Boys' basketball: Players to Watch

CLASS 4A ----

Tayler Bontrager (Iowa City West): Senior guard helped Cinderella team to state tournament last season, averaging 15.4 points per game. ----

Jarrod Uthoff (Cedar Rapids Jefferson): Junior center made big splash when promoted to varsity part way through last season, averaging 15 points and 7.6 rebounds in 11 games. ----

Marcus Paige (Linn-Mar): Smooth beyond his years as freshman point guard who helped his team to runner-up finish at state tourney last season. ----

Josh Oglesby (Cedar Rapids Washington): Junior shooter is being recruited by several D-I college programs. Will not play until January due to suspension. ----

Kyle Lamaak (Cedar Rapids Kennedy): The junior forward should play bigger role this season after averaging 9.1 points as a sophomore. ----

Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Senior 6-foot-5 guard/forward will play baseball at University of Nebraska but can play hoops, too, averaging 14.8 PPG last season.

CLASS 3A ----

Chad Malloy (Williamsburg): Senior guard is leading returning area scorer in 3A, averaging 19.1 PPG a season ago. ----

Zach Otting (Western Dubuque): Guard gave Wamac Conference foes fits with 15.4 scoring average. ----

Zach Twedt (Benton Community): Helped Bobcats to state tournament last season with 14 PPG as a sophomore. ----

Alex Vogel (Washington): Hard to believe there's a better returning one-two punch than he and teammate Isaac Gardner. ----

Isaac Gardner (Washington): Averaged 15.6 PPG to teammate Vogel's 15.1 last season. ----

Kasey Semler (Marion): Will have to carry a heavy load with graduation of all-state guard Amry Shelby. Distance shooter averaged 9.6 points per game a season ago as a sophomore.

CLASS 2A ----

Tanner Miller (Mid-Prairie): Fine all-around athlete averaged 17 PPG last season as a junior guard. ----

Jordan Andera (South Winneshiek): Speaking of fine all-around athletes. All-state football player averaged 15.4 PPG last season in hoops. ----

Blake Olberding (Dyersville Beckman): He and teammate Joe Ament were top two scorers on 19-5 Blazers team last season. Both return. ----

John Roudabush (BGM): Senior forward was leading scorer (18.7) and rebounder on 12-9 team last season that returns just about everyone. Bears are making jump from 1A to 2A. ----

Collin Thompson (MFL/Mar-Mac): The 6-foot-4 senior power forward averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 boards last season. ----

Andrew Utterback (Sigourney): Point guard averaged 15 PPG last season as a sophomore.

CLASS 1A ----

Matt Knake (Lisbon): Guard is leading returning scorer in the area, coming off 20.1 PPG junior season. ----

Blake Goodenbour (East Buchanan): Senior forward averaged a double-double last season (11.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG). ----

John Rochford (Central City): Another Tri-Rivers Conference double-double guy (12.2 PPG, 12.3 RPG). A 6-foot-3 senior, like Goodenbour. ----

Mark Peterson (Midland): A junior, he averaged a team-high 18.6 PPG last season as a sophomore. ----

Kolby Harms (Midland): How about this returning scoring punch from the back court? Averaged 15.3 PPG last season. ----

Kyle Lansing (Valley CEW): A 6-foot-5 senior, he nearly averaged a double-double last season (10.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG).