Class 1A: 5 2026 Players Who Could Break Out in 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Hoy (Springville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 5-10 guard, Hoy averaged 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as a junior for the Orioles, very respectable numbers. He'll have a chance to shine as a senior following the graduations of three double-figure scorers. He's a capable shooter from the 3-point line, but he's at his best when he's operating within the flow of the offense and attacking the gaps off the dribble. Look for his playmaking and scoring output to skyrocket as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Gavin (Martensdale-St Marys)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-6, Gavin has really intriguing size as a perimeter-oriented player, and he has a chance to really break out in his senior year. He has the ability to defend multiple positions with his size, length, and athleticism, and he should become a more integral piece of the offensive attack as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joe Crawford (ACGC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers lost a ton of production from last year's team, one of the best in school history. Crawford had a nice season, averaging 11.9 points per game, but he was the fourth option on that group. He'll be the go-to option as a senior. He's a quick, athletic 5-8/5-9 guard who puts constant pressure on teams with his ability to create quality looks off the dribble. Look for that to be prevalent in his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Oleson (Notre Dame)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nikes will need someone to step up alongside star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'], and that person may just be Oleson, an experienced 6-0 guard who can knock down shots from 3, serve as a secondary playmaker, and who can impact the game on the defensive end. If he's able to step into the role of a reliable secondary scorer alongside Stephens, stepping into the shoes of the graduated Jack Drew, who averaged 16.5 a game, that would be huge for the Nikes' prospects this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aidan Hesse (Dunkerton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hesse was really good as a junior for the Raiders in a tertiary role, averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 rebounds on 53% shooting. Following the graduations of four of the top five scorers from last year's team, he'll have a chance to become the go-to player this season. At 6-4, he has soft hands, good touch around the rim, and can occasionally step out and space the floor. Don't be surprised to see him in All-State conversations at the end of the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->