Boys basketball preview: 19 must-see players in Boise, Southwest Idaho
Another Idaho high school boys basketball season just started, creating a host of opportunities for breakout candidates in Boise and Southwest Idaho.
We surveyed coaches around District Three to see which opposing players worried them the most. Below were the most common answers from the 6A to 1A classifications.
Players are listed in alphabetical order.
Dominik Betancourt, Vallivue
A second-team all-conference selection twice, the senior guard enters his fourth season on the varsity squad with the Falcons. He averaged 10 points per game last winter, but his deadly long-range shooting and knack for getting to the rim make him a threat for 20 or more points night in and night out. “Dom is a sniper and extremely quick,” Columbia coach Blaine Wright said. “He will give us fits with his ability to shoot, but also drive and dish.”
Emmanuel Chabuka, Kuna
The 6-foot-6 junior wing always posed a threat in the paint with his size, strength and hops, either bullying his way to the basket or leaping over the defense. But he added an outside threat to his arsenal last season, leading the Kavemen with 10.5 points per game while still shooting 55% from the floor. “This kid has been a quiet problem when playing Kuna,” Capital coach Blas Telleria said. “I think he becomes a significantly louder problem this year.”
Quincey Clay, Capital
The point guard made quite a first impression last season as a freshman, averaging 12.7 points and 2.9 assists per game while playing with unmatched confidence. His athleticism makes him a highlight reel waiting to happen in football, basketball and track. But his vision and IQ also keep Capital’s high-octane offense on pace. “(He) is an elite scorer who can score from deep and against any defender,” Boise coach Manny Varela said.
Nathan Compas, Parma
A second-team all-state selection in soccer, the senior point guard poses quite a threat on the hardwood, too. The senior point guard averaged 21.2 points last winter for a spot on the 4A SRV’s all-conference first team. But he’s no one-trick pony, regularly taking on tough defensive assignments and cleaning up the glass on both ends. “Nathan is a player who can score the ball from anywhere on the court,” Melba coach David Lenz said. “He puts a lot of pressure on a defense to know where he is at all times.”
Tye Cornwall, Middleton
The reigning 5A SIC Player of the Year and first-team all-state selection returns for his third season in the Vikings’ starting lineup. He remains one of the state’s most dangerous weapons all over the floor, putting up a well-rounded stat line of 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals last season to earn offers from Lewis-Clark State and Eastern Oregon. “You better have a hand in his face and help on his drive, or he will light you up,” Caldwell coach Rick Tigges said.
Gabe Eddins, Centennial
Opponents know what’s coming. But they’ve yet to find a solution to the four-year starter. The senior shooting guard has led the 6A SIC in scoring each of the past two years, averaging 20.1 points as a sophomore and 21.6 points as a junior. Those numbers made him the reigning league player of the year and a first-team all-state selection. “He is impossible to guard as he can score from anywhere,” Mountain View coach Jon Nettleton said.
Cohen Evans, New Plymouth
The 6-foot-9 center creates a force field around the paint, pushing opponents away from the basket and swatting shots into the stands. He averaged a double-double of 11.3 points and 11.7 rebounds while shooting 54% from the floor last season. His offensive skills have only improved, making him an even bigger problem. “Cohen is a big kid who makes a big impact on both ends of the floor,” Lenz said. “Defensively, he makes it hard for teams to score at the rim, and he does a good job cleaning up the boards.”
Soren Fraas, Cole Valley Christian
The 6-foot-7 weapon made an immediate impact as a freshman last year, averaging 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists for first-team all-conference honors in the 4A SRV. The long sophomore with guard skills will take on a larger role this winter, playing every position on the floor for the Chargers. “He’s an elite scorer and a matchup problem for anyone who can’t guard his length,” Fruitland coach Darren Van Hofwegen said.
Logan Haustveit, Owyhee
The four-year starter and Utah Valley signee enters the season as the Treasure Valley’s only Division I recruit (so far). The explosive point guard averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals last year to make the all-state first team for a second time. Expect those numbers to increase as he takes a larger role for the defending state champs. “It is hard to find a more competitive kid in the valley,” Telleria said. “Combine that with his speed and strength, and he is just a problem.”
Max Keller, Columbia
The 6-foot-4 junior wing brings an old-school, midrange game to the Wildcats. That keeps defenses off balance, opening the door for his long-range shooting and a path to the basket, resulting in 12.4 points and 2.8 assists as a sophomore. He’ll also mix it up in the paint, defending other teams’ best frontcourt weapon. “He’s a lefty scorer that has a great feel for the game and can hurt you in a variety of ways,” Bishop Kelly coach Andrew Ammann said.
Gabriel Gomez, Victory Charter
The sophomore guard gives the Vipers a high-IQ offensive threat who can spot the passing lanes and defensive holes before they develop. He can take over the game in the blink of an eye with his 3-point shooting and ability to get to the rim, averaging 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a freshman. “He is a relentless scorer with a high motor,” Centennial Baptist coach Trey Waggoner said. … “The sky is the limit for him as a scorer and rebounder.”
Canaan Magness, Owyhee
The Storm added another transfer expected to make an immediate impact in the offseason. The 6-foot-4 guard was a first-team all-state selection for Hamilton in Montana’s second-largest classification last season, averaging 22 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The NNU commit should continue to stuff the stat sheet for Owyhee as a dangerous shooter who can also finish at the rim.
Madix Miller, Garden Valley
The Wolverines’ unquestioned leader returns after leading the 1A classification with 5.3 assists per game last season. The senior guard and second-team all-state selection keeps Garden Valley’s offense running, but he can also take over the game himself (13.4 ppg, 5.1 rebounds). “He’s hard to match up (against) as he’s good at taking advantage of smaller defenders, but can also shoot or use quickness to beat bigger defenders,” Council coach JC Tucker said.
Collin Morris, Timberline
As a sixth man, the 6-foot-7 small forward came off the bench last season and provided the Wolves a spark, averaging 6.8 points while shooting 40% behind the 3-point line. Now the junior steps into a larger role, one that will take advantage of his size, range and ability to get to the rim. “This kid can shoot,” Telleria said. “Teams will have to find him early and often to keep him from burying you each night.”
Cooper Patterson, Mountain View
Standing at 6-foot-3, the senior forward may not look like an imposing frontcourt presence. But his strength and physical edge allow him to play much bigger, imposing his will on both ends of the floor to average 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season. He will have a hand in everything for the Mavericks this season. “He can take over a game,” Ridgevue coach Tyler Hoyt said. “He’s big, strong, physical and a matchup nightmare.”
Sam Scott, McCall-Donnelly
The senior shooting guard poses plenty of problems for defenses. But they all start with his long-range accuracy. He averaged 10 points per game last year while shooting 40% behind the arc. That efficiency forces teams to charge the 3-point line, opening passing lanes and paths to the basket. “He has a good shooting ability, controls the game at a good pace, and is steady and efficient,” Cole Valley Christian coach Leif Karlberg said.
Luke Soltau, Boise
You’ll find the senior point guard in the middle of everything for the Brave. His court vision and knack for big moments made him a second-team all-state pick last year when he averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 assists. He’ll also headline the Boise defense (1.3 steals) as its leader. “While he is a very good shooter, he also gets into the paint on two feet and puts constant pressure on the defense,” Owyhee coach Andy Harrington said.
Isaac Thacker, Boise
The lightning-quick junior guard pairs with Soltau to give Boise a claim to one of the state’s best backcourts. He remains a terror in transition, can create his own shot in a half-court setting, and isn’t afraid to guard anyone. He was Boise’s leading scorer as a sophomore (13.6 ppg) while adding 2.2 assists. “He is a quick and physical guard with great ball handling and shooting touch,” Meridian coach Jeff Sanor said. “He came on strong last year and should continue to grow a great deal this season.”
Mark Yenor, Ambrose
The senior forward enters his fourth season on the varsity squad as one of the 3A WIC’s most versatile threats. The 6-foot-6, second-team all-conference pick averaged 8.5 points, 9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game for the Archers last season, utilizing his size to dominate in the paint while also raining down 3-pointers. “Mark is another big kid who is sound offensively,” Lenz said. “He does a really good job scoring and rebounding on the inside, and can be a mismatch for a lot of teams who don’t have the size to guard him.”
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM.
