Class 1A State Tournament: One X-Factor for Each Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Picking one X-Factor player from each roster in the state tournament, starting with Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 1 St. Edmond, [player_tooltip player_id='2887801' first='Jakob' last='Koopman'] - Coming in as the third-leading scorer for the Gaels, Koopman averages 9.4 points along with 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals for St. Eds. Standing at just 6-foot-2 and being the second-leading rebounder, Koopman's 3.3 offensive rebounds per game will be critical, along with his shooting. Making 45.2% of his triples this season, Koopman has made just 14-of-31 this season, and he may need to up that volume for the Gaels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 2 MMCRU, Michael Schmillen - The X-Factor for the Royals in their run to the Class A state championship in football as a playmaking receiver with ridiculous ball skills, those same attributes will come into play for MMCRU in the state tournament. Boyden-Hull has faced some serious 2A and 3A competition this fall, and Schmillen's athleticism and bounce will be critical on the boards against the Comets in the first round -- and potentially beyond. The Royals will need a bit more than his 10.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, though his 4.7 assists and 2.8 steals will be critical. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 Bishop Garrigan, [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] - The Golden Bears have the ridiculous size and production they need on the boards and scoring from [player_tooltip player_id='2243086' first='Michael' last='Joyce'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2731752' first='Amaury' last='Thomas']. [player_tooltip player_id='1781875' first='Carter' last='Schwab'] will be the difference in if they can win the state title. BG's best three-point shooter at 38.8%, while also grabbing 1.9 steals and 5.8 rebounds a game in addition to his 2.94 assist-to-turnover ratio, Schwab is the do-it-all playmaker that complements the top scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 4 Burlington Notre Dame, [player_tooltip player_id='3453701' first='Griffin' last='Kies'] - Speaking of three-point shooters. [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'] will be the reason ND wins a title if they can get there, but Kies will be <em>the </em>key to get Stephens going off-the-dribble. A 40% shooter from three on 135 attempts this season, Kies will be what opens up the floor for Stephens to get going. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 5 Bellevue, Jaxton Leach - Averaging just six points a game, Leach is much more than his scoring capabilities for Bellevue. The only junior in what is otherwise a senior-laden starting lineup for the Comets, the 6-foot-2 forward is first in steals (2.6), second in rebounding (5.8) and second in assists (2.2) per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 6 Marquette Catholic, Justin Severson - The big man for the Defenders, Severson is one of six players for Marquette Catholic that average scoring in double-figures, as the 6-foot-4 center averages 11.2 points per game. Where he separates himsels if the 10 rebounds per game he grabs, averaging a double-double. His size and play against Thomas in the quarterfinals against Bishop Garrigan will be huge in their efforts to reach the semis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 7 Boyden-Hull, [player_tooltip player_id='2731754' first='Garret' last='Van Es'] - Another big man in the state's smallest class, Van Es averages the same amount of rebounds as he does points per game. Putting up 12.6 points and rebounds per contest, someone in 1A is somehow out-double-doubling Severson on this list. <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/1a-bracket-preview-picking-game-by-game-ahead-of-state/">Picked to upset</a> MMCRU in the first round, Van Es will need to continue to be dominant on the boards for the Comets to have a shot against the two seed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 8 Woodbine, [player_tooltip player_id='2413631' first='Jax' last='Pryor'] - The third-leading scorer for the Tigers, Pryor is one of three players in Woodbine's regular rotation that stand a 6-foot-4 or taller. St. Edmond only has one -- their leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='1907683' first='Hunter' last='Horn']. Of course, the top scorer can't do everything for the Gaels, and he can't defend all of the bigs for the Tigers. If Pryor, who averages 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game establish himself around the rim, Woodbine may have a chance at a first round upset of the top-seeded team in Class 1A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->