The 2024 Your Prep Sports Area Boys Basketball Team
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
It was another exciting season of boys basketball in the Your Prep Sports area.
The 2023-2024 season saw West High advance to a regional final while Regina returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2019.
The Your Prep Sports area boys basketball team is a way to recognize some of the top players in the area for their performance on the court this season.
The eighth edition of the Your Prep Sports all-area team features all-conference and all-state selections, school record holders and college recruits.
There are five repeat selections on the 2023-2024 squad highlighted by West Branch senior Holden Arnaman who is the captain of the team in his third appearance on the all-area squad.
Arnaman led West Branch to a 17-7 record leading the Bears in scoring with 23.7 points per game and assists at 4.5 per game on his way to earning first-team all-state honors.
*Holden Arnaman
6-3, Sr., West Branch
One of the top point guards in the state Arnaman capped a record-breaking prep career with a stellar senior season in which he earned first-team all-state honors for the first time.
Arnaman had his best season as a senior averaging career highs in points and rebounds while shooting a career-best from the field and 3-point range directing West Branch to a 17-7 record.
A Minnesota State recruit, Arnaman ranked 18th in the state in scoring with 23.7 points per game, and shot 51.4 percent from the field including 46 percent from 3-point range.
Arnaman ranked fifth in the state with a West Branch single-season school record 84 3-pointers this season and also shot 71 percent from the free throw line while leading the Bears in both made free throws (70) and attempts (98).
The River Valley Conference South Division player of the year and a first team all-state pick by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, Arnaman average 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Arnaman was one of only three players in the state to average better than 23 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this season.
The 6-foot-3 point guard scored at least 12 points in all 24 games this season, scored 20 or more points 16 times and had 11 games with at least 25 points.
Arnaman had a single-game school record 48 points and nine 3-pointers in a win over Durant.
A four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Arnaman is the West Branch career leader in assists (417) and 3-pointers (219) and ranks third all-time at West Branch with 1,538 points.
Jack McCaffery
6-8, Jr., West High
One of the best overall players in the state McCaffery continued to build on an already stellar prep career with an impressive junior season in which he led West High in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocked shots.
McCaffery ranked in the top 22 in Class 4A in points (16.2), rebounds (6.7), assists (3.5) and blocked shots per game (1.9) on his way to earning second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
One of the most uniquely skilled players in the state the 6-foot-8 McCaffery shot a career-best 48.7 percent from the field and 80.5 percent from the free throw line.
A unanimous MVC all-Valley Division first team pick, McCaffery led West High in both made free throws (70) and free throw attempts (87) and was second on the team with 31 made 3-pointers while shooting at a 32 percent clip from 3-point range.
McCaffery scored in double figures in 18 of 23 games this season and had 20 or more points in 10 games.
Jake Benzing
6-4, Sr., Solon
One of the best players in Class 3A Benzing capped a stellar career with a strong senior season in which he earned all-state honors for the second straight season.
A three-year starter, Benzing led Solon in scoring for the second year in a row helping the Spartans to a 21-2 record.
Benzing averaged 17.4 points per game on 47 percent shoot from the floor including 38 percent from 3-point range.
A versatile scorer, Benzing had a team-high 53 3-pointers and also shot 79 percent from the free throw line.
Benzing did a lot more than score for the Spartans ranking second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game to go with 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
The 6-foot-3 guard scored in double figures in 21 of 23 games this season and had 20 or more points eight times this season.
Benzing was named WAMAC East Division player of the year and was a second-team all-state selection by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
Benzing closed his career with 1,020 points, all in the past three seasons where he helped Solon to a 54-18 record.
Trey Hughes
6-3, Sr., Liberty High
An integral part of building the Liberty High program the past three seasons Hughes had his best season as a senior to help the Lightning set a single season school record for wins.
Hughes averaged career-highs in points, rebounds and assists this season while helping Liberty High to an 11-12 record and a spot in a 4A substate semifinal.
A three-year varsity contributor, Hughes started the final 44 games of his career and was the lone Liberty High player to start all 23 games this season.
Hughes didn’t just play, he produced at a high level averaging 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on his way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division first team honors.
One of top shooters in the area, Hughes shot 36 percent from 3-point range and led the Lightning with 53 made 3-pointers and shot a career-best 81 percent from the free throw line as a senior.
Hughes scored in double figures in 14 of 23 games this season including 13 of the final 17 games as he averaged 13.2 points per game during that stretch helping Liberty High six of its final eight games.
Haiden Hardy
6-2, Sr., Clear Creek Amana
After flashing his potential a year ago in his first season at Clear Creek Amana Hardy flourished in his second season in a Clipper uniform.
Hardy posted career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while helping Clear Creek Amana to a 16-7 record and a WAMAC West Division title.
The do-everything point guard averaged 14.3 points per game but was at his best as a facilitator.
Hardy led Clear Creek Amana and ranked 15th in 3A in assists with 4.7 per game and also led the Clippers with 5.8 rebounds per contest.
A unanimous WAMAC West Division first-team pick Hardy shot 44 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line (71-of-102) both career highs.
Hardy scored in double figures in 21 of 23 gamest his season, had at least five rebounds in 16 games and had five or more assists 13 times.
The 6-foot-2 guard had a double-double with points and rebounds (15-14) and also had a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists.
Michael Martin
6-2, Sr., Regina
Martin was a huge part of a turnaround season for Regina leading the Regals in scoring in a breakthrough senior season in which he emerged as one of the best scorers in Class 2A.
The 6-foot-2 Martin averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-pointer percentage while leading Regina to a 17-7 record and its first state tournament appearance since 2019.
Martin averaged 17.7 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field including an impressive 43 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line.
A unanimous RVC South Division first-team selection, Martin led Regina with 69 made 3-pointers and ranked second on the team in both free throw attempts (56) and makes (47).
Martin scored in double figures in 20 of 24 games this season and had nine games with at least 20 points including a career-high 35 in a win over Wilton.
Martin was at his best in the biggest moments, scoring at least 20 points in all three substate games to help Regina reach the 2A state tournament.
In four postseason games Martin averaged 22 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Reese Trepanier
6-0, Sr., West Branch
A repeat Your Prep Sports all-area selection Trepanier makes his second appearance on the all-area team after capping an impressive two-year stretch with a strong senior season.
Trepanier averaged 15.6 points and 7.5 points per game over the past two seasons leading the Bears in rebounding each of the past two years.
A 6-foot post player, Trepanier nearly averaged a double-double for the second straight season this winter posting 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Trepanier also averaged 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game this season to help West Branch to a 17-7 record.
A unanimous RVC South Division first-team selection, Trepanier shot 49 percent from the floor, including 37 percent from 3-point range and a career-best 70 percent from the free throw line.
Trepanier had seven double-doubles this season, scored in double figures in 19 of 24 games and had four games with 20 or more points.
Jacob Koch
6-0, Sr., West High
A stalwart in the West High lineup the past three seasons Koch raised his game as a senior averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while helping the Trojans to a 19-4 record and a spot in the substate title game.
Koch averaged 12.4 points per game while shooting a career-best 46.4 percent from the field.
The 6-foot guard made a team-high 44 3-pointers this season while shooting 39.3 from beyond the 3-point arc on his way to being named a MVC all-Valley Division second team pick.
Koch scored in double figures 14 times this season and had 20 or more points three times.
The senior did a lot more than just score for the Trojans averaging 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, all career-highs.
Vince Steinbrech
6-2, Sr., Solon
Steinbrech was solid last season in his first year in the Solon lineup but took a huge step forward as a senior emerging as an impact player while helping the Spartans to a 21-2 record and a substate semifinal appearance.
A unanimous WAMAC East Division first-team selection, Steinbrech averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals as a senior helping the Spartans claim the WAMAC East Division title.
Steinbrech averaged 14.3 points while shooting a team-best 61 percent from the floor and also led the Spartans in free throw attempts (112) and made free throws (64).
An impact player on both ends of the court Steinbrech led the Spartans with 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
The 6-foot-2 Steinbrech scored in double figures in 20 of 23 games this season and had 20 or more points three times.
Steinbrech had at least seven rebounds in a game seven times this season.
Andrew Rotzoll
6-3, Jr., Clear Creek Amana
One of the biggest breakthrough players in Class 3A this season Rotzoll followed up a solid sophomore season with a stellar junior campaign in which he led Clear Creek Amana in scoring.
Rotzoll established himself as one of the top shooting guards in 3A this season shooting an impressive 43 percent from 3-point range and burying a team-high 59 3-pointers while leading the Clippers with 16.5 points per game.
The 6-foot-3 sharpshooter averaged 11.8 points per game on 42.6 percent 3-point shooting a year ago but upped those numbers along with his rebounding and assist totals as a junior.
Rotzoll shot a career-best 45 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line (74-of-93) and also averaged career bests in rebounds (2.7) and assists (2.1).
A unanimous WAMAC West Division first-team pick, Rotzoll scored in double figures in 19-of-23 games this season and had seven games with 20 or more points including 32 in a substate semifinal loss to Williamsburg.
Kareem Earl
6-4, Sr., West High
Another repeat all-area selection Earl was a big part of helping West High to its best season since 2020.
A starter since his freshman season, Earl did a little bit of everything while helping the Trojans to a 19-4 record and a spot in the 4A substate title game.
Earl averaged 9.3 points, 4 rebounds and a career-high 2.6 assists per game this season on his way to being named a MVC all-Valley Division second-team selection.
The 6-foot-4 Earl shot a career-high 54.9 percent from the field this season and scored in double figures 12 times.
Earl also averaged 1.1 steals per game.
* –Denotes Team Captain
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