Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The boys basketball season gets rolling this week in the Your Prep Sports area.

Games officially start across the state on Monday with area teams opening the season on Tuesday.

Before the action gets rolling Your Prep Sports takes a look at 10 of the top returning players in the area to keep an eye on this season.

Jeremiah Washpun

Junior, Liberty High

Washpun followed up a strong freshman season with a stellar sophomore campaign last year that saw the dynamic point guard emerge as one of the top players in the state.

The 5-foot-11 Washpun ranked ninth in Class 4A in scoring last season and was second on the team in both rebounds as assists while leading the Lightning in steals.

A second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division a year ago, Washpun averaged 19 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Washpun was efficient, shooting 47 percent from the floor and 63 percent from the free throw line during his breakthrough sophomore season and led the Lightning in free throw makes (49) and attempts (78).

Washpun scored in double figures in all 23 games including nine games with 20 or more points and will be seeking to help the Lightning improve on their two wins from a year ago.

Will Litton

Junior, Regina

A three-sport standout that also excels in football and baseball Litton is coming off a breakthrough basketball season in which he earned second team all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

The 6-foot-5 Litton led Regina in scoring and rebounding last season and was named River Valley South Division player of the year after helping the Regals to a 19-4 record and RVC South Division crown.

Litton averaged 16.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and scored in double figures in 22 of 23 games while posting 10 double doubles.

A unanimous RVC South Division first team pick, Litton shot 60 percent from the floor, including 45 percent from 3-point range (14-of-31) and 71 percent from the free throw line (45-of-63).

Litton also averaged 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and .9 blocked shots per game.

Chris Watkins

Senior, City High

In his first season in the City High lineup Watkins flourished last year leading the Little Hawks in scoring and ranking second on the team in rebounding.

Watkins averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in his first season of varsity action earning Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division honorable mention honors.

The 6-foot-5 Watkins was efficient around the basket and showed the flexibility to score from outside the paint whole shooting 56 percent from the floor including 36 percent (16-of-45) from 3-point range.

Watkins scored in double figures 15 times last season and had six double-doubles in 24 games.

He was at his best down the stretch averaging 18.7 points and eight rebounds per game in the final 10 games as City High went 7-3 during that span.

Jayden Harris

Senior, West Branch

Harris is coming off a big-time breakthrough junior season in which he led West Branch in scoring and emerged as one of the best players in the River Valley Conference.

The 5-foot-10 Harris averaged a team-high 18.8 points per game last season while helping the Bears to a 11-13 record.

A unanimous first-team all-RVC South Division pick, Harris was as efficient as he was productive shooting 50 percent from the floor including 39 percent from 3-point range (61-of-155).

Harris scored in double figures in 20 of 24 games last season including 13 games with 20 or more points.

He also averaged 2.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

Tate Wallace

Junior, Regina

Another multi-sport Regina standout Wallace teams with Litton to give the Regals one of the most productive post combos in Class 2A.

Wallace averaged 16.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season helping the Regals to a 19-4 record and a spot in a Class 2A substate semifinal.

A unanimous first team all-River Valley Conference South Division pick, Wallace shot 58 percent from the floor and 53 percent from the free throw line while leading the Regals in free throw makes (70) and attempts (133).

Wallace averaged 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season.

Maddox Kelley

Junior, Solon

Kelley returns to the Solon lineup after a strong sophomore season in which he ranked third on the team in scoring on his way to earning second team all-WAMAC East Division honors.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 8.7 points per game a year ago while helping Solon to a 18-6 record and a spot in a Class 3A substate title game.

Kelley shot 46 percent from the floor, including 31 percent from 3-point range (28-of-90), and 50 percent from the free throw line (22-of-44) last season.

He averaged 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-high 2.8 steals per game a year ago.

Beckett Boeset

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

With the graduation of seven seniors that combined for 119 starts and accounted for 83 percent of the Clippers’ scoring last season several players will need to step into much larger roles for Clear Creek Amana this season.

At the top of that list is Boeset, a two-year varsity contributor, poised for a breakthrough season.

Boeset had a solid sophomore season averaging 5.4 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 77 percent (23-of-30) from the free throw line.

The 6-foot-3 Boeset added 3 rebounds, .9 assists and 1.1 steals per game a year ago.

Look for Boeset to put up big numbers this season as the new-look Clippers look to reload after winning the WAMAC title last season.

Ethan Headings

Senior, West High

Coming off a breakout all-state football season in the fall Headings will look to carry that momentum over to his senior basketball season.

Headings is coming off a strong junior season last winter in which he ranked fourth on the team in scoring while helping the Trojans to a 15-8 record.

In his first season of varsity action Headings averaged 7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while making 18 starts last season.

The 6-foot-2 Headings shot 47 percent from the floor, including 23 percent from 3-point range, and added 1 assist and .9 steals per game.

Grant Gordon

Junior, Solon

With four of the top six scorers from last year’s substate title game squad gone to graduation Solon will need several players to step into much larger roles this season to post a fourth consecutive season with at least 18 wins.

Gordon is one of those players poised to take a big step forward following a strong close to his sophomore campaign.

The 6-foot-2 Gordon ranked fourth on the team in scoring at 6.8 points per game last season in nine starts.

Gordon shot 50 percent from the field, including 29 percent from 3-point range (14-of-49) and 63 percent from the free throw line (26-of-41) in his debut season.

He averaged 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game on his way to earning WAMAC East Division honorable mention honors.

Ben Wade  

Sophomore, Regina

If you are looking for a big-time breakthrough candidate this season look no further than Wade who showed flashes of his massive potential last season as a freshman when he started 22 games on a 19-win Regina team.

The 6-foot-9 Wade shot 49 percent from the field in his varsity debut season while averaging 4.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Wade showed his game-changing defensive potential last season when he averaged a team-high 1.6 blocked shots per game and also averaged 1.4 assists per contest.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.