Matt Levins- The Hawk Eye / Photo credit- Various including John Gaines Photography & Matt Levins
The 2025-26 high school boys basketball season far exceeded expectations, turning into one of the most competitive from start to finish.
Notre Dame was the class of the SEI Super Conference and punched its ticket to the Class 1A state tournament for the first time in 17 years behind all-state player Shay Stephens.
Keokuk made plenty of noise on its way to winning the Southeast Conference behind 6-foot-10 Division I prospect Jaxon Clark, who led the Chiefs to a substate final in head coach Anthony Potratz’s first season at the helm.
Burlington was a wildly entertaining team with its high-paced offense, while Mediapolis, Holy Trinity, Central Lee and Mount Pleasant provided plenty of memorable moments.
On the Illinois side of the river, West Hancock and Illini West took their rivalry to new heights in three epic battles.
All of that balance and talent is reflected in the All-Hawk Eye team.
Jaxon Clark, sr., Keokuk
Clark, a 6-foot-10 post player, earned Class 3A Player of the Year honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writer Association. He averaged 28.3 points, 17.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2 blocks and shot 67.2 percent from the field. He helped the Chiefs to a 19-5 record and a berth in a substate final before falling to Pella. The Chiefs were 10-0 in the Southeast Conference.
Kobe Edmunds, jr., Burlington
A 5-11 guard, Edmunds helped the Grayhounds become a formidable force in the running game. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals and shot 36.9 percent from the field. He helped BHS to a 12-10 record, including 8-2 in the Southeast Conference, good for second place.
Ayden Figuereo, sr., West Burlington
Figuereo, a 6-5 swing player, was a nightmare for opposing teams with his quickness and leaping ability. He helped the Falcons to a 13-9 record, including 8-6 in the SEI Super Conference South Division. He averaged 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game and shot 49.2 percent from the field.
Hunter Froman, jr., West Hancock
A power forward, Froman was the perfect complement to Cooper Knowles. He helped the Titans to a regional championship with a 25-7 record. He averaged 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game and shot 47.7 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from 3-point range and 75.4 percent from the free-throw line. He was a Class 2A second team all-state selection by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
Max Griffin, sr., Mediapolis
Griffin, a 6-3 guard, was the Bulldogs’ top scorer, averaging 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. He helped the Bulldogs to a 15-7 record, including 11-3 and a second-place finish in the South Division.
Nolan Guzman, sr., Fort Madison
A 6-3 guard, Guzman could score with the best of them. He proved that by scoring a school single-game record 51 points against Keokuk. He averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks and shot 43.7 percent from the field.
Griffin Kies, jr., Notre Dame
A 6-1 shooting guard, Kies earned third team all-state honors from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association after helping Notre Dame to the Class 1A state semifinals. He averaged 10.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks and shot 46.5 percent from the field.
Cooper Knowles, sr., West Hancock
Knowles, a 6-9 center, garnered first team all-state accolades after averaging 19.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game. He shot 56.1 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from 3-point range and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. He finished his career with 443 blocks, averaging 3.4 blocks per game.
Will Luttenegger, sr., Mediapolis
A 5-11 guard who was Griffin’s running mate, Luttenegger averaged 15.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.8 steals and shot 47.2 percent from the field.
Jett Morris,so., Burlington
Morris, a 6-foot sophomore, was the Grayhounds go-to player and Edmunds’ running mate in transition. He averaged 16.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals and shot 39.3 percent from the field.
Wes Robertson, sr., Illini West
Robertson, a 6-1 swing player, led the Chargers to the most wins in school history. Robertson averaged 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game and shot 49.2 percent from the field.
Layne Rung, sr., Holy Trinity
A 6-5 swing player, Rung was a pure scorer. He could knock down the outside shot, hit the mid-range jumper and get to the rim almost at will. He helped the Crusaders go 16-8 and reach a Class 1A district final. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.4 blocks and shot 40.5 percent from the field.
Shay Stephens, sr., Notre Dame
Stephens, a Western Illinois University recruit as a 6-5 swing player. Stephens, who played point guard most of the season, helped the Nikes to a 25-3 record and the South Division title with a 14-0 record. He averaged 24.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.1 steals and 0.5 blocks and shot 61.6 percent from the field.
Coach of the Year
Dan Kies, Notre Dame
Kies guided the Nikes to the state tournament for the first time since 2009. They won the South Division title and the Shootout championship along the way. Kies has a 200-97 record in 12 seasons with the Nikes.