5A SIC boys basketball preview: Preseason predictions and rankings in a loaded league
Owyhee rolled through the Idaho boys basketball landscape last season. But don’t call it a surprise. And don’t expect the Storm to let up anytime soon.
Owyhee returns loaded for another title run after making history a year ago. It closed the season on a 20-game winning streak to become the first 5A basketball team to win a state championship in its first season since the Lake City girls in 1995.
So what’s left for an encore? The Storm start the season as the unanimous favorite in the 5A SIC, a feat they didn’t accomplish last year. But that doesn’t mean repeating will be easy. The Treasure Valley remains littered with potential obstacles.
We surveyed every coach in the league to put together the following rankings, players to watch and storylines for the winter.
1. OWYHEE STORM
Last season: 24-3, 15-1 5A SIC
Coach: Andy Harrington, second season
Players to watch: Liam Campbell, jr., G; Jackson Rasmussen, so., G; Titus Bailey, sr., G; Preston Sherburne, sr., G
Owyhee lost 5A All-Idaho Player of the Year Jack Payne, who is at Colorado State. But he was the only senior who regularly played as the Storm swept the district and state titles with a young and inexperienced roster.
The second-year program returns a bounty of talent as the unanimous favorite in the 5A SIC. Campbell (17.3 ppg, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists) earned first-team All-Idaho honors and has offers from a host of Division I programs. Jackson (9.3 ppg, 5.4 rebounds) provides a matchup nightmare and is another future Division I player with his 6-7 frame. And role players like Barrett Fernandez (7.2 ppg), Bailey (7.1 ppg) and Sherburne (3.9 ppg, 4.4 rebounds) are poised to step into larger roles.
Owyhee’s lone weakness a year ago was the lack of a true point guard. But Jayce Allen (6.6 ppg, 2.5 assists) transferred from Skyview to fill that role. Replacing all of Payne’s intangibles remains a challenge, but the Storm have more than enough talent and experience to chase another banner.
2. EAGLE MUSTANGS
Last season: 20-6, 14-2 5A SIC
Coach: Cody Pickett, third season
Players to watch: Landon White, sr., F; Sawyr Hansen, sr., F; Hudson Van Alfen, jr., G; Russell Gibson, jr., PG
The reigning conference champs lost two four-year varsity players to graduation, including the league player of the year. But the Mustangs still bring back three starters from a 20-win team, and they received two key reinforcements to challenge atop the SIC.
White (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rebounds) remains one of the league’s top weapons and a key piece to build around, and Sawyr Hansen (5.2 ppg) joins the team from Middleton. But the key addition comes with the return of Gibson, who averaged 17.8 points per game and made Utah’s 3A all-state third team last year.
Pickett said it may take time to find the right chemistry early in the season as the Mustangs work in the new faces. But after two seasons with Eagle’s boys basketball program, he has laid a foundation that should ease the transition.
3. MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Last season: 15-11, 10-6 5A SIC
Coach: Jon Nettleton, 18th season
Players to watch: Dyson Judd, sr., W; Owen McBride, jr., G/PG; Camden Hyde, sr., W/P; Logan Haustveit, fr., PG
The offseason dealt the Mavericks a blow as second-team All-Idaho wing Nate Ojukwu (13.0 ppg, 6.5 rebounds) transferred to a prep school in Florida for his senior year. But the Mavericks still return plenty of weapons to contend for another state tournament berth.
Judd (5.9 ppg) remains the only returning starter. But Hyde (6.1 ppg) delivered loads of big shots off the bench at district and state, and he moves into a starring role this season.
Like any Nettleton team, defense remains the name of the game. That will be doubly important this year as the Mavericks’ only have one player standing over 6-foot-5.
4. MERIDIAN WARRIORS
Last season: 18-11, 13-3 5A SIC
Coach: Jeff Sanor, sixth season
Players to watch: Nate Reynolds, sr., PF; Josh Christensen, sr., PG; TJ Sanor, so., SG
The Warriors bring back only one starter, Max Gwilliam (4.5 ppg). But after three straight state tournament appearances, Meridian has proved it doesn’t rebuild. It reloads.
Reynolds, Meridian’s star linebacker, provides an imposing defensive presence inside that ought to give opponents second thoughts about driving into the lane. The Warriors will need to replace their top two scorers. But they field a pair of ready options in Sanor (5.4 ppg), a long, athletic shooter, and Christensen, who is finally eligible after sitting out a season after transferring.
A deep football playoff run and loads of new faces may lead to some early hiccups. But expect Meridian to contend by February.
5. TIMBERLINE WOLVES
Last season: 15-11, 9-7 5A SIC
Coach: Travis Noble, fifth season
Players to watch: Alex Ko, so., PG/G; AJ LaBeau, sr., C; Blake Kiesau, sr., PG
The addition of a shot clock potentially spelled trouble for the Wolves, a methodical team that posted 5A’s best defense last season and its second best in 2020-21. But Timberline erupted for 80 points in its season opener, showcasing a new side.
The Wolves will need to continue to evolve offensively to challenge for a spot at state, Noble said. He noted the Wolves shooting improved all summer. But Timberline will need to prove that 80-point outburst is not an outlier.
The Wolves return three starters to aid that effort, including LaBeau (7.4 ppg, 6.2 rebounds), a 7-footer committed to a preferred walk-on offer from Washington State. But look for Ko to break out after cutting his teeth as a freshman last year.
6. CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Last season: 16-11, 11-5 5A SIC
Coach: Josh Aipperspach, ninth season
Players to watch: Hayden Fletcher, sr., PG; Andrew Deedon, sr., SG; Peyton Knudson, so., SG/PG
The Patriots made a Cinderella run to the state finals last season, entering as the No. 8 seed before making it all the way to championship Saturday. Centennial hits the reset button with just one returning starter back. But expect a similar bunch loaded with shooters and players who love to attack the basket, Aipperspach said.
Fletcher (6.5 ppg, 1.5 assists) returns to run the point as a four-year varsity member. He’ll serve as the Patriots’ engine and leader. But look for pure shooters like Deedon (4.2 ppg) and Knudson (3.3 ppg) to step into larger roles.
7. ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Last season: 8-16, 6-10 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Sweaney, first season
Players to watch: Tegan Sweaney, sr., SG; Jack Andrews, sr., PG; Machaon Savedra, so., G
The Grizzlies didn’t make it to state last year, snapping a nine-year run of trips to the Idaho Center, the then-longest active streak at the 5A level. Rocky Mountain enters a new era with Brian Sweaney taking over the program as its third coach in the past three seasons.
He brings back two starters in Tegan Sweaney (11.1 ppg, 5.2 rebounds) and Andrews (9.1 ppg), Rocky Mountain’s top two scorers a year. That continuity will help a Grizzlies squad that struggled to score and posted its first sub-.500 record since 2011-12. Brian Sweaney said better shooting and an improved offense remain two priorities entering the season.
8. CAPITAL EAGLES
Last season: 2-19, 1-15 5A SIC
Coach: Blas Telleria Jr., second season
Players to watch: Dax Walton, sr., SG; Ibrahim Talaso, jr., W; David McNamara, so., PG; Mekhi Dorrell, jr., W
The Eagles took their lumps with a young roster last year and have posted five straight losing seasons. But Capital brings back all five starters and nine varsity players as it seeks to reestablish itself as a contender.
The Eagles also received reinforcements with Walton joining the team. Telleria described the 6-4 guard as one of the league’s best pure shooters. He’ll team with Talaso (6.8 ppg, 3.9 rebounds) and McNamara (4.1 ppg, 2.0 assists) to form a potent backcourt. But Telleria said Capital will need to reestablish winning habits.
9. BOISE BRAVE
Last season: 2-19, 2-15 5A SIC
Coach: Manny Varela, eighth season
Players to watch: Jude Porter, sr., W; Jake Thompson, sr., G; Gus Arriola, jr., G; Braiden Rhodes, sr., W
The Brave scuffled to a two-win season last year, the worst in Varela’s tenure. But Boise returns eight players and three starters from that young team. Now it looks to capitalize on all that hard-earned experience and lessons with a veteran lineup.
Thompson (11.6 ppg, 5.4 rebounds) and Porter (11.6 ppg) headline the deep group, and Varela said Boise has developed more weapons around them. Size remains in short supply, though. So Varela said it will have to outwork its opponents to climb back into contention.
10. MIDDLETON VIKINGS
Last season: 25-3, 14-0 4A SIC
Coach: Nate Hartman, second season
Players to watch: Talmage Stucki, sr., PG; Micah Mendiola, sr., G; Sawyer Heck, sr., G
The Vikings bring quite the pedigree with them as they join the 5A classification. They’ve won two district titles in the past three years, and they’ve made the 4A state tournament four years in a row while bringing home a trophy three years in a row.
But they bring back only one starter. Stucki (10.9 ppg, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assist) is quite the returner to build around. He earned first-team 4A SIC honors, can score on all three levels and has a college future. But a young and athletic group will have to grow up quickly around him.
11. KUNA KAVEMEN
Last season: 7-15, 4-12 5A SIC
Coach: Pete Longgood, seventh season
Players to watch: Bridger Allen, sr., G; Gannon Ysais, so., G; Connor Toolson, sr., F
Kuna has yet to find its stride since returning to 5A, going 11-25 (.306) the past two seasons. But Longgood said the Kavemen’s defense continues to improve, and a fast, aggressive and deep lineup has Kuna eyeing a move up the standings.
Allen (6.5 ppg) and Gus Austin (2.6 ppg) are the only returning starters. Longgood said he has five options capable of leading the team in scoring any night. But rebounding on both ends of the court will remain key as Kuna fields one of the 5A SIC’s smallest lineups.
12. BORAH LIONS
Last season: 6-15, 6-11 5A SIC
Coach: Jeremy Dennis, seventh season
Players to watch: Lance Anderson, sr., G; Ryan Willoughby, sr., G; Taison Alford, sr., G
The perennial power finds itself in unfamiliar territory coming off back-to-back losing seasons and at the bottom of the preseason rankings. But the Lions return three starters as they try to climb back into contention.
Willoughby (9.5 ppg) and Anderson (8.9 ppg, 2.2 assists) were Borah’s top two scorers last year. That experience should boost Borah’s traditional hard-nosed defense. But Dennis said he’s looking for more of the newcomers to play with a chip on their shoulder as they get up to varsity speed.
13. NAMPA BULLDOGS
Last season: 10-14, 7-7 5A SIC
Coach: Brad Adolfson, second season
Players to watch: Gabe Navarro, sr., G; Daniel Almaraz, sr., F; Finau Raass, jr., G; Ryan Radford, jr., F
After four seasons at the 4A level and zero trips to state, Nampa returns to the 5A ranks, where it went 28-63 (.308) from 2014-15 to 2016-17. The Bulldogs bring back two starters. But with Navarro (9.5 ppg, 2.2 assists) recovering from a broken collarbone during football season, they will lean on Almaraz (6.7 ppg, 4.8 rebounds) and his versatility early.
Adolfson said Nampa spent the summer preparing for the physical toll extracted at the 5A level. He added the Bulldogs will hang their hat on defense again, trying to turn it into easy points going the other way. He also said they are a better rebounding team than at this point last year.
