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Iowa high school boys’ basketball 2024-25: Gazette-area players to watch
Multiple returning all-staters on the list
Dec. 1, 2024 2:32 pm
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Certainly there are more than this, but here is a list of 15 area players to watch for the 2024-25 boys’ basketball season.
MASON BECHEN, 6-1, senior, North Linn — A first-team all-state selection by the Iowa Professional Sportswriter Association last season and the captain of the Class 1A state tournament team. The guard averaged 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
BRADY BOULTON, 5-10, junior, Montezuma — A third-team all-state guard last season in 1A. Well over half of his 419 field-goal attempts were from 3-point range. Averaged 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game
JORDAN COTA, 6-5, senior, Lansing Kee — Combined with fellow senior Dalton Mudderman last season as a very productive one-two offensive punch. The wing averaged 19.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a second-team all-stater in 1A.
AUSTIN GOODRICH, 6-1, senior, Marion — The guard was one of his team’s top offensive options last season, averaging 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Led the Wolves in 3-pointers.
CALEB HAACK, 6-7, senior, Iowa Valley — A third-team all-state selection last season in Class 1A who most of the time has to do it all for his team. Averaged 21.1 points and 11.3 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and 3.8 assists per game last season. Has committed to play football at Northern Illinois.
DAVIS KERN, 6-9, senior, Linn-Mar — South Dakota State signee will be a four-year starter for the Lions. Went over 1,000 points for his career last season, one in which he averaged 22.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. That was good enough for a first-team all-state spot in 4A.
MATTHEW KLOSTERMANN, 6-0, senior, Central City — Multiple-year starter for the Wildcats. Missed a lot of last season because of a leg injury incurred during football season. Still averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
CAEL LaFRENTZ, 6-11, junior, Decorah — Still growing into his tall, lean frame but has undeniable skills. Averaged 15.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots last season for a state tournament team.
JACKSON LIEURANCE, 6-2, senior, Cascade — The guard was a second-team all-stater in Class 2A last season. Scored 47 points in a game to break Creighton men’s basketball head coach Greg McDermott’s school record. Averaged 22.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
JACK McCAFFERY, 6-8, senior, Iowa City West — Headed to Butler University, where his brother Patrick plays and where his other brother Connor is an assistant coach. Averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season for the Trojans and was a second-team all-stater.
JACE McDERMOTT, 6-3, senior, Cedar Rapids Prairie — Should be top offensive weapon for a Prairie team that could be pretty good. Averaged 11.8 ppg and 3.5 rebounds per game last season, leading the Hawks in 3-pointers made and attempted.
TREY McKOWEN, 5-11, senior, Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Had team-high 17 points in last season’s Class 4A state championship game. The first-team all-state point guard, headed to Upper Iowa, averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game, with an assist-to-turnover rate of 2.51.
ZANDER MURRAY, 6-1, junior, Cedar Rapids Xavier — Very likely to build off good sophomore season in which he started 19 of 20 varsity games. The guard averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
PAYSON NIETERT, 6-6, senior, Linn-Mar — A lengthy shooter, tied Linn-Mar’s school record with nine 3-pointers in a game last season. Averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Headed to D-II Wayne State (Neb.).
CAEL REICHTER, 6-8, senior, North Fayette Valley — Tremendous junior season saw him average a double-double of 22.1 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. Also blocked three shots a game.
Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
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