Boys Basketball Capsules: Taking a Quick Look at Area Boys Basketball Teams
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
City High
Coach: Brennan Swayzer (5th season)
Assistant coaches: Fred Newell; Ryan Wade; Eric Wright
Last season: 8-14
Returning starters: Trey Wright, 5-9, Jr.
Other returning letterwinners: AJ Wright, 6-0, Sr.; Kris Freeman, 6-0, Sr.; Parker Sutherland, 6-9, Jr.; Jameer James, 5-9, Sr.; Amir Newell, 6-1, Sr.; Nolan McDonald, 6-1, Sr.; Bond Shymansky, 6-8, Sr.; Liam Venzke, 6-3, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Davion Luckett, 5-7, Soph.; Kingston Swayzer, 6-1, Fr.; Jay Watkins, 6-6, Sr.; Jeremiah Madlock, 6-3, Sr.
Top returning scorers: Trey Wright 9.6; Jameer James 3.4; Parker Sutherland 2.3
Top returning rebounders: Trey Wright 3.2; Parker Sutherland 2.8; AJ Wright 1.4
Headliner: In his third varsity season junior point guard Trey Wright will look to follow up a breakthrough sophomore campaign with an impressive junior season.
Wright emerged as a major playmaker at point guard last season ranking second on the team with 9.6 points and 1.2 steals per game while leading the Little Hawks with 2.8 assists per contest.
Keep an eye on: While it was Wright that had the breakout season a year ago junior forward Parker Sutherland is a candidate for a similar season for City High this winter.
The 6-foot-8 Sutherland started three games a year ago averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game but should be a much bigger factor on both ends of the court this year.
Circle the date: January 26 vs. West High. The Little Hawks split a pair of meetings with their cross-town rivals a year ago and host the Trojans for the second of two meetings this season in late January.
Breakdown: City High has spots to fill after losing four starters from last year’s team that finished 8-14 but has a key piece to build around with an experienced point guard in Wright.
Sutherland will look to step up in the front court after starting three games a year ago while seniors AJ Wright, Kriss Freeman, Jameer James, Amir Newell, Nolan McDonald, Bond Shymansky and Liam Venzke will all be in the mix.
Jameer James averaged 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in a reserve role last season while AJ Wright averaged 2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
With plenty of new faces in the lineup a strong start will be important for the Little Hawks who open the season with three consecutive non-conference home games against Burlington (November 28), Muscatine (December 2) and Marion (December 4).
West High
Coach: Steve Bergman (33rd season)
Assistant coaches: Ryan Lee; Mike Dodson
Last season: 12-11
Returning starters: Kareem Earl, 6-4, Sr.; Jacob Koch, 6-1, Sr.; Taveon Stevens, 6-0, Sr.; Jack McCaffery, 6-8, Jr.; JuJu Manson, 6-4, Soph.
Newcomers to watch: Mason Goering, 6-5, Soph.; Hayden Umoren, 6-3, Jr.; Canaan Barnes, 6-1, Sr.; Jack Wallace, 6-2, Jr.
Top returning scorers: Jack McCaffery 16; Jacob Koch 10.5; Kareem Earl 10.5
Top returning rebounders: Jack McCaffery 7.4; Julian Manson 6.4; Kareem Earl 4.7
Headliner: Following a solid debut season Jack McCaffery emerged as one of the state’s best players a year ago in a breakthrough sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-8 junior forward led West High with 16 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots per game last season and ranked third with 2.3 assists per game.
Keep an eye on: Senior Kareem Earl will look to bounce back from an injury-shortened junior season with a big senior year this winter. Earl averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 15 games a year ago.
Circle the date: February 6 vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy. West High hosts defending MVC Valley Division champion and 2023 state quarterfinalist Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a late-season showdown that should serve as a postseason primer for two of the best teams in Eastern Iowa.
Breakdown: After winning 13 and 12 games the past two seasons West High is seeking to rejoin the teams at the top of 4A this winter.
With all five starters from last year’s 12-11 team returning the Trojans have a roster capable of returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2020.
McCaffery and Earl lead the way but the Trojans have plenty of talent behind those team led by senior guard Jacob Koch.
Koch averaged 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season and led West High with 49 made 3-pointers while shooting a team-high 41 percent from 3-point range.
Senior point guard TaeVeon Stevens averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last year while sophomore Julian Manson returns after starting 23 games as a freshman.
Manson averaged 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and led the Trojans with 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Liberty High
Coach: Ryan Kelly (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Luke Posivio; Seth Schroeder
Last season: 8-14
Returning starters: Gage Kampman, 6-9, Sr.; Trey Hughes, 6-3, Sr.; Shea Sanders, 6-5, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Maddoc Coapstick, 5-9, Jr.; Cooper Webb, 6-7, Sr.; Cael Schramm, 6-7, Sr.
Newcomers to watch: Collin Decker, 6-3., Jr.; Stevie Cain, 6-2, Sr.; Jake Stapleton, 6-2, Soph.; Jerimiah Washpun, 5-9, Fr.; Brady Randall, 6-4, Fr.
Top returning scorers: Trey Hughes 11.5; Gage Kampman 7.1; Maddoc Coapstick 4.5
Top returning rebounders: Gage Kampman 7; Trey Hughes 3.9; Shea Sanders 3.3
Headliner: Senior guard Trey Hughes is coming off the best season of his career when he ranked second on the team with 11.5 points to go with 3.9 rebounds per game last season. The 6-foot-3 Hughes made 57 3-pointers last season in a breakthrough junior season and shot a team-best 41 percent from beyond the arc.
Keep an eye on: Senior post Gage Kampman will look to build on a junior season in which he emerged as a major presence on both ends of the court of the Lightning. The 6-foot-9 Kampman averaged 7.1 points, 7 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game last season while shooting 52 percent from the field.
Circle the date: December 10 vs. West High. Cross-town rivals Liberty High and West High will meet on a Sunday at Xtream Arena in Coralville as the Lightning seek to snap a two-game losing streak to the Trojans after West High swept the season series a year ago.
Breakdown: The Lightning return three starters from a squad that won eight games last season but must replace its top scorer in departed senior Da’Shon Fisher.
Hughes and Kampman give Liberty High a pair of experienced players to build around while 6-foot-5 senior Shea Sanders also returns with starting experience.
Sanders averaged 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while starting nine games a year ago.
Seniors Cooper Webb and Cael Schramm should both provide experience and size in the front court.
The 6-foot-7 Webb averaged 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds last season and the 6-foot-7 Schramm averaged 2.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Junior point guard Maddoc Coapstick averaged 4.5 points and .9 assists per game a year ago.
Clear Creek Amana
Coach: Brandon Clubb (7th season)
Assistant coaches: Mark Stern; Carol Russell; Chuck Wolfe
Last season: 5-17
Returning starters: Andrew Rotzoll, 6-2, Jr.; Brock Hilsman, 6-0, Jr.; Haiden Hardy, 6-1, Sr.; Cale Berry, 6-2, Jr.; Brody Clubb, 6-4, Jr.
Other returning letterwinners: Owen Rosenberg, 6-1, Jr.; Jack Hagen, 6-3, Sr.; Ethan Vice, 6-0, Soph.
Top returning scorers: Haiden Hardy 12.6; Andrew Rotzoll 11.8; Brody Clubb 9.9
Top returning rebounders: Brody Clubb 5.7; Haiden Hardy 5.1; Cale Berry 4.1
Headliner: Senior guard Haiden Hardy provided a major boost after entering the Clear Creek Amana lineup midway through last season. The 6-foot-1 Hardy averaged a team-high 12.6 points, 5.1 rebounds 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 14 games last season.
Keep an eye on: Junior guard Andrew Rotzoll will look to build on a solid sophomore season in which he ranked second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game. The 6-foot-2 Rotzoll led Clear Creek Amana with 55 3-pointers and shot 43 percent from 3-point range while averaging 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Circle the date: December 12 vs. Solon. After opening the season with back-to-back games against 4A teams the Clippers get a test at home from a Solon squad that won 18 games and finished runner-up in the WAMAC East Division standings last season.
Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana should be in the running for most improved teams in the state this season with all five starters returning from last season’s five-win team.
The Clippers were young last season with four sophomores and a freshman in the rotation and should benefit from that experience this season.
Juniors Brock Hilsman, Cale Berry and Brody Clubb join Rotzoll and Hardy as returning starters while sophomore Ethan Vice saw valuable action a year ago as a freshman.
Hilsman averaged 7.8 points, 3 rebounds and a team-high 3 assists per game last year and Berry averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Vice averaged 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game off the bench and head coach Brandon Clubb expects senior Jack Hagan and junior Owen Rosenberg to be in the mix for playing time.
Solon
Coach: Jared Galpin (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Matt Messenger; Bubba Knight; Miguel Villagrana; Lee Cusick; John Harris
Last season: 18-6
Returning starters: Jake Benzing, 6-4, Sr.; Vince Steinbrech, 6-2, Sr.; Gehrig Turner, 6-1, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Rylen Stiegelmeyer, 6-1, Sr.; Austin Knight, 6-2, Sr.; Will Cusick, 6-2, Sr.
Top returning scorers: Jake Benzing 17.7; Gehrig Turner 9.5; Vince Steinbrech 9.4
Top returning rebounders: Jake Benzing 5.7; Vince Steinbrech 4.6; Gehrig Turner 3.4
Headliner: Senior guard Jake Benzing emerged as one of the top players in Class 3A last season earning second-team all-state honors and was a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC West Division pick. The 6-foot-3 Benzing averaged a team-high 17.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season while shooting 52 percent from the field including 46 percent (47-of-102) from 3-point range.
Keep an eye on: Senior Vince Steinbrech emerged as a pivotal scoring option for the Spartans last season averaging 9.4 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. A physical guard, Steinbrech is at his best going to the basket and led Solon with 69 made free throws last season shooting 80 percent from the line.
Circle the date: January 16 vs. Mount Vernon. Solon hosts WAMAC rival Mount Vernon in the first of two regular season games between the two teams that will take place in a span of 18 days. The Spartans have won four straight in the series after downing Mount Vernon twice last season by a combined total of 46 points.
Breakdown: Solon is seeking a breakthrough after a successful three-year run that has produced a 54-19 record and three consecutive substate title game appearances.
The Spartans have reason to expect another deep postseason run this season with three starters returning from a team that went 18-6 and fell to Newton in the substate title game last February.
Benzing and Steinbrech lead the way with senior Gehrig Turner also returning after averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season.
Senior guard Rylen Stiegelmeyer gives the Spartans a knock down shooter from the perimeter, after shooting 45 percent from 3-point range while knocking down 35 3-pointers and averaging 7.7 points per game last season.
Look for seniors Austin Knight and Will Cusick to work in the rotation this year after seeing limited action last season.
Regina
Coach: Paul Rundquist (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Gordon Rundquist; Dylan Klysma; Steven Christopherson
Last season: 9-13
Returning starters: Drew Streb, 6-2, Sr.; Michael Martin, 6-2, Sr.; Eddie Petersen, 6-0, Sr.; John Devery, 6-4, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Connor Nicpon, 5-11, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Lucas Schechinger, Jr.; Noah Clark, 6-1, Jr.; Tate Lynch, 6-0, Jr.; Lincoln Dardis, 5-10, Jr.; Andrew Greve, 5-10, Soph.; Tate Wallace, 6-2, Fr.; Will Litton, 6-0, Fr.
Top returning scorers: Drew Streb 13.4; Michael Martin 12.6; Eddie Petersen 9.5
Top returning rebounders: John Devery 8.1; Drew Streb 7.3; Eddie Petersen 4.2
Headliner: Senior forward Drew Streb is coming of a strong junior season in which he earned first-team all-RVC South Division honors. Streb led Regina with 13.4 points and was second on the team with 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 51 percent from the floor.
Keep an eye on: Senior guard Michael Martin will look to build on a strong junior year in which he ranked second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game. The 6-foot-2 Martin added 3.4 rebounds and .8 assists per game last season and led the Regals with 41 3-pointers.
Circle the date: January 26 vs. West Branch. Regina hosts the Bears in the second regular season meeting between the two long-time rivals. The two teams split a pair of games a year ago with Regina winning 59-52 in Iowa City.
Breakdown: A new era begins at Regina with long-time Mount Pleasant head coach and former West High assistant Paul Rundquist taking over the program.
Rundquist has an experienced roster in his first season leading the Regina program with four starters returning from a team that went 9-13 a year ago.
Regina returns its top two scorers from last season in Streb and Martin and seniors Eddie Petersen and John Devery are both back with starting experience.
Devery was excellent last season averaging 7.6 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game while Petersen ranked third on the team with 9.5 points per game and led the Regals with 3.4 assists per contest.
Junior Connor Nicpon also returns after seeing action the past two seasons and averaged 3.6 points while coming off the bench last year.
West Branch
Coach: Jason Kern (6th season)
Assistant coaches: Kaleb Duwa; Cooper Kabela; Grant Meth
Last season: 12-11
Returning starters: Holden Arnaman, 6-2, Sr.; Reese Trepanier, 6-1, Sr.
Other returning letterwinners: Cameron Gingerich, 6-0, Sr.; Mike Montgomery, 6-4, Soph.; Jayden Harris, 5-10, Soph.; Trenton Schutte, 6-3, Sr.; Cole Crosthwaite, 6-1, Jr.; Nate Hills, 6-2, Jr.
Newcomers to watch: Brennen Dale, 6-0, Soph.
Top returning scorers: Holden Arnaman 21.8; Reese Trepanier 16.7; Cole Crosthewaite 1.9
Top returning rebounders: Reese Trepanier 10.2; Holden Arnaman 3.3; Cameron Gingerich 1.7
Headliner: Senior point guard Holden Arnaman is one of the best lead guards in the state and coming off a stellar junior season in which he earned 2A all-state honors. A Minnesota State commit, Arnaman averaged a team-high 21.8 points and 5.7 assists per game last season and set single-season program records for assists (132) and 3-pointers (71).
Keep an eye on: Senior Reese Trapanier solidified himself as an all-conference player and a double-double machine during an impressive junior season in which he averaged a double-double with 16.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot Trepanier had 13 double-doubles in 23 games last season while setting a single-season program record with 235 rebounds.
Circle the date: December 1 vs. Monticello. The Bears get a big test right out of the gate as they host 2023 2A state qualifier Monticello in an early-season River Valley Conference cross divisional contest. Monticello won last year’s meeting 65-52 and has won the last nine meetings with West Branch.
Breakdown: West Branch will look to build on a 12-11 season from last year that featured a trip to the 2A district semifinals.
The Bears have an excellent 1-2 punch in Arnaman and Trepanier but will be looking for production from a group of newcomers behind those two returning seniors.
Junior Cole Crosthwaite will look to take a big step forward after averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomores Michael Montgomery, Jayden Harris and Brennen Dale will look to provide a boost along with seniors Cameron Gingerich and Trenton Schutte and junior Nate Hills.
Montgomery averaged 1.9 points and 1 rebound per game last season and Gingerich averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
