Class 1A Stars to Watch (Part 1)

Bechen is the most dominant player in 1A basketball, an athletic, quick, physical guard who dominates games on both ends of the floor. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 3.0 assists on 52-37-80 shooting splits as a junior while leading the Lynx to the 1A state title and earning captain honors on the All-Tournament team.     If a team is going to jump up and unseat North Linn atop 1A this year, it may just be Severson and the Tigers. Severson is a long, skilled wing who can score efficiently from all three levels as well as dominate the game on the defensive end with his length and intelligence. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior on 50-39-84 shooting splits.     Haack is one of the best kept secrets in the state, an athletic forward with good size and an intriguing skill set. He's asked to do just about everything for Iowa Valley, and despite facing constant double teams or junk defenses, he put up 21.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 4.2 blocks per game. He can stretch the floor, score on the block, sees the floor well, and is a great rim protector.     After playing a complementary role as a sharpshooting off-ball guard as a sophomore, Marquart stepped into a starring role as a junior for the Raiders and thrived, averaging 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals a game on 45-39-77 shooting splits. He's a high-level shooter off both the dribble and the catch with range well beyond the high school line, and he has really improved as a playmaker off the dribble.     Stensrud is a big, physical, but nimble forward with soft hands and deft touch around the rim with either hand. He's a great rebounder who can also initiate the offense out of the post, seeing the floor well and showing impressive passing skills. He averaged 15.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game on eye-popping efficiency, shooting 71.8% from the floor.     Roeder was the best player on the Defenders' 1A runner-up team last season, controlling the game on both ends of the floor with his size, athleticism, and talent. At 6-5, he can step out and stretch the floor, create plays off the dribble, see over the defense, and defend multiple positions. He averaged 16.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.2 steals a game on 50-35-80 shooting splits as a junior, and will be asked to do even more as a senior.     Edwards was great on the Wolves' semifinal run last season, showcasing his ability to shoot it at a high level from the 3-point line as well as create plays off the dribble for his teammates. He has great length and size for a lead guard, listed at 6-6 and with a wingspan that exceeds that, allowing him to shoot over his defender. He averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals while shooting 41.3% from 3-point range as the tertiary scoring option last season. It'll be his team as a senior.     Tucked down in Fort Madison, Hellige is a player that many around the state may not know about, but he's a really, really good player who needs to get more attention. He averaged 23.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals a game as a junior for the Crusaders, and did so with remarkable efficiency, posting 53-43-77 splits. He has great size on the wing, shoots it well off the dribble and the catch, and can create off the bounce.