rebounds while leading coach Ivan Van Duyn's Christian Eagles to a 21-5 record and the 1992 WISAA Division 3 state championship. Wisse went on to play college basketball at Concordia University in Mequon ... Ben Zuengler (6-4) missed five games as a senior at Lutheran due to mono, but he still managed to average 20.2 points and 15.2 rebounds for coach Curt Fischer and the Crusaders, who finished 14-10. Zuengler played three years of varsity basketball at Lutheran and was the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,080 when he graduated in 1991 ...

Notes (1980s): Playing for his father and coach, Jack Theune, at Sheboygan Christian, John Theune (6-4) averaged 19.6 points and 12.6 rebounds as a senior in 1985-86. The first-team all-Midwest Classic North Conference performer scored 441 points in 22 games as a senior and finished his prep career with 1,058 points and 796 rebounds. Theune went on to play college basketball at Trinity Christian in Palos Heights, Illinois ... Tim Opgenorth (6-5) battled against Theune for three seasons as a member of Curt Fischer's teams at Lutheran. As a senior in 1985-86, Opgenorth averaged 15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, and joined Theune on the all-conference team. He later played college basketball at Carroll University in Waukesha ... John Kobelsky (6-0) won the Fox River Classic Conference scoring title for South as a senior in 1979-80 and poured in 38 points in a regional victory over New Holstein. He finished his three-year prep career with 1,011 points, including 499 points in 22 games (22.7 ppg) for coach John Schumann as a senior. Kobelsky later played on the freshman and varsity squads at Carthage College in Kenosha ... 

Additional Notes (2000s): Jake Schwartz (6-5) came into his own for coach Tim Schultz as a senior in 2007-08 as he averaged 19.6 points and 8.2 rebounds while helping the Redwings to an 11-11 record. He then continued his improvement in college at Lakeland University. Playing from 2008-13, Schwartz ended his Muskie career as the school's all-time leading scorer (2,199 points) and No. 4 rebounder (936 rebounds) ... 

Additional Notes (1990s): Aaron Baackes (6-4) was a strong player at Lutheran in the mid 1990s and averaged 24.1 ppg as a senior in 1995-96 while helping coach Todd Dekker's squad to a 16-8 record. Baakes earned Player of the Year laurels in the Midwest Classic North Conference and went on to play college basketball at Wisconsin Lutheran College ... Nathan Schrameyer (6-8) had 28 points and 10 rebounds for North in its 70-67 loss to Milwaukee Washington in the 1993 WIAA Division 1 state-title game. He earned second-team all-Fox River Valley Conference honors as a seniuor and went on to play college basketball at UW-Milwaukee ... North graduate Chad Renzelmann (6-2) was a terrific perimeter shooter who averaged 15.1 ppg and earned first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference laurels for the Golden Raiders in 1992-93. He went on to play college basketball at Carthage College ... Adam Osypowski (6-7) came off the bench for North's 1992-93 WIAA Division 1 runner-up team, but he did score 15 points and snare eight rebounds in the Golden Raiders' state semifinal victory over Racine Case. A late bloomer for coach Tom Desotell at North, Osypowski went on to play college basketball at NCAA Division II Michigan Tech ... Aaron Stauber (6-2) averaged 14.4 points and shot 49 percent from the field as a senior in 1991-92, helping North to a 23-1 record and the league title. He went on to play college basketball at Michigan Tech ... Kevin Kober (5-10) had a game he will never forget on November 30, 1990 in the Sheboygan Armory. Playing against North before a packed crowd in the venerable old building, Kober scored 35 points in a 78-77 overtime triumph over the favored Golden Raiders. What's more, he scored 31 of his points in the second half and overtime as coach Lyle Peterson's club gave the whole city something to talk about until Christmas. Kober earned first-team all-league honors during his 1990-91 senior season and went on to play four years of college basketball for coach Mark Boyle at Marian College ... Jay Wolf (6-3) received unanimous first-team all-Fox River Valley Conference laurels for coach Tom Desotell and North, which shared the league championship in 1990-91 with Green Bay Preble. A good perimeter shooter with size, Wolf went on to play college basketball at Beloit College ... 

Additional Notes (1980s): Frank Yinko (5-11) remains one of the best all-around athletes in Lutheran history as he excelled in soccer, basketball, track and field, and baseball for the Crusaders. As a senior in 1988-89, Yinko helped the Crusaders to a 15-9 record under coach Curt Fischer. He went on to score 1,490 points, hand out 482 assists and come up with 355 steals during his prolific four-year career at Concordia University in Mequon ... Eric Portmann (6-7), the older brother of Kurt Portmann, earned second-team all-Fox River Valley Conference honors as a junior in 1981-82 and first-team laurels as a senior a year later. He helped North to a 32-7 record over his final two seasons and then played briefly at Fairfield University ...  Dave Gartman (5-11) scored more than 800 points during his prep career at Christian playing for coach Jack Theune. As a junior, Gartman tossed in 18 points in a 50-49 victory over Beloit Catholic in the WISAA Class B state semifinals and then had 10 in a 46-32 victory over Winnebago Lutheran in the state-title game. Gartman went on to play college basketball at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois ... 

Additional Notes (1960s): How about this tidbit? Bill Dwyre, the long-time sports editor of the Los Angeles Times and a former sportswriter for the Milwaukee Journal, earned all-Fox River Valley Conference in basketball as a senior at North in 1962. Dwyre, playing for coach Bump Jones, scored 226 points as a senior in 14 league games for an average of 16.1 ppg. He also excelled in football and track for the Golden Raiders.

Additional Notes (1950s): Jack Theune was a second-team all-Fox River Valley Conference performer for coach Bump Jones at North in 1956. He averaged 12.0 ppg for the Golden Raiders. Moreover, Theune later became the head boys' basketball coach at Sheboygan Christian, leading the Eagles to a 213-130 record from 1974-89, including a 20-5 mark in 1981 when the Eagles won the WISAA Class B state title.

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.