Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Basketball season is here.

The season officially began last week with a handful of games around the state but the schedule gets significantly more active this week before every team gets into the act next week.

Before area teams open play on Tuesday here is a look at five area girls players to watch this season.

Tatum Koenig

West Branch, Senior

One of only seven returning 20-point scorers in the state from last season the dynamic 5-foot-6 Koenig needs just 55 points to become the all-time leading scorer in West Branch history.

A Bradley signee, Koenig led West Branch with 20 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game last season on her way to first-team all-state honors.

Ashley Joens

City High, Senior

The 5-foot-9 Joens is already among the best players in City High history and still has a full season to build on her 1,380 career points and 604 career rebounds.  

A three-time all-state pick and the No. 19 ranked senior in the country by ESPN, Joens is coming off a season in which she averaged a double-double and ranked second in Class 5A in both scoring (21.1) and rebounding (10.3).

The Iowa State recruit scored in double figures in 23 of 24 games last season and has 10 or more points in 68 of 70 career games.

Logan Cook

West High, Senior

The 6-foot-1 forward is coming off a breakthrough junior season in which she averaged career-highs of 15 points and 6.2 rebounds while helping West High to the Class 5A state semifinals.

An Iowa signee, Cook earned first-team all-state honors for the first time last season after leading West High (21-4) in scoring and ranking second on the team in rebounds, steals and blocks.

Mary Crompton

Regina, Senior

Among the top shooters in the state Crompton led Class 2A with 76 3-pointers a year ago on her way to a career-best 18 points per game.

The 5-foot-8 Crompton shot 55 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line last season while surpassing the 1,000-point mark for her career.

An Illinois State recruit, Crompton ranked second on the team with 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals while being named a first-team all-state pick as a junior.

Aubrey Joens

City High, Sophomore

Ranked second behind older sister Ashley in both scoring and rebounding last season averaging 12.1 points and five rebounds per game.

The 5-foot-8 guard is seeking a breakthrough season after a summer in which she earned scholarship offers from Iowa State and Creighton.

Joens led City High with 45 made 3-pointers last season and was third on the team in assists (2.1) and steals (2).