Iowa high school boys’ basketball 2025-26: 15 area players to watch

Fifteen area players to watch for the 2025-26 boys’ basketball season:

Brady Boulton, 5-10, senior, Montezuma — Approaching 2,000 points in his great career. First-team all-state in Class 1A last season, when he averaged 28.2 points per game and 4.8 assists. Grandson of former legendary Montezuma head coach Al Rabenold.

A.J. Evans, 6-8, senior, Cedar Rapids Xavier — Averaged 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season. Gives the Saints some major size and long arms inside. Recently signed to play college basketball for D-I James Madison University in Virginia.

Traeshon Fields, 5-8, sophomore, Cedar Rapids Washington — Three freshmen led the Warriors in points last season, then there was a sophomore and yet another freshman. Fields averaged 17.6 points per game. Over half of his 352 field-goal attempts came from beyond the 3-point arc. At a scrimmage last week, he showed an expanded drive-and-dish game.

Kellen Haverback, 6-2, senior, Mount Vernon — MV had a two-headed monster last season in guard Haverback and center Joe Briesemeister. The latter graduated, but returning is Haverback, who averaged 16.7 points , 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Bryce Henry, 6-1, senior, Mid-Prairie — Third team all-state in 2A. Averaged 21.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. An 86.1-percent free-throw shooter.

Tyler Hilton, 6-8, senior, Linn-Mar — No one improved more during the course of last season than this kid. Scored 14 points and had 11 rebounds in Linn-Mar’s crushing overtime loss to West Des Moines Valley in last season’s Class 4A state tournament semifinal game. Averaged 11.9 points and seven rebounds overall. Has signed with NCAA Division II Wayne State University in Nebraska.

Austin Joens, 5-10, junior, Cedar Rapids Prairie — Third-team all-state in Class 4A by the Iowa Professional Sports Writers Association. Averaged 11.9 points per game last season, which led a very balanced Prairie team offensively. He took 212 shots from the field and 139 of them were 3-pointers.

Cael LaFrentz, 6-10, senior, Decorah — Didn’t play varsity as a freshman but immediately made an impact as a sophomore, helping Decorah to the state tournament. Averaged 29.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game last season. That made the oldest son of former NBA player a first-team all-state player in Class 3A.

Will Litton, 6-5, junior, Iowa City Regina — Second-team all-stater in Class 1A as a sophomore. Averaged 16.8 points per game last season, shooting 60.3 percent from the field. Also averaged 8.9 rebounds a game.

Xander Murray, 6-1, senior, Cedar Rapids Xavier — Second team at guard on 3A all-state team. Helped Saints to state tournament semifinals. Averaged team-best 14.4 points per game.

Conley Schauf, 6-2, senior, Monticello — Really upped his game last season, averaging 21.2 points per game and shooting 50.2 percent from the field. That was good enough for second-team all-state honors in Class 2A.

Brady Wall, 6-0, senior, Maquoketa Valley — Coming off a football season in which he missed games because of injury. Second-team all-state in 1A last season, averaging 21.5 points per game. Made 72 3-pointers. Part of a team that could end North Linn’s long streak of Tri-Rivers Conference division championships.

Jerimiah Washpun, 5-11, junior, Iowa City Liberty — Averaged 19 points per game last season as a sophomore guard for Liberty.

Christopher Watkins, 6-5, senior, Iowa City High — Averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season for the Little Hawks. Mostly an interior scorer, he shot 55.6 percent from the field.

Jacob Wegmann, 6-5, junior, Dyersville Beckman — Beckman has virtually everyone back from last season and should play a factor in the always tough River Valley Conference North Division. As a sophomore last season, the forward averaged 19.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com