Class 1A: Top Ten Returning Scorers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2439640' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] (Madrid) -- 24.5 points per game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madrid will enter the 2026-27 season as one of the favorites in Class 1A, and the 6-4 athletic freak is one of the biggest reasons why. A highly sought after tight end prospect who holds several dozen Power 5 offers, he's also a dominant force on the hardwood, using his athleticism, strength, and physicality to dominate games on both ends of the floor. He could re-write the Madrid record books that his older brothers currently have control of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906418' first='Mason' last='Camden'] (East Mills) -- 23.8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented guard who does a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor, Camden led the Wolverines in scoring, assists, and steals while posting 44-35-81 shooting splits. He's an electric scoring threat who creates his own shot as well as just about anyone in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3562510' first='Owen' last='Smith'] (Riceville) -- 22.3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic, physical 6-4 big man, Smith was a bully on the offensive glass as a sophomore for the Wildcats, averaging 5.6 offensive boards a game, which most certainly helped contribute to his lofty scoring output as well. In addition to his work as a scorer and rebounder, he averaged 3.4 stocks per game on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754716' first='Brody' last='Heifner'] (Belmond-Klemme) -- 22.1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another 6-4 big man who dominated the paint and the glass last season, Heifner put up 11.0 rebounds in addition to his 22+ point average. And he did all of that while shooting better than 60% from the floor. Following the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='2754720' first='Kysen' last='Lamb'] to Clear Lake, even more shot opportunities will open up for Heifner as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343950' first='Quentin' last='Dalton'] (Bedford) -- 20.9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dalton is a volume scorer, but not a chucker. He averaged just under 21 points a game, but did so at a very efficient clip, shooting better than 53% from the floor in his junior year. His ability to play downhill and get to the rim is a big part of why he's so efficient, as is his penchant for thievery on the defensive end, averaging 3.5 steals a game last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2859058' first='Westly' last='Cole'] (Newman Catholic) -- 20.4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole is a 6-3/6-4 forward who can play inside and out, capable of stretching the floor from the arc as well as bullying smaller defenders around the rim. He's also a really good rebounder, pulling down 8.9 boards a game as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1977076' first='Landon' last='Blum'] (Woodbine) -- 20.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the elite athletes in the state, regardless of class, Blum will head to play receiver at Penn State next year. In the meantime, he'll be one of the best basketball players in 1A, looking to lead the Tigers back to the state tournament for the fourth straight year. His size, athleticism, length, and talent are rivaled by few in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754681' first='Trevon' last='Keely'] (Paton-Churdan) -- 19.7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keely is the type of long, athletic big man that isn't often seen in the Rolling Valley Conference, and his scoring around the rim showcases just that. He's a mobile 6-4 forward who runs the floor well, has good hands, and finishes with authority around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3620609' first='Gabe' last='Staley'] (Hamburg) -- 19.0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staley is a force in the paint, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game last season, including an eye-popping 6.1 a night on the offensive end. He does a great job cleaning up his teammates' misses and converting them into points. On a team that averaged just 48.4 points a game, Staley accounted for nearly half their nightly production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523893' first='Cooper' last='Hamilton'] (St. Albert) -- 18.8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamilton is a 6-3 wing who can score from anywhere on the floor, knocking down 70 3-pointers last season while also showcasing that he can get to the rim and free-throw line routinely. He also averaged 2.9 steals a game, helping spark the offense with his defense. He's the leader of a strong 2028 class at St. Albert that could make some serious noise this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->