Class 1A: Top 10 Returning Scorers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'] (Waterloo Christian) - 23.5 points per game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An efficient 6-4 forward, Wagner led the Regens in scoring and rebounding last season, pulling down 9.3 boards to go with his 23.5 points. He has great hands, soft touch around the rim, and is a reliable free-throw shooter, knocking down nearly 73% of his attempts from the charity stripe. When you pair that type of efficiency at the line with a penchant for getting fouled as he does a majority of his damage in the paint, Wagner is able to easily add several points a game to his total with nobody defending him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171690' first='Grady' last='Jeppesen'] (Riverside) - 21.3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeppesen has been one of the top scorers in the 2024 class since he was a freshman, putting up huge numbers over the last three years for the Bulldogs. As he's aged, he's gotten more efficient, and looks primed to have a huge senior season. A versatile three-level scorer who can play with or without the ball in his hands, he should have several 30+ point nights as a senior, especially considering the heavy graduation losses Riverside suffered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid) - 20.6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Severson has been one of the best players in 1A basketball over the last two years, showing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor with his blend of size, length, and IQ. He's a long, 6-3/6-4 wing who gets into passing lanes, contests shots, and can score from anywhere. He has tremendous footwork on his dribble penetration, a pure stroke from deep, and is a fantastic free-throw shooter who can take over games in the blink of an eye. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765521' first='Cal' last='Heydon'] (Coon Rapids-Bayard) - 20.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heydon had a tremendous freshman season for the Crusaders, averaging 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals a game to go with his big scoring numbers. A 6-4 wing who does a majority of his damage inside the arc, he's a good enough shooter that it needs to be respected, but he's certainly at his best when he's playing downhill and attacking the rim or posting up smaller defenders and doing damage on the block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171697' first='Cam' last='Buffington'] (Winfield-Mt. Union) - 19.7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you haven't watched Buffington play yet, try to get out this year and see him because it's a treat. Buffington is one of the best athletes in the state, a future Iowa football player who loves to play above the rim on the hardwood. Few players in 1A basketball have the size, strength, and athleticism to control him around the rim or keep him off the glass. He's an athletic force who can absolutely dominate games on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951796' first='Caleb' last='Haack'] (Iowa Valley) - 19.6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haack has a chance to become a name known around the state this season, coming off an impressive sophomore season in which he averaged 9.3 points, 2.0 assists, and 3.9 blocks to go with his scoring. A mobile 6-7 big man with good hands, great timing on the defensive end, and solid footwork around the rim, he runs the floor and finishes at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751217' first='Rayce' last='Snyder'] (Wayne) - 19.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite being the focal point of every opposing game plan, Snyder put together a strong junior year, shooting 47% from the floor and averaging 19 and 9 for the Falcons. At 6-5, he has the size to be a major matchup problem in the POI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1622174' first='Luke' last='Hellige'] (Holy Trinity Catholic) - 19.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders played good basketball down the stretch last year, and Hellige is a major reason why, as well as the primary reason they could surprise teams this season. A 6-4 forward who showed the ability to score inside and out with efficiency, Hellige posted 50-38-73 shooting splits as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (Woodbine) - 18.8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick 5-10 guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams with his combination of ball-handling, speed, and finishing around the rim, Gruver also dished out 4.6 assists a game to lead the Tigers last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476988' first='Michael' last='Gadberry'] (Lisbon) - 18.6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following a number of key graduations from the 2021-22 team, Gadberry was asked to step into a much larger scoring role as a junior last season, and he thrived, putting up nearly 19 points a game while also serving as the team's primary distributor. His efficiency numbers took a bit of a hit as he needed to take lots of tough shots, but he's a smart guard with a good feel for the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->