Section 1A: The Best Returning Players in the Southeast

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players to know that are returning from teams in Section 1A are highlighted at Prep Hoops today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fillmore Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bridon Bahl (2027). Ball is walking the hallways strong today as he just had a five completion came as the quarterback and all five passes went for touchdowns (203 yards total). Last year he was expected to use his speed and strength as a young player to help the basketball team and he stepped on the floor as a 6'1 guard and led the team in scoring last year at 14 points a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clayton Schoepski (2026). Clayton is a 5'11 guard that is the lone other player returning from the Falcons rotation. They lost their size but the Bahl/Schoepski combination in the backcourt should make FC a solid team. Clayton scored six points a game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2846686' first='Charlie' last='Walker'] (2028). Walker averaged 17 points per game as a freshman with 3.6 rebounds a contest and three assists. Walker is a high percentage three point shooter and he appears to be the type of player that the Vikings can lean on and takes steps back towards being a contender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2635245' first='Rylan' last='Nelsen'] (2027). Already a two year starting point guard entering his upperclassmen years, Nelson averaged 13 points and four rebounds a game last year. The wildest thing in the stats though might be Nelson's three point percentage as he made over half of his 88 threes last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenyon-Wanamingo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2386227' first='Oliver' last='Bauer'] (2027). Bauer is a 6'4 forward that put up 15.6 points and seven rebounds a game as a sophomore. A good shooter that is an 80 plus percent foul shooter and a 50 plus percent field goal shooter. One of the top players in this league for sure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2385644' first='Eli' last='Hedeen'] (2028). A 5'11 wing that scored 11 plus points per game last year which was good for second on the team. Eli returns with fellow starters [player_tooltip player_id='2386227' first='Oliver' last='Bauer'] and Landen Johnson who are all good young players and will be around for multiple years. The Knights were a .500 team (approx) last year and they should take a step forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kingsland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaaleem Reiland (2026). Reiland is an outstanding running back that is committed to UMD. If you haven't seen him run and you watch high school football, take the team to watch some highlights and you are likely see him during the playoff run. Reiland is one of the best athletes in the senior class. He's also the top returning basketball player for the Knights who scored nearly ten points per game last season. The problem for the Knights is that Kaaleem is the lone returning player from the rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sawyer Willford (2027). Sawyer played here and there in the post off the bench last year as a sophomore. He is a six foot strong man that should step into a frontcourt spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lanesboro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nick Taylor (2027). Prospect watch! Lanesboro lists Taylor as a 6'7 wing, he gave his team 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks earning all second team league honors. When a 6'7 wing emerges as a young prospect, ears perk up from college coaches all over the place. Especially those that have good numbers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levi Rogers (2026). A 6'3 wing that scored on 47 percent of his attempts earning 10.5 points and six rebounds a game as an all league player a season ago. With Rogers and Mason Gilbertson in the backcourt the Boros have a quality returning backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leroy-Ostrander</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2829349' first='Reid' last='Hungerholt'] (2027). Reid is a 6'3 wing that averaged 18.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds per contest and two steals a game. Reid's brother Camden has graduated so Reid step's into the position as the go to guy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talan Lewison (2026). A 5'10 guard that was the 6th Man a season ago but with four starters graduating Talan moves into a key role as a playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lewiston-Altura</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414194' first='Payton' last='Buytaert'] (2026). Payton was the Cards second leading scorer last at ten a game and the 6'1, 180 pound wing/forward moves into a key role for a team that has moved down to Class A. They were 19-9 last year and move into a wide open section with very few teams that had winning records AND return players. But....Zane Nelson graduated and he did SO much for this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyson Prigge (2026). A tough guy guard that was the third leading scorer last season at eight points a game. Prigge moves into a bigger role and returns from the rotation along with Buytaert, [player_tooltip player_id='2414198' first='Gavin' last='Bambenek'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2414197' first='Gage' last='Brommerich'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mabel-Canton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaac Underbakke (2026). A six foot guard that scored 13 points per game last year. Isaac is the quarterback on the football team and a standout baseball player as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darian Hershberger (2026). Darian has nearly the same profile as Isaac.... he is a six foot returning player that is a veteran senior who scored about 13 points a game last year plus he is a football and baseball player. Darian is more of a strong player at forward though. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schaeffer Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1889041' first='Luke' last='Friese'] (2026). Luke is the top returning scorer in this section overall when it comes to points per game. His 19 points per contest is the high in this group, but was second on his team. Now Luke moves into the main scoring role for the Lions who were 15-12 last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Micah Ekborn (2028). Nearly all of the offense went through three guys last year and two of them are going. Micah scored twice a game last season and is the next guy in line in terms of returning scorer and returning starter. Started as a key role player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2824353' first='Tate' last='Goergen'] (2027, Minnesota Lightning). Tate scored 16 plus points per game last season for a one loss team. A really good athlete who was the state champion in the 800 this year, Tate should take over the role as main scorer and if you need a comparison, when I saw Tate, he reminded me of a small school version of [player_tooltip player_id='2118495' first='Talan' last='Witt']. While Walker is the young up and comer, Taylor the emerging prospect, and Friese the top returning points per game guy, Goergen is the player that will be preseason All State in Class A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henry Wiste (2027). Wiste is the other returning starter and he scored ten points per game as a sophomore. Henry is tough inside but can play outside, and he's also a very athletic player. Southland had an amazing season last year and they will be good this year for sure (section favorite coming in) but I think they have a chance to be special again soon with Tate and Henry leading. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lyric Stadtler (2026). Lyric is the top returning scorer for the Lions at just under seven points a game. He's a 5'10 lead guard that will be the main player for a team that went 11-14 last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kolton Nerstad (2026). Kolton is another ball handler stepping forward in the senior class. He was the 8th Man in an eight man rotation from last year's team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->