IHSAA announces it will create weekly official boys’ basketball rankings for the first time

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Thursday it will create its own boys’ basketball rankings for the first time this season. They will be utilized for postseason bracketing as well.

“We are excited to roll out official IHSAA basketball rankings,” IHSAA Executive Director Tom Keating said in a press release. “In addition to creating school, community, and fan interest, these rankings will assist our staff and enhance the transparency of our postseason assignments.”

The IHSAA said its rankings will begin in late December and will be published weekly through the end of the regular season. They will be compiled by a committee comprised of IHSAA staff members Todd Tharp, Jared Chizik and Chris Cuellar, as well as two former coaches and one media member per class.

The Gazette’s Jeff Johnson will be on the Class 4A committee, joining former coaches Justin Ohl (Waukee) and Seamus Budde (North Scott). Scott Unash of KMRY radio/CM-R Live) will be on the 3A committee with former coaches Tom Betz (Sioux City Heelan) and Chris Larson (Norwalk).

The 2A committee will include Prep Hoops Iowa’s Tony Roe, and former Western Christian coach Jim Eekhof and former Cascade Coach Jacob Brindle. In 1A, committee members will include Derek Martin of KMA radio in Shenandoah and former coaches Frank Schnoes (West Fork and other schools) and Bill Francis (Boyden-Hull).

“The new rankings follow an approved offseason recommendation to eliminate the early release of substate and district assignments by having the IHSAA coordinate all brackets throughout the postseason,” the IHSAA said. “The IHSAA will use the regular season rankings as a primary tool for postseason assignments, while maintaining school and geographic considerations.”

Class 1A and 2A postseason brackets are expected to be released the week of Feb. 6, 2023. In 3A and 4A, it will be the week of Feb. 13.

The postseason is scheduled to begin Feb. 13 for the smallest two classes and Feb. 20 for the largest two.

“The introduction of an IHSAA ranking committee, made up of respected coaches and media personnel from around the state, allows more regular season games to matter before placing teams in postseason brackets,” IHSAA assistant director and basketball administrator Todd Tharp said. “That has been a goal of the IHSAA basketball advisory committee for several years.”

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