5 Boys Basketball Players to Watch This Season
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
With football season fully in the rearview mirror its time to turn attention to the hardwood.
Boys basketball teams across the state open play next Monday with all seven area teams getting into the act next week.
Before the schedule heats up here are five area players to watch this season.
Patrick McCaffery
West High, Junior
The recent Iowa commit is a consensus four-star recruit ranked as a top-30 national recruit by Rivals.
A 6-foot-8 forward, McCaffery averaged 13.8 points and shot 61 percent from the field last season while leading West High to a 23-3 record and the Class 4A state title.
McCaffery added 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 1.8 blocks per game as a sophomore.
Keshawn Christian
City High, Sophomore
Christian burst onto the scene last season averaging 8.3 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman.
The athletic 6-foot-1 guard will be one of the top playmakers in a veteran backcourt that will try to help the Little Hawks improve on its four-win season from a year ago.
Even Brauns
Regina, Sophomore
Brauns was solid as a freshman averaging 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game but is poised for a huge sophomore season as Regina aims to improve on its 13-9 record from a year ago.
The 6-foot-9 Brauns has already established himself as a coveted recruit, picking up an offer from Northern Iowa
In his debut season last year Brauns shot 60 percent from the floor and led Regina with 29 blcks.
Ben Krutzfeldt
Solon, Senior
Krutzefeldt joins classmate Luke Ira in a Solon backcourt that ranks among the best and most experienced in the WAMAC Conference.
A 6-foot-2 point guard, Krutzfeldt is a steady hand for the Spartans as well as a proven playmaker.
Krutzfeldt averaged 9.4 points and a team-high 5.1 assists last season to help Solon to a 13-9 record.
Beau Cornwell
West Branch, Junior
One of the top scoring guards in Class 2A Cornwell returns after averaging 19.2 points per game last season as a sophomore.
The 6-foot-2 Cornwell also averaged four assists per game a year ago and will be an even bigger part of the Bear offense after the departure of senior all-stater Cooper Kabela.