High School Preseason Top 10: Class 3A Power Rankings
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We are about 2.5 months out until high school basketball action kicks off in the state of Iowa. With that being said throughout the next two weeks I will be publishing a lot of content pertaining to Preseason Preview’s. I…
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Continue ReadingWe are about 2.5 months out until high school basketball action kicks off in the state of Iowa. With that being said throughout the next two weeks I will be publishing a lot of content pertaining to Preseason Preview’s. I will be highlighting the top teams from each class, while also shouting out some of the other programs that could make a big run this winter.
In this article specially I will be dropping our Preseason Top 10 Power Rankings for the 3A class here in Iowa. Below a specific teams perspective ranking I will name some of the factors taken into consideration that helped us place these teams, where they are.
(In this 3A class there are only 9 teams listed below to start the year. The reason being that 1 of the original Top 10 teams that I had listed was moved to a different class for this upcoming season. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for your understanding!)
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#9: West Lyon High School (17-6)
- Returning 1/5 starters; accounting for 7.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.3 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 775 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- Coming off of a season where West Lyon made a big run into the playoffs, they are going to be losing a ton of varsity minutes from players due to graduation. To combat this, they are going to have to find a new offensive system that works for the current players that are listed on the roster for this upcoming season. If they can do that, they give themselves a chance and that’s really all you need in this sport.
#8: Monticello High School (18-6)
- Retuning 3/5 starters; accounting for 33.4 PPG, 16.5 RPG, 8.4 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 310 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- Monticello finished middle of the pack a year ago but they are a program to know this season. They may play more of a 2A/3A schedule – mix but they are going to be one of the more experienced and prepared teams coming into the season and ultimately, the playoffs.
- The experience of this varsity roster and a veteran coaching staff will mean everything for the Panthers this season. They are going to be one of my teams that I think could make a huge run during the State Playoffs if some things click toward the end of their season. The only reason that they aren’t higher up to start out is because I need to see the domination on the floor before I buy into the hype.
#7: Clear Lake High School (21-3)
- Returning 3/5 starters; accounting for 29.3 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 4.9 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 460 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- Clear Lake is returning their star players from a year ago and that will fair well for them during the regular season once again. Setting this group up for a nice position going into the playoffs.
- This team sadly falls victim to the situation that they dominate their regular season and then when they get to the playoffs, the competition level is much more difficult. The Lions will need to treat every contest like it’s a playoff game and win convincingly for me this year if they want to be considered for a State Championship at the end of the season.
#6: Des Moines Christian High School (21-4)
- Returning 3/5 starters; accounting for 12.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.6 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 465 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- Even though Des Moines Christian will bring back 3 starters from last season, they will still need to find offensive production in some form throughout the year.
- I have so many questions for this program so all I can hope is that they take it one game at a time and figuring things out as the season goes on. If they do that, play THEIR game, and work off of the foundation that their team set in place last season, then they are going to have a fair shot to get back to the State Playoffs at the end of the year.
#5: Wahlert Catholic High School (18-7)
- Returning 3/5 starters; accounting for 27.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 7.7 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 415 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- The group of players that is returning for Wahlert Catholic this winter is one of experience and skill. Last season they were a high assist, high turnover type team coming down the floor. Meaning that they are always willing to pass. Something you like to see as long as it’s not to a fault.
- The main concern I have this season is their production. They will need to find a good amount of shots from some other players this year and I’m not exactly sure who that will be just yet. If they can find consistent production early on this season, they are going to be a team to watch out for once the New Year gets here.
#4: Mount Vernon High School (16-8)
- Returning 3/5 starters; accounting for 25.6 PPG, 12 RPG, 4.5 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 250 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- This team maybe losing 2 of its starters from last season but in the process they are receiving a transfer from Xavier high school that could possibly take this group all the way to the State Playoffs in Sydney Huber Sydney Huber 6'0" | SG Mount Vernon | 2025 State IA . Transferring from a privet school to a public school may cause Huber to have to sit to start the year but no matter what, she is going to matter once playoff time comes around.
- There are two glaring stats that this program recorded a year ago. The first stat being that they only let opponents average 39 PPG against them. Showing out to be one of the better defenses in the 3A class last season. The second stat is their Assist-To-Turnover Ration. Last year they averaged 12 APG and 16 TPO, something that needs to be cleaned up this season if they want to make a convincing state run.
#3. Benton Community High School (23-3)
- Returning 4/5 starters; accounting for 27.7 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.3 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 440 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- Benton Community is one of the only team back in our Top 10 that is returning 4 out of 5 starters this season, after making a state appearance last year.
- For this group to keep this #3 spot and be successful this winter, they are going to have to show me who is going to step up to take the offensive work load. The starters they lost attempted 440 shots last season by herself. Meaning this season, others are going to need to step up and be their offensive identity, if they want to keep the momentum that they set in motion a year ago.
#2. Estherville Lincoln Central High School (23-2)
- Returning 3/5 starters; accounting for 33.8 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 9.9 APG.
- Will need to make up for losing 360 varsity shot attempts from a year ago, solely speaking about their starting lineup.
- ELC is going to find themselves in the same situation this season, as they did last season. They are going to have a very successful year during the regular season and jog into the State Playoff. After that is when things get tougher. This team relies on their star Haylee Stokes Haylee Stokes 5'6" | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2025 State IA and for good reason but this season, if they want to win a State Title, they will need to have a handful of others produce consistently along side her.
- During the regular season it’s all about this team preparing everyone around Stokes. We all know how she is going to preform on the big stage but like I mentioned above, they won’t have a shot at the title without other players production and that will be the biggest key to their overall season. Last season during their run, their state game relied too much on Stokes making plays. I think that could change this season but we will have to wait and see.
#1: Solon High School (23-3)
- Returning 4/5 starters; accounting for 44.6 PPG, 14 RPG, 11.6 APG.
- A team that averaged a +16.9 PPG margin of victory last season, will look to do the same this winter, coming in as the favorites to win the 3A State Championship in my opinion.
- Having an unquestionable leader on the floor is a must if you want to bring home a title and I think that Callie Levin Callie Levin 5'10" | PG Solon | 2024 State IA is going to show everyone this season, that she is that leader. Last season when I had the chance of watching this Solon team at the State Tournament it was interesting to see who stepped up in the biggest of moments in their season.
- This upcoming roster of the Spartans will be one of only two teams in the Top 10 that will have 4/5 starters returning from a year ago. Giving them a distinct advantage of experience this go around. Giving everyone more reason to believe that this team is the one to watch for the Ship in 3A this winter.