Conference Preview: MVC Mississippi
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The Teams Cedar Falls (16-6, 60.6% of scoring returning): Leading scorer Dallas Bear graduated, but the Tigers bring back their next three from last year’s team, and also have a really talented sophomore ready to step up and become a…
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Cedar Falls (16-6, 60.6% of scoring returning): Leading scorer Dallas Bear graduated, but the Tigers bring back their next three from last year’s team, and also have a really talented sophomore ready to step up and become a major contributor. The top returnees are junior guard Anthony Galvin Anthony Galvin 6'0" | PG Cedar Falls | 2025 State IA (13.1, 42.4 3P%) and senior forwards Cade Courbat Cade Courbat 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA (12.6, 2.6 blocks) and Jake Peters Jake Peters 6'4" | PF Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA (5.7). Galvin is a fantastic shooter both off the dribble and the catch as well as a gifted playmaker who can create shots for his teammates. Courbat is one of the most athletic forwards in the state, a bouncy athlete who can protect the rim and he has rapidly improved as an offensive weapon. Peters is a big body in the paint who can control the glass, and senior guard Aiden Heth Aiden Heth 5'9" | PG Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA (3.1) gives them some more shooting and will allow Galvin to occasionally move off the ball. The X-factor for this group will be sophomore forward William Gerdes William Gerdes 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2026 State IA , who had a sensational summer that led to scholarship offers from Bryant and Nebraska. At 6-9, he can space the floor, protect the rim, and create off the dribble. This is the most talented roster in the division, and the Tigers have to be considered the favorite here.
Cedar Rapids Washington (13-10, 9.8%): The top six scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving senior J’Quari Willis (2.9), junior Jaxton Schroeder (2.8), and senior Kwaevon China (2.1) as the top returnees. Willis is a forward who does all of his damage inside the arc, as is Schroeder, while China is an athletic scoring guard who can create off the dribble. Another new name to keep an eye on here is Preston Blanchett Jr Preston Blanchett Jr 6'4" | SF Cedar Rapids Jefferson | 2024 State IA , a big scoring wing who can shoot it and pound the glass on both ends of the floor. There will be a ton of new faces taking the floor for the Warriors this season, and it could be a long winter.
City (8-15, 32.0%): The Little Hawks lost five of their top six scorers from last year’s team, with four of them graduating and 2026 standout Samuel Mbingazo moving back to California. That leaves junior guard Trey Wright Trey Wright 5'11" | PG Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA (9.6) as the top returnee. Wright is a quick playmaking guard who is at his best when he’s playing downhill and putting pressure on opposing defenses. Nolan Mcdonald (3.6), Parker Sutherland (2.3), and AJ Wright AJ Wright 6'0" | CG City | 2024 State IA (2.0) are the other returnees with significant experience back for the Little Hawkes.
Liberty (8-14, 50.2%): The Lightning lost Da’Shon Fisher, the best player in the school’s young history, to graduation, and in total, lost two of the top three scorers from last year’s team. But there is some reason for optimism in North Liberty, as this is a group filled with players who had very productive summers. Trey Hughes Trey Hughes 6'2" | SG Liberty | 2024 State IA (11.5, 41.3 3P%) and Gage Kampman Gage Kampman 6'7" | PF Iowa City Liberty | 2024 State IA (7.1, 2.2 blocks) were both really good with the Iowa Barnstormers . Hughes is a fantastic shooter off the catch who has also really improved as a creator and ball-handler. Kampman is an athletic forward who can protect the rim extremely well, control the glass, and his offensive game has come a long way in the last year. Cooper Webb Cooper Webb 6'7" | SF Iowa City Liberty | 2024 State IA (3.5) had a great summer with the Iowa Mavs , and if he can carry that momentum into the high school season, it would be huge for Liberty. He’s a big, long wing at 6-7 who can shoot it and provide versatility on the defensive end. Junior guard Maddox Coapstick (4.5) and seniors Jailyn Buchanan (3.9), Shea Sanders (1.7), and Trey Williams (0.6) also return with plenty of experience. The Lightning probably don’t have the top-end talent that Linn-Mar or Cedar Falls have, but this team should be pretty deep, and they have a number of players who have improved a lot and look like they’re ready to step into bigger roles.
Linn-Mar (10-14, 66.9%): The Lions had an up-and-down year last season, as should be expected with a really young team. They had some great wins over teams like Bettendorf, Iowa City West, and Indianola, but also struggled to compete against some of the top teams in the conference on a consistent basis. With a really strong junior class leading the way, they should be improved and more competitive this season. Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State #244 Nation IA (19.5, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) is a dominant two-way force in the paint who can control the glass, protect the rim, and stretch the floor. He was one of the best players in the state throughout the summer. Payson Nietert Payson Nietert 6'6" | SF Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA (8.3, 38.6 3P%) gives them some additional shooting on the perimeter, and he has really good size on the wing, allowing him to get his shot off pretty much whenever he wants. Junior point guard Mason Matson Mason Matson 6'1" | PG Linn Mar | 2025 State IA (3.9) had a really good summer and looks like he’s ready to step into a bigger role this season. He’s quick, athletic, and gets his teammates involved at a high level. Seniors Owen Havlik (5.1) and Matthew Darbouze Matthew Darbouze 6'4" | SF Linn-Mar | 2024 State IA (1.8) are the other key returnees for the Lions. Havlik is a good all-around player who can play with or without the ball in his hands, while Darbouze is an athletic forward who rebounds and scores around the rim. This group may still be a year away from serious contention, but they’ll be improved and if a few things go their way, they could push Cedar Falls at the top of the division.
Prairie (5-17, 46.1%): The Hawks have a new coach roaming the sidelines as Todd Kuntz takes over the program, coming to Cedar Rapids from Dunkerton, where he put together a dynamic, up-tempo offensive team that loved to play fast and apply pressure. Senior forward Reid Burkle Reid Burkle 6'5" | PF Prairie | 2024 State IA (9.4, 6.5 rebounds) is the top returnee. Burkle is an athletic, physical forward who can control the glass and protect the paint defensively. Look for junior forward Devin Ikeda Devin Ikeda 6'7" | PF Prairie | 2025 State IA (3.5) to take a step up and become an impact player for the Hawks this season. He has good size at 6-7, is mobile, and can stretch the floor. There will be a lot of new faces on the floor for Prairie this season with three of the top four from last year’s team graduating, but there is a good amount of young talent in the system and Kuntz should have this program turned back around soon.
Wahlert (13-11, 8.0%): Another team in this division that has a lot of firepower to replace, the Golden Eagles lost their top six scorers from last year’s team. Junior forward Ethan Meyer Ethan Meyer 6'6" | PF Wahlert Catholic | 2025 State IA (2.0) and senior Charlie Becker (1.9) are the top returnees. Meyer is a skilled combo forward who can score inside or stretch the floor, and he can also provide some versatility on the defensive end of the floor. He’ll be the focal point for Wahlert this season, and the rest of the roster will be very inexperienced.
Western Dubuque (10-13, 34.0%): The Bobcats lost four of their top five scorers from last year’s team, but bring back forward Kanyon Bryte Kanyon Bryte 6'8" | C Western Dubuque | 2024 State IA (13.9, 7.7 rebounds), giving them one of the best players in the division. Bryte is an athletic 6-6/6-7 forward who scores inside and out with remarkable efficiency, posting 54-48 shooting splits last season, and he had a great summer and fall camp season. He’ll need to be dominant on both ends of the floor for a Western Dubuque team that has a lot of production to replace. Jake Goodman (3.9), Colin McDermott (2.5), and Jackson Skrtich (2.4) are the only other returnees with significant experience.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Cedar Falls
2. Linn-Mar
3. Liberty
4. Western Dubuque
5. Prairie
6. Wahlert
7. Cedar Rapids Washington
8. City
Analysis: This is certainly the weaker of the two divisions in the MVC this season, and Cedar Falls should be able to take advantage of that. The Tigers are really talented. Linn-Mar should be improved and have the best player in the division in Kern, while Liberty could be a contender as well.
Preseason Player of the Year
2025 Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State #244 Nation IA (Linn-Mar): A versatile stretch-4 who can really shoot it from deep, Kern is one of the best two-way players in the state.
Players to Watch
2025
Davis Kern
Davis
Kern
6'8" | PF
Linn-Mar | 2025
State
#244
Nation
IA
(Linn-Mar)
2025
Payson Nietert
Payson
Nietert
6'6" | SF
Linn-Mar | 2025
State
IA
(Linn-Mar)
2025
Mason Matson
Mason
Matson
6'1" | PG
Linn Mar | 2025
State
IA
(Linn-Mar)
2024 Owen Havlik (Linn-Mar)
2024
Matthew Darbouze
Matthew
Darbouze
6'4" | SF
Linn-Mar | 2024
State
IA
(Linn-Mar)
2025
Anthony Galvin
Anthony
Galvin
6'0" | PG
Cedar Falls | 2025
State
IA
(Cedar Falls)
2024
Cade Courbat
Cade
Courbat
6'8" | PF
Cedar Falls | 2024
State
IA
(Cedar Falls)
2026
William Gerdes
William
Gerdes
6'8" | PF
Cedar Falls | 2026
State
IA
(Cedar Falls)
2024
Jake Peters
Jake
Peters
6'4" | PF
Cedar Falls | 2024
State
IA
(Cedar Falls)
2024
Aiden Heth
Aiden
Heth
5'9" | PG
Cedar Falls | 2024
State
IA
(Cedar Falls)
2024
Gage Kampman
Gage
Kampman
6'7" | PF
Iowa City Liberty | 2024
State
IA
(Liberty)
2024
Trey Hughes
Trey
Hughes
6'2" | SG
Liberty | 2024
State
IA
(Liberty)
2024
Cooper Webb
Cooper
Webb
6'7" | SF
Iowa City Liberty | 2024
State
IA
(Liberty)
2025 Maddox Coapstick (Liberty)
2024
Kanyon Bryte
Kanyon
Bryte
6'8" | C
Western Dubuque | 2024
State
IA
(Western Dubuque)
2024
Reid Burkle
Reid
Burkle
6'5" | PF
Prairie | 2024
State
IA
(Prairie)
2024 Nolan Mcdonald (City)
2025
Trey Wright
Trey
Wright
5'11" | PG
Linn-Mar | 2025
State
IA
(City)
2025
Ethan Meyer
Ethan
Meyer
6'6" | PF
Wahlert Catholic | 2025
State
IA
(Wahlert)