State Tournament Preview: Class 1A Stars to Watch

2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951827' first='Carter' last='Gruver'] (Woodbine)   A 5-11 playmaking guard, Gruver leads the Tigers in scoring and assists, averaging 20.6 points and 4.5 assists a game. He's an explosive, quick three-level scorer who shoots it well off the dribble, competes on the glass, and is a good defender. If Woodbine is going to upset North Linn in the quarterfinals, Gruver will need to have a huge game.   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (Woodbine)   Blum is one of the best athletes in the state in the freshman class, a long, explosive 6-5 wing who is also a standout on the football field, named All-State as a receiver. He has the talent and athleticism to make a huge difference on both ends of the floor, averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals a game.   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (North Linn)   Arguably the best player in 1A basketball, Bechen is a lightning-quick guard who creates well off the dribble, creates chaos on the defensive end, and scores efficiently from all three levels. He's the spearhead of the potent Lynx attack on both ends of the floor, averaging 20.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 stealsa game on 52-37-80 shooting splits.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (North Linn)   The future Upper Iowa wing is a two-way difference-maker who uses his long 6-5 frame to contest shots, get into passing lanes, compete on the glass, and he's a fantastic shooter from the arc off the catch with a quick release and feathery stroke. He's averaging 20.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 steals a game on 64-42-74 shooting splits.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377418' first='Mitchell' last='Miller'] (Lynnville-Sully)   The Hawks are a balanced offensive team so nobody really stands out as a dominant scorer, but Miller is the most explosive scorer of the bunch. A 6-2 wing with a quick release off the catch, he's capable of getting hot from deep and torching teams in a hurry. He moves well without the ball in his hands, is a solid playmaker off the dribble, and will contribute on the glass. He's averaging 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376719' first='Klayton' last='Van Dyke'] (Lynnville-Sully)   Van Dyke is probably the most important defensive piece for a Hawks team that has been one of the best defensive teams in the class all year. An athletic, mobile 6-6 big man who protects the rim at a high level, he's blocking 2.2 shots a game while also averaging 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds. he's an efficient finisher around the rim, shooting 66% from the floor, but it's his defensive presence that is the real difference-maker for this group.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171697' first='Cam' last='Buffington'] (Winfield-Mt. Union)   Buffington will be one of the best athletes at Wells Fargo Arena next week, regardless of class. A future Iowa linebacker, he's a game-changing athlete at this level, and when you combine his athleticism with his strength and physicality in his 6-4 frame, he have a nearly unstoppable force. He's averaging 19.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game on 55% shooting for the Wolves.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171698' first='Abram' last='Edwards'] (Winfield-Mt. Union)   Another Division I football commit on the WMU roster, Edwards, who will head off to Army to play receiver, is a 6-6/6-7 combo forward who can make plays out of the high post with his court vision and passing, control the glass, and score around the bucket with soft touch and good footwork. He's averaging 14.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game on 63% shooting.   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)   One part of a "twin towers" look for the Rebels, the 6-5 Boyd has enjoyed a breakout junior year, averaging 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game on 56-39-64 shooting splits. His ability to score on the block or step out and occasionally stretch the floor has been a nice added element for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck attack this season.   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)   Eilers is a bit more of a traditional big man, a 6-3 forward with soft hands, good touch around the rim, and good footwork. He's averaging 12.5 points and 10.1 rebounds on 66% shooting for the Rebels.   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759939' first='Spencer' last='Roeder'] (Marquette Catholic)   A 6-4/6-5 combo forward who can score inside and out, Roeder can take over games in a number of different way for the Defenders. He's averaging a team-high 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists a game while also contributing nearly 3 stocks per game. His ball-handling and playmaking off the dribble have really improved this season, which has really opened up the Marquette offense, allowing their tallest weapon, someone who can see over the defense, to initiate offense.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1338777' first='Caden' last='Kettmann'] (Marquette Catholic)   For as valuable as Roeder is on the offensive end, that's how valuable Kettmann is for the Defenders on the defensive end. An athletic and tough 6-4 forward, he can defend one through five at this level, providing a ton of versatility on that end of the floor. He's also a good finisher around the rim, a willing passer, and a strong rebounder. He's averaging 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals a game, and routinely defends the opponent's best players.   2025 Kody Irmiter (North Union)   The Warriors have an extremely balanced offensive attack, with six players averaging between 7.0 and 12.0 points per game, led by the 6-5 Irmiter. In addition to leading the team in scoring, he's also pulling down a team-high 8.5 rebounds a game, including 3.2 on the offensive end. An efficient finisher around the rim and the team's leader in both scoring and rebounding, he'll be the focal point of the attack for North Union, making their first ever trip to the state tournament.   2024 Preston Guerdet (North Union)   While Irmiter holds down the painted area for the Warriors, the 6-0 Guerdet is the team's best perimeter shooting threat, knocking down 38.2% of his 3s on the season and providing some secondary ball-handling and playmaking.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751213' first='Lance' last='Helming'] (Lake Mills)   One of three 6-5 players in the Bulldogs' starting lineup, Helming leads the team in scoring at 19.1 points a game while also chipping in 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and a steal. He can score on the block against smaller defenders, take bigger defenders off the dribble, and stretch the floor with a pure stroke, posting 53-40-64 shooting splits on the season.   2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1938210' first='Eli' last='Menke'] (Lake Mills)   The best pure shooter on the Bulldogs roster, Menke, the coach's son, is having a breakout senior year putting up 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists a game while burying 42% of his 3s. He's a really good shooter off the catch with a quick release and great off-ball movement, and at 6-5, he can get to his shot pretty much whenever he wants.   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288890' first='Aiden' last='Stensrud'] (Lake Mills)   The other 6-5 forward in the starting group, Stensrud is a bulldog in the painted area on both ends of the floor, averaging 9.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks a game. He's a good athlete with a big, physical frame that he isn't afraid to throw around. Shooting 72.3% from the floor, he's averaging 16.0 points and 2.7 assists a game in addition to his work on the glass and as a rim protector.

2025 Carter Gruver Carter Gruver 5'10" | PG Woodbine | 2025 State IA (Woodbine)