Section 3A: the 25 Players to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We give you 25 players you should know for the 2025-26 season in Section 3A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Central Minnesota Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2877054' first='Asher' last='Wieberdink'] (2027, Southwest Minnesota Stars). Asher averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per contest last season and is a player that we think is about to emerge as a star. Asher had a great showing at the Expo recently and he looks to be on track to be an All State player near the top of the list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2120512' first='Micah' last='Asake'] (2026). Micah is a 6'2 wing/forward that was the team's third leading scorer a season ago. Micah averaged 10.6 ponts and seven rebounds a contest as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dawson-Boyd</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2823917' first='Gunner' last='Liebl'] of Dawson-Boyd (2026, Southwest Minnesota Stars). Gunner is a preseason All state first team player coming into the season. He's earned a state title as a lead guard on the court, he had a strong 17u season with a memorable 29 point game for the Stars in a big win over the Comets, and now he is slinging touchdown passes for the football team. A top unsigned senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2841204' first='Jaxton' last='Hastad'] of Dawson-Boyd). Jaxton was one of only five underclassmen to play on championship Saturday last March (eight teams, four games) and he did that as a 6'3 starting guard. Hastad averaged 9.3 points and six rebounds a game for the state champs and is a major piece coming back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edgerton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Michael Gunnink (2026). A 5'9 two time all league honored player that has a good jumper from the arc. Also one of the best running backs in nine man football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kade Moffitt (2026, Southwest MN Stars). Moffitt is a six feet guard that has been first team all league the last two seasons as well as two years all area. Handles the basketball for Edgerton and he averaged 23.6 points, nine rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hills-Beaver Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2398619' first='Micah' last='Bush'] of Hills-Beaver Creek (2026). Bush is 6'1 wing that has a 36 inch vertical used for explosive finishes in hoops, Bush runs track and he is a many times offered football prospect committed to South Dakota State. A preseason All State player that is a big reason the Patriots are a top state title contender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2400265' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'] of Hills-Beaver Creek (2026, Southwest MN Stars). Metzger is a 6'5, 210 pound frontcourt player that has a very similar script to Bush with his athletic career: runs track, a top 10 quarterback in the state committed to Sioux Falls,, very good basketball player. Metzger played AAU though and really helped the Stars win games. A double double guy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2509509' first='Braylon' last='Breyfogle'] (2026). A two time all conference, all area honored player, Braylon is a six guard that scored about 18 a night with 6-7 boards and 3-4 assists a game. The type of player that should have Lakeview taking a big step forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trevor Tusberg (2026). Trevor is a guard and the other returning starter for Lakeview who also has Ian Taylor, Jackson Staab, and Cody Helmke back from the ten man rotation meaning five players with experience and two have size (Staab and Helmke) and all are seniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Minneota</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton Johnson (2026). Johnson is a 5'10 guard that is the top returning scorer for the Vikings this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leo Hennen (2026). Leo is the other returning starter along with Johnson. Hennen is a 6'1 guard that scored eight points a game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Murray County Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aidan Swenson (2026). Swenson is a 6'5, 220 pound big that scored 15 points a game and gave his team a number of double-doubles. Swenson is another quality big and should be the go to guy as a senior (he was the go to big last year).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382195' first='Max' last='Miller'] (2026). Miller is a six foot guard that is one of two returning starters and a player that should move from four buckets a game to a double figure scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Renville County West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jonathan Driggs (2027). Driggs is a 6'5 post that scored 16 pints a game last year and he is both a back to the basket player and a face up big that can make perimeter jumpers. Driggs is already a two year starter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brayden Klaassen (2027). Brayden is the other returning sophomore that played a lot last season. RCW didn't have a junior in the rotation last year so Driggs and Klaassen will lead the team as sophomores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Russell-Tyler-Ruthton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colten Thomsen (2026). Thomsen is the top returning scorer for RTR at 11.3 points per game shooting 57 percent from the floor as a frontcourt player at 6'4. Thomsen has the frame more of a face-up agile four man but does a lot of paint work grabbing five boards a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juhl Drake (2026). Drake s a 5'11 guard and the other returning starter. He averaged seven points and 3.6 rebounds a game last year as a junior. RTR has six guys back from the rotation overall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwest MN Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan Pap (2027). The Eagles didn't have a junior in the rotation last year that we are aware of but Pap is a guy that has a chance to have a huge senior season. He was all league as a sophomore and is a really good athlete. Double figure area scorer for his entire varsity career so far. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josiah Hoftyzer (2027). Josiah is a 6'4 forward that is the biggest returning player from the rotation. A solid sophomore season should move him into upperclassman dependable starter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TMB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2841167' first='Griffin' last='Zick'] (2026). A 5'9 guard that scored 16 points a game last year and was a part of a three headed scoring threat, but Zick is the lone returning starter from he, Trevor Smith, and Alex Munson. This is now Zick's team to lead as the main playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor Lanue (2026). Zick won't be alone in the backcourt as a playmaker as Lanue is a 5'10 guard who scored four baskets a game last year. The Panthers graduated the rest of the key figures but Zick and Lanue will carry them into the year with a good backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wabasso</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2840972' first='Brayden' last='Guetter'] (2026, Southwest MN Stars). A 6'5 175 pound forward that can play either forward spot and averaged 20 plus points per game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drew Kemp (2028). Wabasso had a really good 24-25 season and Kemp was a key reason as he had a nice freshman season and gave his team depth. Kemp averaged double figures last year and should step into a bigger role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westbrook-Walnut Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2841844' first='Drew' last='Swanson'] (2026, Southwest MN Stars). Swanson scored 18 a game last year and had a 36 point game at one point. A very active guard that had a good 17u season as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->