Basketballs have been inflated, shoes have been laced up, and official practices have started. This season will bring a lot more balance into Class A, but may leave some unknowns after the departure of a very strong 2021 class. No worries, though. We will highlight all 31 Class A boys basketball teams throughout this Preseason Previews series and give you some information on every team, going 8 at a time in alphabetical order.
Kearney Bearcats
Last year's record: 13-9
Key Departures: Jack Johnson, Easton Bruce, Preston Pearson
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 44.5%
The Bearcats have maybe the best home-court advantage in Class A, and they'll look to give the home crowd something to cheer for this year. 2022 Will Vanderbeek will be patrolling the paint and protecting the rim from any layup attempts. 2022 Jack Mundorf has the confidence and shooting ability to have defenses not help too far off of him. 2024 Karter Lee is a feisty defender with quick hands to poke away crossovers. He also has a quick release on his jumpshot. The Bearcats are always a disciplined, unselfish, well-coached team that competes every year.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Jack Mundorf (Senior)
Karter Lee (Sophomore)
Parker Wise (Senior)
Jack Dahlgren (Junior)
Will Vanderbeek (Senior)
Lincoln East Spartans
Last year's record: 10-13
Key Departures: Carter Glenn, Quinton Adams, Oliver Edwards, Trevor Henrickson
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 37.5%
Lincoln East looks to build off the momentum they created with a district championship and a state playoff appearance last year. 2022 Brayden McPhail is a high-IQ lefty with a strong handle on the ball. The Spartans have a good duo of scoring guards who should make a name for themselves this season with 2023 Carter Tempelmeyer and 2024 Carter Mick. Add 2023 Jared Townsley into the mix and Lincoln East is set up well for shooting. 2023 Malachi Coleman is a pure athlete who blew up on the football field this year for the Spartans. 2022 Joe Marfisi is a tough defender who can attack the rim well. The Spartans can be sneaky good this year, and teams should not overlook them.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Brayden McPhail (Senior)
Isaac Mickle (Senior)
Joe Marfisi (Senior)
Malachi Coleman (Junior)
Zac Van Genderen (Senior)
Lincoln High Links
Last year's record: 1-18
Key Departures: Livon Ramsey, Gatran Gatnoor, JR Gatnoor, Carson Hillhouse, Isaac Montgomery
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 35.9%
The Links are expected to be a lot better this year than they were last year. They have a ton of options in the post, as they have 2023 Justin Bollis, 2023 Collin Nick, and 2023 Bryson Faines. 2023 Andrew Gaines will give them some good ball pressure and cause opposing ball handlers problems. 2023 Marcellus McCulley can attack the rim well and score in bunches. The loss of Lincoln Northeast transfer Gatran Gatnoor hurts, but the Links are still on the right path to a lot of improvement this year.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Marcellus McCulley (Junior)
Andrew Gaines (Junior)
Antonio Murrillo (Senior)
Collin Nick (Junior)
Justin Bollis (Junior)
Lincoln Northeast Rockets
Last year's record: 14-7
Key Departures: Pierce Bazil, Connor Renard, Zach Moerer
Key Additions: Gatran Gatnoor
Returning Production: 30.5%
The Rockets may have graduated Pierce Bazil, but the Bazil name isn't quite done at Northeast yet. 2023 Porter Bazil holds a D1 offer from Cal Poly. He's a tall, lengthy forward who can shoot well from around the perimeter. 2022 Zander Beard is one of the quickest guards in Class A, and can get by almost any defender you put in front of him. 2022 Carlos Valdez has really improved his game over the summer and will be a good threat for the Rockets. Northeast also gains a good scoring threat with Lincoln High transfer 2022 Gatran Gatnoor, who averaged 10.6 points per game for Lincoln High last year.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Zander Beard (Senior)
Jalen Lang (Junior)
Christan Winn (Junior)
Carlos Valdez (Senior)
Porter Bazil (Junior)
Lincoln North Star Navigators
Last year's record: 12-10
Key Departures: Kwat Abdelkarim, Josh Brown, Cole Coffey, DJ McGarvie, Jake Sieip
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 35.2%
Northstar is full of young talent, as they aren’t projected to have any Seniors in their starting lineup. They have a very good starting lineup with a good mix of size, quickness, and versatility. 2024 Jake Hilkemann was a standout all summer, as he can play just about anywhere on the court. If 2023 Brennon Clemmons Jr. can stay healthy, and their bench can keep things under control when starters aren’t in, Northstar could be looking at a state tournament appearance this season.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Kajuan D'Sidney (Sophomore)
KG Gatwech (Sophomore)
Jake Hilkemann (Sophomore)
Brennon Clemmons Jr. (Junior)
Antallah Sandlin'el (Junior)
Lincoln Pius X Thunderbolts
Last year's record: 18-4
Key Departures: Sam Hoiberg, Luke Taubenheim, Thomas Linderman, Charlie Hoiberg, Blake Daberkow
Key Additions: Jared Bohrer
Returning Production: 30.6%
The Thunderbolts have plenty of height and skill this year, headlined by brothers Sam and Jack Hastreiter, who will be heading to rivals North Dakota State and South Dakota State, respectively, after this year. 2022 Brady Christiansen had a tremendous summer, and he will be heading to D2 Washburn after this year. They add in a huge transfer with sharp-shooting senior Jared Bohrer, who can really handle the ball well and has a high basketball IQ. They round out their starting 5 with 2023 Jackson Kessler, an undersized but bouncy guard with some good shooting ability. 2024 Treyson Anderson has the potential to be one of the best post players in the future, and he will start that campaign with some good minutes this year. Lincoln Pius is the favorite to win the HAC for the 4th year in a row.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Jackson Kessler (Junior)
Jared Bohrer (Senior)
Sam Hastreiter (Senior)
Jack Hastreiter (Senior)
Brady Christiansen (Senior)
Lincoln Southeast Knights
Last year's record: 13-8
Key Departures: Ajantae Hogan, David Yagub, Corey Krueger, Sam Haire, McGinness Schnieder, Barrett France, Derek Branch, Taveon Thompson
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 23.5%
The Knights lose a large number of seniors from last year, but they also return some important pieces. 2024 Taye Moore is a very skilled guard who can get downhill in a hurry and finish well around the rim. 2022 Jake Appleget is a terrific athlete who will be heading to Nebraska for football after this year. Southeast has a good 2023 post duo in Daniel Schaefer and Wade Voss. They also bring in a strong 2025 class with some quick, shifty guards that could work their way up onto the varsity team this year.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Taye Moore (Sophomore)
Carsen Lauterbach (Senior)
Jake Appleget (Senior)
Daniel Schaefer (Junior)
Wade Voss (Junior)
Lincoln Southwest Silverhawks
Last year's record: 9-11
Key Departures: Jared Bohrer, Tyler Selletin, Jackson Decker
Key Additions: Chuck Love
Returning Production: 54.1%
Southwest has been a team on the rise the past 2 years, as they were slowed by key injuries last year. They have a well-rounded team with good guards (Rylan Smith/Grant Mielak/Ben Hunzeker/Lukas Helms/Chuck Love), good forwards (Aidan Welch/Jamison Focht/Dillon Reidmiller), a good team culture, good coaching, and a hunger to win. They play well together and should be one of the top teams in the HAC this year
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Rylan Smith (Junior)
Grant Mielak (Senior)
Ben Hunzeker (Senior)
Aidan Welch (Junior)
Dillion Reidmiller (Senior)