Boys' basketball 2016-17: A look at all of the area conferences

Conference picks for the upcoming 2016-17 boys' basketball season:

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MISSISSIPPI

Winner: Iowa City West. Synopsis: It'd be foolish to pick against the Trojans, who placed second in Class 4A last season. Iowa recruit Connor McCaffery returns for his senior season, as do fellow all-stater Devontae Lane and 6-foot-8 sophomore Patrick McCaffery, who apparently has emerged into one of the top players nationally in his class. Class 3A defending state champ Cedar Rapids Xavier also has a strong nucleus in center Max Techau and guards Jackson Joens and Matt Mims, and should challenge the Trojans. Linn-Mar is rebuilding after graduating four starters, including Mr. Basketball Jordan Bohannon. Cedar Rapids Jefferson had a turnaround 10-win season in 2015-16 and returns guard Royshawn Webb.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY VALLEY

Winner: Cedar Falls. Synopsis: The Tigers were a 4A state tournament team last season and return three of their top four scorers, including tremendous junior point guard A.J. Green. Cedar Rapids Kennedy returns its top two scorers (Drake Brewster and Derick Diggins) and should be good, with its scrambly defensive approach. Cedar Rapids Prairie is an up and comer which has had very good younger classes that are hitting or about to hit varsity level. Cedar Rapids Washington is pretty much junior point guard Hunter Strait's team, which isn't a bad thing. Dubuque Senior made it to state last season despite two freshmen starters. The Rams are a definite conference contender. Dubuque Hempstead also was a competitive club despite playing mostly underclassmen last season. Iowa City High is a senior-laden team with a new coach (Derek Roberts).

WAMAC EAST

Winner: West Delaware Synopsis: The Hawks were 16-7 last season and return all five starters. Senior forward John Nagel (an Iowa State football recruit) averaged 14.6 points per game, sophomore Derek Krogmann 11.5 ppg and 8.9 rebounds per game. This club has size, depth and experience. Solon and Anamosa made it to state last season, though Solon did so with an under .500 record and Anamosa graduated virtually every key player. Expect the Spartans to be better. Western Dubuque returns its top three scorers and always is a threat.

WAMAC WEST

Winner: Center Point-Urbana. Synopsis: The Stormin' Pointers won the West last season and return three starters, including leading scorer Grant Dirks (15.8 ppg) as a guard-forward. That's good enough for the nod. Graduation hit a very good Benton Community team hard, though starters Spencer Touro (10.9 ppg) and Tyler Eggert (9.5 ppg) return. Vinton-Shellsburg was 14-8 last season but has no returning starters. Marion was 9-13 a season ago and has two returning starters.

RIVER VALLEY NORTH

Winner: Camanche. Synopsis: Flip a coin between Camanche and Northeast here. Northeast was 20-4 last season and has three of its top four scorers back. Camanche was 17-6 and returns its top two scorers in Dakota Soenksen (14.1) and Dylan Hundley (13.1). Longtime assistant Jacob Brindle takes over for the legendary Al Marshall at Cascade, which lost in the 2A title game but returns just one starter in Johnny Supple (6.3 ppg). Monticello also took a major graduation hit. North Cedar and Bellevue should be improved from a year ago.

RIVER VALLEY SOUTH

Winner: Iowa City Regina. Synopsis: Good athletes and a good coach in Stu Ordman give Regina a nod here, though not by much over West Branch. Guard Jack Jensen is Regina's lone returning starter. West Branch has two tremendous players in sophomore guard Beau Cornwell (13 ppg) and senior forward Cooper Kabela (17 ppg). The Bears were 8-14 last season. The other schools in the division suffered heavy graduation losses. Mid-Prairie has a new head coach in Daren Lambert. The Golden Hawks were 1-21 last season.

TRI-RIVERS EAST

Winner: Calamus-Wheatland. Synopsis: All five starters are back for C-W, which was 10-12 last season. Three of those five returning starters averaged double figures in scoring, led by Brett Kelting (15.7 ppg). Clinton Prince of Peace was 13-10 last season and returns its top four scorers. Midland also was right around break even and returns top three scorers. Easton Valley and Bellevue Marquette are almost always good. Pretty even division here.

TRI-RIVERS WEST

Winner: North Linn. Synopsis: Not a pretty even division here. North Linn is far and away the favorite here, with virtually everyone back from last season's 21-2 team. Sophomore guard Jake Hilmer is one of the best players around, regardless of class. Ryan Miller and Logan Novak also come back as starters. After North Linn? Take a look at Lisbon, which returns three starters, including double-figure scorers Bailey Arwine (16.9) and Brett Givens (12.3). Bill Zywiec is the Lions' first-year head coach.

NORTHEAST IOWA

Winner: Waverly-Shell Rock. Synopsis: The Go-Hawks should be one of the better teams in Class 3A behind senior center Austin Phyfe. The Northern Iowa signee (a legacy whose father, Steve, played for the Panthers) averaged 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season. Crestwood returns four of five starters from a 15-8 team. Lowden Rockweiler of Decorah is the only other returning player in the NEIC that scored in double figures last season (10.0).

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR LEAGUE EAST

Winner: Keota. Synopsis: It's never risky to pick the Eagles to win a conference title. Keota went 17-7 last season and returns four of its top six scorers. That includes a good inside-outside combo in Avery Conrad (inside) and Jacob Wickenkamp (outside). Belle Plaine will be right there, too, behind what might be the SICL's top player in Brant DeMeulenaere (17.7 ppg). Jordan Reineke and Brandon Mantz also return as starters.

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR LEAGUE WEST

Winner: Montezuma. Synopsis: The Braves went 22-3 last season, losing a 1A substate final. Every player of significance is back, minus fine guard Brody McKeag. Dakota Strong averaged 15.9 points last season and hit 82 3-pointers. Montezuma loves the distance shot, finishing sixth in the state last season in shots attempted beyond the arc. Lynnville-Sully is a traditionally strong program that will challenge Montezuma for first place.

UPPER IOWA LARGE

Winner: MFL MarMac. Synopsis: Easy pick here. MFLMM was 16-7 last season and has all five starters back. That record would have been even better had guard Tristen Kautman not gone down with a knee injury that prevented him from playing after Christmas. The senior was averaging 18.4 points per game at the time. Guards Mason Hertrampf and Ty Hefner ended up averaging 13 points and 6-foot-6 center Cade Kuenster 13.8. Again, they're all back.

UPPER IOWA SMALL

Winner: Lansing Kee. Synopsis: Flip a coin. The best record of the six schools in the division last season was 11-11 (West Central). The other five were a combined 26-83. Lansing Kee does return all five starters, including senior guard Daniel Brennan, who lit it up to the tune of 19.2 points per game last season. West Central lost its top two scorers, who averaged 32 points between them.

OTHERS

Synopsis: Jesup made it to the Class 1A state tournament last season and returns its top two scorers in Ethan Wyant (18.3) and Tyler Lienau (13.7). Lone Tree went 18-6 last season and has every single player, sans one, returning. That includes leading scorer Jovonte Squiers (16.2), son of head coach Tom Squiers. Union should improve upon a 9-15 record with the return of every significant player. Meskwaki Settlement School, Highland and Iowa Mennonite seem to always find a way to be competitive.

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