Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Thanksgiving is over which means boys basketball games are right around the corner.

The season officially gets underway on Monday with the first games with all teams aiming for a spot at the state tournament which is scheduled for March 6-10 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Once again the Your Prep Sports area will feature some of the best teams in and individual players in the state.

Here are 10 boys basketball players to watch this winter.

Da’Shon Fisher

Liberty High, Junior

Fisher was one of the breakthrough stars of the 2021-2022 season stating a case as one of the most dynamic scoring guards in Class 5A.

The 6-foot Fisher averaged a career-high 17.4 points per game on his way to being named to the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division first team.

Fisher scored in double figures in 19-of-21 games last season and had eight games with 20 or more points.

An explosive athlete, Fisher averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field including 31 percent from 3-point range.

Holden Arnaman

Junior, West Branch

Arnaman followed up a strong freshman season with a breakthrough sophomore campaign establishing himself as one of the top point guards in the state.

The 6-foot-2 Arnaman averaged a career-high 15.7 points per game and ranked fifth in Class 2A with 5.4 assists per contest helping West Branch to a 12-10 record.

Arnaman raised his field goal and free throw percentages last season shooting 42 percent from the field and 74 percent from the free throw line.

He also averaged 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game on his way to being named to the River Valley Conference South Division team.

Jacob Koch

Junior, West High

In his varsity debut season Koch proved to be one of the premier shooting guards in Class 5A leading the Trojans in 3-pointers and ranking fourth on the team in scoring.

The 6-foot-2 Koch shot a team-high 40 percent from 3-point range and made 42 triples while averaging 8.6 points per game last season as a sophomore.

Koch also averaged 1.6 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while earning Mississippi Valley Conference second team all-division honors.

Shamar Benton

Senior, City High

Benton is coming off a big-time junior season in which he ranked second on the team in scoring and was third in rebounds, steals and assists.

The 6-foot-3 Benton averaged 11.4 points per game last season on 41 percent shooting while shooting 58 percent from the free throw line.

Benton also averaged 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Brody Clubb

Sophomore, Clear Creek Amana

On a roster loaded with seniors Clubb played a complimentary role as a freshman but will be expected to shoulder much more of the load for the Clippers this winter.

The 6-foot-4 Clubb demonstrated during his debut season that he is capable of handling a larger role.

Clubb averaged 4.8 points, ranked second on the team with 4.5 rebounds per game and had a team-high 19 blocked shots last season while helping the Clippers to a 14-7 record.

Jake Benzing

Junior, Solon

In his varsity debut season last year Benzing emerged as the top scoring threat for the Spartans and one of the best young shooters in the area.

The 6-foot-3 Benzing shot 28 percent from 3-point range and led the Spartans with 28 3-pointers while averaging a team-high 9.7 points per game.

Benzing averaged 3.1 rebounds while helping the Spartans to 13-9 record and earning honorable mention all-WAMAC West Division honors.

Reese Trepanier

Junior, West Branch

Trepanier came on strong late last season providing a boost for West Branch in the paint.

The 6-foot Trepanier averaged 7.3 points and 6 rebounds per game in his first year at West Branch helping the Bears to a 12-10 record.

Trepanier shot 59 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the foul line and also added 1.7 steals and 1.2 assists per game.

Kareem Earl

Junior, West High

Already a two-year varsity starter Earl is coming off his best season last winter when he earned honorable mention all-Mississippi Valley Conference divisional honors.

Earl averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season while helping the Trojans to a 13-9 record.

A versatile scorer at 6-foot-4, Earl shot 40 percent from the floor, made 10 3-pointers and ranked second on the team in both free throw attempts (55) and makes (31).

Jack McCaffery

Sophomore, West High

One of the top young players in the state McCaffery burst onto the prep scene a year ago when her emerged as a big-time scorer as a freshman.

The 6-foot-8 is a uniquely talented scorer that shot 35 percent from the 3-point line and 79 percent from the free throw line as a freshman.

McCaffery ranked third on the team with 9.9 points and was second with 5 rebounds per game last season and also averaged 2.1 assists and 1 blocked shot per game while earning honorable mention all-MVC divisional honors.

Luke Ramsey

Senior, Liberty High

Ramsey had a strong debut season a year ago ranking second on the team in scoring while leading the Lightning in made 3-pointers.

The 5-foot-11 Ramsey has already earned a reputation as a sharpshooter after leading the Lightning with 44 3-pointers while shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Ramsey averaged eight points and 1.6 rebounds per game and shot 81 percent from the free throw line while being named an honorable mention all-MVC divisional pick.

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