Way Too Early Top 10: Class 1A
With July’s evaluation period now behind us, and plenty of time to kill between now and late November, it’s time to take a look at who we believe will be some of the teams to keep an eye on in each classification this winter. And, since everyone likes rankings, why not roll out a de facto pre-season top 10 for each class, with our “Way Too Early” top 10 lists.
How well do these rankings predict what may happen over the course of the coming season? Well, the top ranked teams in each class in these “Way Too Early” rankings ended up playing for the state title in their class come March, with two of them winning it all (Cedar Rapids Xavier, Iowa City West). A total of 20 of the 40 teams that were ranked across the four classes made it to the state tournament (with only 32 possible spots), and with the exception of 3A Sergeant Bluff-Luton, every semifinalist was ranked in the preseason top 10 (top six in their classes, to be exact). That may mean nothing this season, of course, but it’s something to note.
Below you’ll find our top 10 for Class 1A, along with some other teams that could make some noise, as well as a brief summary of why each team is in their respective spot. Enjoy.
1.) Grand View Christian (State champions, 27-1 last year, 74.2% of scoring back)
The Thunder proved any doubters wrong last season, cruising through the 1A State Tournament despite playing what most considered to be a very weak regular season schedule. They paired the state’s most explosive offense (84.8 points per game) with 1A’s second best defense, allowing just 39.4 points a game. They allowed just 40.7 points a game at the state tournament, showing they truly were 1A’s best team. With a number of key players back in tow, Grand View Christian has to be considered the favorite to repeat in Class 1A. They’ll be led by point guard Grant DeMeuelenaere, a supremely talented and efficient lead guard who led the Thunder in scoring at 19.2 points a game on 57-42-70 shooting splits. He also dished out 190 assists (nearly seven a game), and had 89 steals to boot. He’ll be far from alone, however. Big man Arturo Montes led the team in rebounding and blocks last year, while also averaging 12 points a game. Slashing wing Mach Nyaw also averaged 12 points a night, and has the type of athleticism rarely seen at the 1A level. Look for junior wing Sam Glenn to take a big step forward, stepping into the role that his brother Stephen leaves open with his graduation. Sam is a long and lean wing who can score at all three levels and will contribute on the defensive end as well (finished second on the team in blocks). Throw in other role players returning like Bryce Crabb and Stephen Bruce, and this group has the looks of a team that can repeat. They’re going to defend at a high level, and the three-headed attack of DeMeulenaere, Montes and Nyaw, with each providing a different strength, is something that no other 1A team can put on the floor.
2.) North Linn (State semifinalist, 27-1 last year, 100% of scoring back)
The Lynx spent most of last season sitting in the No. 1 spot in our 1A rankings, rolling through the regular season and district/substate play with a 25-0 record. They won their first round game at State, then fell to Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the semifinals before rebounding to take third. The state’s second highest scoring team at 76.9 points a game, look for this group to be even more explosive this season with everybody back. A guard heavy team, they’re led by Jake Hilmer, who is perhaps the best player in the class. He averaged 21.8 points and 9.8 assists on 56-38-84 shooting splits, and paced one of the state’s most efficient and potent attacks. Just a junior, he’s on track to obliterate the state’s career assist mark, with an outside shot at doing so this season (he sits 305 assists shy of the mark, currently held by St. Edmond’s Jack Brownlee). Running alongside Hilmer are a pair of sharpshooting guards in Ryan Miller (18.8, 53.5 FG%, 46.2 3P%) and David Seber (14.7). That trio of guards won the Lynx a ton of games last year, and they’ll do the same this year. Their ability to score in bunches, combined with the ability to cause havoc on the defensive end, will lead to a whole lot of lopsided scores again this winter. Trevor Boge (7.8) and Adam Waskow (6.8) round out the starting five, with Waskow’s improvement the biggest key to the season for them. If the 6-5 post can provide an even bigger presence this year, they’ll be tough to beat. The Lynx struggled a bit to score when they got to the state tournament, playing in slower games and on a bigger floor with a tough shooting background. They’ll learn from that experience, and should present the biggest threat to Grand View Christian’s quest to repeat.
3.) Council Bluffs, St. Albert (10-12 last year, 91.1% of scoring back)
Don’t read too much into that 10-12 record from last year, because the Falcons don’t play any 1A teams until postseason play starts. A member of the Hawkeye Ten, they played three games against 4A teams, nine against 3A teams and the remainder came against 2A opposition. So while their record wasn’t gaudy, this is a team that is among the elite in Class 1A. They return more than 90% of their scoring from last year, headlined by a trio of players who were starters when this group went all the way to the championship game back in the 2015-2016 season. Tyler Blaha (11.6) is an athletic, slashing wing who does a majority of his damage by getting to the rim. Jake Carley (11.5) is a shifty lead guard who led the team in assists, steals and 3-pointers made last year. And Matt Fagan (10.0, 6.0 rebounds) is a big, physical interior presence who is capable of eating up space and scoring in the paint at will. The other three major contributors also return in Kyle Barnes (8.1), Joe Liston (5.2) and Luke Waters (5.2), giving the Falcons a heavily experienced group that knows how to play together. Despite playing one of the most difficult 1A schedules imaginable, they still ranked in the middle of the pack defensively last year, allowing just 55.7 points a game. If they can tighten that up even more, they’ll increase their regular season win total. And even if they don’t do that, expect to see this group back in Des Moines, where they’ll have a chance to make a deep run after navigating the meat grinder that is the regular season.
4.) Lynnville-Sully (State qualifier, 24-2 last year, 80.6% of scoring back)
The top four scorers from last year’s state qualifying team are back, headlined by do-everything wing Jesse Van Wyk (12.5), who led the Hawks in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks, while shooting 54.4% from the floor. He’ll pace an attack that was among the most efficient in 1A a year ago, and helps spur a defense that is always dynamite. Routinely among the top ten in points allowed, the Hawks gave up just 39.7 points a game last season, good for fourth in the class. Expect more of the same with nearly every key piece back. The combination of 6-4 post players Rylan James (10.6) and Corey McCoy (4.2) give the Hawks some solid size on the interior for Class 1A. 6-5 wing Tanner Foster (11.3) is a gifted offensive player with great length and the ability to protect the rim as well. Throw in point guard Brevin Hansen (11.4), a deadly long-range shooter and fantastic ball handler/facilitator, and the Hawks have the makings of another state tournament-caliber team. Expect to see more of junior guard Tyson Vander Linden (3.8) this season, after he played well in limited minutes last season, shooting 59% from the floor and 47.6% from the arc (albeit on only 21 attempts). Look for the Hawks to pair him and Hansen together at times to really give themselves a potent attack from the arc. Loads of experience returns from a group that knows how to win, and it’s a group that buys in on the defensive end, which is always a winning combination.
5.) LeMars, Gehlen Catholic (17-7 last year, 78.9% of scoring back)
The bad news for the Jays is that they lose their leading scorer from last season in Cooper Davis. The good news is that every single other player returns from a group that won 17 games last year, and only lost once to a 1A team that wasn’t named Remsen, St. Mary’s (who was the last remaining undefeated team in 1A). They’ll be led by the duo of Cole Wiltgen (11.3) and Alec Langel (11.1), a pair of 6-1 wings who are capable of filling it up from anywhere. Brady Livermore (6.6), Bryan Nohova (6.5) and Caden Kneip (4.0) round out the probably starting five for Gehlen. Look for 6-5 post Nohova to take a step forward this year and become a real force on both ends of the floor. He’s capable of putting together a strong season, and if he can become that intimidating presence in the paint, it’ll go a long way towards this Gehlen team making a run to Des Moines.
6.) Remsen, St. Mary’s (State semifinalist, 25-2 last year, 51.1% of scoring back)
The last remaining undefeated team in 1A last year, the Hawks were also one of the best defensive teams in the state, allowing just 43.8 points a night. While they lose quite a bit of scoring punch, they bring back their best player in 6-4 forward Nicholas Ruden (15.9), a versatile scoring forward who can do it inside and out. Carter Kuchel (4.6) and Brody Ricke (3.7) will be asked to step into bigger scoring roles this season for St. Mary’s following the graduation of some key perimeter scoring threats, while the development of 6-4 forward Derrick Schorg (5.9) will be essential to allowing Ruden to play with the ball in his hands a bit more and get away from the paint. If he’s able to produce on both ends of the floor, it’ll go a long way towards keeping St. Mary’s as a legitimate threat in the class. Nonetheless, with Ruden in tow, this group is going to win a lot of games.
7.) George-Little Rock (13-11 last year, 74.5% of scoring back)
Five of the top seven scorers from last year’s group return for a Mustangs team that didn’t lose to any 1A teams not named Boyden-Hull last year. And, they get a big boost with the return of 6-4 forward Jayden Mauldin. Mauldin was having a great game in their opener last season with nine points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists, before getting injured and missing the remainder of the season. A versatile forward who can stretch the floor and protect the rim, adding him back into the mix, along with all the other returning talent, should push this G-LR team towards the top of not only the Siouxland Conference, but also to the top of Class 1A. Josh Haken (12.5), Landon Jumbeck (11.4), Lucas Nagel (9.7) and Caleb Terhark (9.5) figure to join Mauldin in the starting lineup, giving them an experienced and versatile group of players who can beat teams in a multitude of ways. The backcourt of Nagel and Haken combined to dish out 198 assists last season, posting a nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and this group takes care of the ball about as well as any other team in the class. A strong group that is loaded with experience, they’ll have the added benefit of going through the always tough Siouxland to help them build towards the postseason. Look for this group to make a serious run towards Des Moines.
8.) Wapsie Valley (18-8 last year, 63.8% of scoring back)
Like Council Bluffs, St. Albert, the Warriors are another team that rarely plays against 1A competition during the regular season, with a majority of the NICL being 2A teams. One of the state’s hottest teams during the last month of last season, Wapsie Valley won 12 of 13 games before falling to Joe Smoldt and Gladbrook-Reinbeck (in overtime) in the substate final. The Warriors bring back one of the state’s most potent scorers in Paul Rundquist (20.1), who showed just how explosive he can be with a 50-point explosion against Sumner-Fredericksburg early in the season. Two major pieces from last year are gone in Jaden Kuethe and Jake Lien, but leading scorers Nos. 3, 5 and 6 return alongside Rundquist with Kirk Drew (9.0), Carson Kerns (7.2) and Cameron O’Donnell (4.4), giving the Warriors a solid starting five. If the 6-4 O’Donnell is able to provide an interior presence for them, this group could make a run to the state tournament. They’re going to be battle tested going through the NICL, and they have one of the best scorers around in tow with Rundquist. Watch out for this group come late February/early March.
9.) New London (State qualifier, 21-4 last year, 75.2% of scoring back*)
There is an asterisk with New London’s returning scoring, as they actually only return 62.8% of their points per game, as Ben Dentlinger missed a large chunk of the season and averaged 15.1 points a game. Still, there is a lot to like about this group, with four players who averaged at least 8.7 points a game returning, headlined by strong, physical scoring guard Mason Porter (19.4). A player who excels at getting to the rim and finishing through contact, he attempted 173 free throws last season, which leads all 1A returnees. Speedy lead guard Keontae Luckett (9.8) returns after averaging 5.5 assists last year, and he’s a pest on both ends of the floor with his speed. A solid on-ball defender who makes the opposing ball handler work hard just to bring the ball up the floor, he’s primed to have a strong junior season. Isaac McSorley (9.4) led the team in steals, and Alex Dentlinger (8.7) is primed to step into older brother’s shoes after a solid junior season. Dentlinger blocked over a shot a game last season and has a chance to push this team over the top with improved play. Look for sophomore Grant Swanson (4.5), a skilled stretch four, to step into the starting lineup and have a major impact. He’s just starting to scratch the surface of his abilities and has the inside-out game to become a matchup problem. There is a lot of experience back from last year’s group that had to play most of the season without it’s best player and is accustomed to playing with each other. There is plenty of versatility on this roster, and the backcourt duo of Porter and Luckett is one of the best in the class.
10.) Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto (State qualifier, 18-8 last year, 61.6% of scoring back)
Another state qualifying team from last year, the Rams return two key pieces in Colby Seuntjens (18.2) and Conner Beeck (10.8). Seuntjens put up great efficiency numbers, with shooting splits of 57-41-74, while Beeck knocked down 43% of his shots from behind the arc. That 1-2 punch is going to be tough for opposing teams to stop. They’ll need to find increased production out of last year’s role players like Ben Sadler (3.5), Calvin Ferris (2.3) and Ely Fundermann (4.2) if they want to make a return trip to Des Moines, but with a pair of dynamic players like Seuntjens and Beeck, we’ll never count this group out. This is a program that has averaged 20 wins a season over the course of the last five years, so it’s a community that knows how to win. This year should be no different.
Ten more teams to watch
Martensdale-St. Mary’s (18-7 last year, 44.3% of scoring back)
Sure, a lot of scoring punch is gone from the Blue Devils roster, but they’ve got one huge piece back, and that alone will keep them relevant in the 1A race. Brady Gavin, a 6-7 post player who averaged 22.6 points and 13.2 rebounds, returns after shooting 73% from the floor last year. A gifted athlete who is capable of dominating the game on both ends of the floor, he’ll put up similar numbers this season and is on the short list of players who could pull off an exclusive 20-20 game this winter. Senior guard Garrison Haupts is the team’s next leading returnee, and he averaged just four points a game last year, so there is a lot that needs to be replaced here. But Martensdale-St. Mary’s is a traditionally strong athletic school, and having a player like Gavin, especially with that combination of size and skill, will make them a dangerous team all year long.
Earlham (18-6 last year, 60.3% of scoring back)
Talented wing scorer Trent Williamson (19.9) returns for the Cardinals, giving them some big-time scoring punch on the perimeter. He’s capable of scoring from all three levels and excels at getting to the free throw line. They’ll need to get improved play out of last year’s role players like Jason Hopp (6.6), Lazerick Matchem (4.2) and Ben Clement (2.4) following the loss of three starters, but with Williamson back on the court, plenty of wins will follow.
West Fork (19-6 last year, 52.3% of scoring back)
A traditionally strong program, we expect the Warhawks to be highly competitive yet again this winter. They’ll be led by one of 1A’s most explosive scoring wings in junior Zach Martinek (17.4), a versatile, athletic scorer who can do so from anywhere on the floor. He also led the team in rebounding and was among the leaders in assists, steals and blocks. Scorers Nos. 2 and 3 from last year are gone, but look for junior guard Mitchell Halloran (4.8) to emerge as the second scorer on the perimeter for West Fork. And if you’re looking for one player to have a breakout season, look at 6-4 power forward Nathan Meinders (3.0), who was a rotation player last year, but figures to make a big impact this season. He was great when we saw the Warhawks at a team camp, and provides some much needed interior scoring and size. Like Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, this is a program that knows how to win and will always be heard from.
Rockford (13-9 last year, 98.6% of scoring back)
The Warriors lose just 19 points from last year’s roster, giving them one of the most experienced groups in Class 1A. They’ll be led by Zach Bushbaum (16.1, 76 3PM), one of the most deadly shooters in the class, and Matt Muller (10.0, 51.6 FG%), an undersized but efficient scoring guard. Unless sophomore forward Matt Schubert contributes more this year, it’s going to be a very undersized group, but one that should be able to get out in transition and get easy buckets fairly regularly. There is one big question heading into this season, and that’s how they respond against higher level competition. The Warriors only won one game last season against a team that finished over .500, getting swept by 19-6 West Fork, 22-2 Osage and 16-8 Saint Ansgar, to go with three other losses to quality teams. Having so much experience back should help them compete better against big-time competition and push them towards the top 10.
Dunkerton (19-5 last year, 81.3% of scoring back)
Six of the top seven scorers are back for a Raiders team that won 19 games before falling to Wapsie Valley in the district final. They’re led by combo forward Kaleb Cox (14.5), a versatile scorer who can do a little bit of everything. He led the team in rebounding last season as well. Brady Happel (10.5) and Zach Johnson (9.9) form the starting backcourt, and each of them is capable of scoring from the arc. Johnson is a solid lead guard, posting a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Rotation players Dalton Burch (5.8), Travis Schake (4.5) and Brady Stone (4.4) are also back, giving Dunkerton plenty of experience.
Ankeny Christian (16-7 last year, 76.2% of scoring back)
The third highest scoring team in 1A last year, the Eagles return six of their top seven scorers from last year’s group that routinely blew out subpar Bluegrass Conference competition, but struggled when they played higher quality teams like Grand View Christian or Murray. With big-time scorer Drew Wilken (19.4) and uber talented junior post Caleb Grizzle (12.7) back, look for those struggles to dissipate. Wilken is a talented scoring threat who thrives on getting into the paint, but Grizzle is the one who is going to make the biggest difference between a successful season and a state tournament bid. A 6-7 player who can stretch out to the arc and defend the rim, he blocked 68 shots last season, led the team in rebounding and has the all-around skills to be an absolute monster at the 1A level. If he’s able to take another step forward, it’ll go a long ways towards getting the Eagles in the state tournament discussion. Role players Clay Ramseyer (8.4), Jayce Goergen (7.1), Chad Elrod (2.6) and Peyton Leever (2.9) provide plenty of returning experience.
Stanton (19-4 last year, 82.1% of scoring back)
The Vikings’ top three scorers return, headlined by do-everything wing Drake Johnson (20.8), who led the team in scoring and assists, while finishing top three in rebounding and steals as well. An efficient scorer who shot 53.3% from the floor, he’s a matchup problem at the 1A level with his athleticism and ability to score from anywhere. Dillion Rocha (11.2, 9.5 rebounds, 40 blocks) is an intimidating two-way presence in the paint at 6-7, with the ability to run the floor and protect the rim. Easton Blunt (10.0) is the team’s primary long-range shooter and provides some additional scoring punch. Look for improvement out of junior point guard Donnie Weis, a 5-11 lead guard who knocked down 43.8% of his 3s last year and helps serve as a secondary ball handler to Johnson. This team has lots of experience back from a 19-win group, and should be just as good this season.
Highland, Riverside (19-5 last year, 33.5% of scoring back)
The Huskies lose quite a bit from last year’s 19-win team, with leading scorers Nos. 2-5 all graduating. However, they have two things working in their favor. First, they’re dropping down a classification from 2A to 1A this year. And second, they’ll have one of the best players in the class in sophomore big man Zack Lasek, who averaged 15.3 points and 7.1 rebounds as a freshman. The 6-8 forward put together a great spring and summer with Martin Brothers, and a player with his size and skill is going to be very difficult for 1A opponents to slow down come playoff time. They’ll need to find some production from other players, including Lasek’s older brother Trey (5.3), but with Zack Lasek in tow, this group is still going to win plenty of games and be a threat to make a trip to Des Moines come early March.
Janesville (14-8 last year, 100% of scoring back)
The Wildcats got off to a 2-5 start last season before Spencer Hoff (17.5) joined the lineup, then closed strong, going 12-3 in their final 15 games as he was one of the Iowa Star’s most dominant players. The combination of Hoff and Codey Hicks (13.9, 68.0 FG%) gives them a really strong inside-out combination, and every other player from last year’s team also returns. Like Don Bosco and Dunkerton, we worry a bit about the competition they see during the regular season, but that duo of players, along with having loads of experience back, should make them a very competitive team this winter.
Don Bosco (21-2 last year, 92.5% of scoring back)
You could make a good argument for including the Dons in the top 10, considering they won 21 games last year and return their top seven players. The one reservation we have about this group is the league they play in, the Iowa Star. Like Janesville and Dunkerton, they’re not going to get tested very often in the league, which could come back to bite them in February when district postseason play starts. They’re led by a trio of double figure scorers in Sean McFadden (14.5), Jack Kelley (12.4) and Zach Nie (11.7), and were one of the most efficient teams in 1A last season, shooting 48.4% from the field as a team. McFadden is a highly efficient post player, Kelley a talented lead guard who takes care of the ball and Nie is the sniper from deep. Zach Huff (5.5, 95 assists) gives the Dons another good ball handler in the backcourt, and Clayton Weber (8.7, 23 blocks) provides some additional size. This group will be ranked at some point in the year, and will be a threat to get to Des Moines should they receive a good draw.
Disagree with anything we’ve said above? Did we miss a team? Let us know in the comment section below.