Class 2A State Tournament: One X-Factor for Each Team

Photo: Via landondestigter on Instagram

Eliot Clough March 6, 2026 @ 10:30 AM

Picking one X-Factor player from each roster in the state tournament, now to Class 2A.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/class-1a-state-tournament-one-x-factor-for-each-team/">Class 1A State Tournament: One X-Factor for Each Team</a>   No. 1 Kuemper Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] - Stepping up in the scoring department this season, Schon is putting up 13.8 points per game, but that's not even close to where his contributions end. The active leader in steals for the Knights with 2.3 per game, while grabbing the team's second-best rebounds per game at 6.4 and posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.41, Schon will be key in the Knights' attempts at a title run.   No. 2 Unity Christian, [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] - A monster rebounder, especially for a 6-foot-2 wing that has a plethora of 6-foot-4 and taller forwards, Wieringa grabs a whopping seven rebounds a game for Unity Christian. Adding 12.3 points as the fourth scorer that scores in double-figures while shooting 57.6% per game.   No. 3 Regina Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='2523886' first='Ben' last='Wade'] - The biggest player on a roster that's filled with size in the front court, Wade stands a 6-foot-9, a sequoia amongst the maples of Iowa. Averaging 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds a game while shooting 55.4% from the field, the Norhtern Iowa and Drake recruit will be a name to watch if Regina wants to take home a title.   No. 4 Treynor, [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] - The size for the Cardinals, Thien is the tallest player in the regular rotation by three inches. Putting up 9.3 points per gameand the team's second-best rebounding numbers at 4.7 per contest. Thien will need to be at the top of his game if Treynor wants to get that <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/2a-bracket-preview-picking-game-by-game-ahead-of-state/">predicted</a> spot in the championship and an upset over top-seeded Kuemper.   No. 5 Grundy Center, Ryder Slifer - The Spartans have incurred just one loss so far this season, thanks, in part to Slifer. One of two bigs that start for Grundy Center, Slifer brings the most size on the roster, standing at 6-foot-5. He uses that size to serve as the top-rebounder for the Spartans, grabbing 8.5 boards per game, while adding 11.4 points per contest on 59.9% shooting from the field.   No. 6 Aplington-Parkersburg, Charlie Wessels - Just a freshman for the Falcons, Wessels has been critical in AP's run to state this year, and in his first season of high school basketball. Already the biggest player on the roster at 6-foot-5, Wessels has been exceptional in the frontcourt, scoring 9.2 points per game on 58.4% shooting and hauling in 5.6 rebounds per game. The youngster will need to stay composed for his squad if they're going to pull the first round upset over a loaded group of bigs against Regina.   No. 7 Western Christian, [player_tooltip player_id='2413626' first='Landon' last='De Stigter'] - The lone returner from last year's state champion squad, De Stigter has only played in 15 of the Wolfpack's 24 games this season, dealing with injury. Considered a title contender with the contingency of De Stigter's health, Western Christian will need their star, 6-foot-7 senior to play to the best of his abilities if they want to win their third title in a row. Their leading scorer when healthy, De Stigter averages 19.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 51.5% from the field, 35.7% from three and 70.4% from the free throw line.   No. 8 Union Community, [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] - An relatively evenly-distributed amount of production across the starting lineup, Union has quite a few cooks in the kitchen on their senior-laden squad. One that could possibly propel the Knights to another postseason upset over Kuemper is DeWinter. Putting up just 7.8 points per game, the 6-foot-1 guard accounts for more points by way of passing the ball than scoring it himself, leading Union in assists with 5.1 per game, and posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.32. He may not be one of the stars for his team, but he'll be critical if they want to reach the second round and upset top-seeded Kuemper.

Picking one X-Factor player from each roster in the state tournament, now to Class 2A.