Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Your Prep Sports area boys basketball team honors five of the top players in the area for their performance on the court this season.

This year’s Your Prep Sports area team features three repeat selections in senior Andre Brandon, Even Brauns and Masen Miller.

The fourth edition of the Your Prep Sports squad is filled with all-conference and all-state selections, Division I recruits, state tournament qualifiers and school record holders.

Regina senior Masen Miller is the captain of the 2020 Your Prep Sports area team after ranking sixth in the state in scoring with 26.2 points per game.

A two-time, first-team all-state pick Miller led Regina in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals while helping the Regals to a 15-7 record.

Masen Miller

6-1, Sr., Regina

After earning a reputation as one of the best shooters in the state a year ago Miller solidified his status as one of the state’s best all-around players with an impressive senior season that punctuated a prolific prep career.

Miller led Regina in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals for the second year in a row while averaging career-bests in all four categories.

A Truman State recruit, Miller ranked sixth in the state in scoring at 26.2 points per game and his 86 made 3-pointers rank second in the state.

Miller shot 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.

Despite constantly being the focus of opposing defenses Miller scored in double figures in all 11 games, scoring 20 or more points 16 times.

Miller had more games with 31 or more points (10) than he did with less than 20 points (6) and closed his career with 1,491 points.

The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game while helping Regina to a 15-7 record and earned first-team Class 2A all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association for the second straight season.

Even Brauns

6-9, Sr., West High

In his final prep season Brauns blossomed into one of the best players in the state earning Class 4A all-state honors for the first time after leading West High in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.

The Belmont recruit was a first-team all-state selection after averaging career-highs in points (15.6), rebounds (7.4) and blocked shots (2.3) per game while helping West High reach the state tournament for a state-record tenth consecutive season.

Brauns wasn’t just productive he was both efficient and consistent despite facing constant double and even triple teams.

The 6-foot-9 senior shot a team-best 69 percent from the floor and scored in double figures 19 times including a career-high 32-point outing against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Brauns closed his career with 1,070 points, 554 rebounds and 182 blocked shots.

Keshawn Christian

6-3, Sr., City High

A four-year varsity contributor, the breakthrough season for Christian came in his final year in a Little Hawk uniform.

Christian averaged career-highs of 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds to help City High to a 9-13 record, its highest win total since 2016.

The 6-foot-3 Christian shot 45 percent from the field, including 35 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line while leading the Little Hawks in scoring.

Christian had seven double-doubles on the season and added 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while earning all-state honors for the first time in his career.

A Des Moines Area Community College recruit, Christian was a unanimous Mississippi Valley Conference All-Mississippi Division pick and a third-team all-state selection in Class 4A b the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

Christian Withrow

6-2, Jr., Clear Creek Amana

A versatile offensive weapon, Withrow was a central figure in the most successful season in recent Clear Creek Amana history helping the Clippers to a 21-6 record, WAMAC West Division title and a third-place finish at the 3A state tournament in their first appearance since 1993.

Withrow led Clear Creek Amana in scoring at 15.9 points per game and ranked second on the team in both rebounds (6) and assists (2.7) while earning second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

A difficult matchup for opponents, Withrow shot 52 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line while ranking fourth in 3A in free throw attempts (152) and fifth in made free throws (110).

Withrow scored in double figures 23 times this season but was at his best in the postseason averaging 19 points and seven rebounds in six playoff games.

Andre Brandon

6-5, Sr., Liberty High

A repeat selection on the Your Prep Sports area team Brandon led the Lightning in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots while helping Liberty High to a program-best 10 wins in his final prep season.

Brandon averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free throw line helping Liberty High to a 10-13 record in its second season in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

A second-team MVC all-Valley Division pick, Brandon averaged 1.9 assists per game and led the Lightning with 1.2 steals per game and 18 blocked shots.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.