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.
Millard North Mustangs
Last year's record: 27-2
Key Departures: Hunter Sallis, Saint Thomas, Jadin Johnson, Tyler Sandoval, Collin Monie,
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 23.6%
The reigning state champions graduate one of the most talented senior classes the state has ever seen, but their streak of success isn’t done. They still have Creighton commit Jasen Green, young talent in 2024's Neal Mosser and Elijah Gaeth, on-the-rise seniors David Harmon and Nick Dolezal, and 2022 transfers Jakson Page and Devin Wilson. Blowout wins last year helped build experience for the depth for this year, which they have a good amount of. The Mustangs can expect to make a 3rd straight trip to PBA in March.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Jakson Page (Senior)
Neal Mosser (Sophomore)
David Harmon (Senior)
Nick Dolezal (Senior)
Jasen Green (Senior)
Millard South Patriots
Last year's record: 11-12
Key Departures: Jack Cooper, Michael Harding, Blake Stenger
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 55.3%
The Patriots have a good collection of talent and are capable of improving their record from last season and ending above .500. 2022 Gage Stenger, a Nebraska football commit, will run the show for the Patriots, as he can both score and distribute well. 2023 Austin Trotter was very impressive every time I saw him play in summer and fall league. 2024 Will Cooper is among the best players in his grade, and among the best shooters in the Metro. Speaking of high-level shooters, the Patriots also have 2023 Trey Moseman, a known sharpshooter who's coming off a strong summer with OSA. 2023 Lance Rucker is a strong athlete who can clean up the boards and protect the rim down low. The Patriots are looking to build off of a state playoff appearance last season.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Gage Stenger (Senior)
Brock Murtaugh (Senior)
Austin Trotter (Junior)
Will Cooper (Sophomore)
Lance Rucker (Junior)
Millard West Wildcats
Last year's record: 18-7
Key Departures: Dominic Humm, Ryan Larsen, James Conway, Evan Meyersick, Spencer Fortune, Dustin Hatch, Ben Bizal, Harrison Long
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 19.2%
Not many teams lost more production than the Wildcats, as they lose their top 5 scorers from last year, and only return 19.2% of production. They also lose 2022 Chase Hultman for the season with a torn ACL. 2023 Cole Kirschner impressed all summer long for Millard West. He can score well from the perimeter and is a good shooter. 2023 Zac Grandgennett and 2022 Avery Moore both were impact players on JV last year, and they will play some valuable minutes on the varsity squad this year. 2022 Trace Thaden, a North Dakota football commit, will give them a good post option.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
Cole Kirschner (Junior)
Zac Grandgennett (Senior)
Avery Moore (Senior)
Peyton Moore (Junior)
Trace Thaden (Senior)
Norfolk Panthers
Last year's record: 8-16
Key Departures: Kallan Herman, Isaac Heimes, Shon King, Reed Stultz, Colton Price, Daydon Taylor
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 26.1%
Norfolk has a lot of good guards, but has a noticeable lack of size, as it was difficult to determine who their post option would be. 2022 Kamari Moore is a quick guard who rebounds well. He made the jump from JV as a sophomore to varsity as a junior and took it in stride, averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds, and a little over 3 assists a game. 2022 Colby James is an under-the-radar shooter who can really light it up if given the chance. The Panthers need to fill the loss of Kallan Hermann and his 26 points a game, and they'll rely on team play to fill that void.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Kamari Moore (Senior)
Colby James (Senior)
Taelin Baumann (Senior)
Tanner Eisenhauer (Sophomore)
Jack Borgmann (Junior)
North Platte Bulldogs
Last year's record: 9-12
Key Departures: Will Coe, Luke Zimbelman, Treven Hipwell
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 72.5%
The Bulldogs finished slightly under .500 last year, but built some good experience for the future. 2023 River Johnston is one of the top players in the junior class, as he can really score the ball effectively. The Bulldogs have a trio of tough football players in 2022's Caleb Tonkinson and Kade Mohr and 2023 Caleb Kinkaid. 2022 Ryan Kaminski suffered an injury during a football game this season, and it is unclear whether he will be available to play at any point this season.
Projected Starting 5: (Name, Year)
River Johnston (Junior)
Caleb Tonkinson (Senior)
Carter Kelly (Junior)
Caleb Kinkaid (Junior)
Kade Mohr (Senior)
Omaha Benson Bunnies
Last year's record: 4-17
Key Departures: Cardae Daniels, Marcus Shakeer, Anthony Adkisson, Kerlaa Pan, Cameron Lollar Jr.
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 27.5%
The Bunnies are one of a handful of teams with new coaches this year in Class A, as they bring up Chauncey Lambert to run the program. He seems to be pointing the team in the right direction, as they played well as a team in summer leagues and found some good success. Benson is led by a trio of seniors in Antone McNair, Kevin Newsome, and Cortez Gonzales, who combined to average just under 14 points a game last year. The Bunnies have their work cut out for them with the difficulty the Metro brings, but they seem to be up to the challenge this year.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Antone McNair (Senior)
Ronald Harlan
Darell Sterling (Sophomore)
Kevin Newsome (Senior)
Cortez Gonzales (Senior)
Omaha Bryan Bears
Last year's record: 4-17
Key Departures: Ty Terrell, Abdi Bashir, Abdul Bashir, Jai'lyn Spears, Darwin Loftin, Chaz Cullum
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 33.8%
Continuing with the theme of new head coaches, the Bryan Bears bring back former standout Galen Gullie to lead the Bears. They have to replace some major pieces, including twins Abdi and Abdul Bashir, who transferred to Minnesota Prep, and Jai'lyn Spears, who's now at Northeast Community College. But Bryan still has some good pieces. 2022 Lam Kuany is amongst the most skilled big men in the state. He can finish with good footwork around the rim or hit from around the perimeter. Another returning senior is 2022 George Back, who brings 3 years of varsity experience and averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds a game last year for the Bears.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
London Williams (Junior)
Wuol Kueth (Junior)
Mat Tut (Junior)
George Back (Senior)
Lam Kuany (Senior)
Omaha Burke Bulldogs
Last year's record: 6-17
Key Departures: Aidan Queen, Pacey Queen, Sam Sorensen, Lukas Kocher, Cameron Grambling
Key Additions: None
Returning Production: 27.9%
The Bulldogs graduate much of their production, as they bring up new players who will gain experience this year. 2022 Donovan Moody is the most experienced returner for the Bulldogs, as he will run the point for them. He averaged 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals a game last year. 2023 Reed Emsick is the next most-experienced returning Bulldog, as he appeared in all 23 games for them last year. 2022 Zeb Svoboda appeared in all but 3 games last year and averaged just under 2 points a game. The Bulldogs have some good out-of-state opponents such as Sergeant Bluff-Luton (IA), Eau Claire Memorial (WI), and Shawnee Mission South (KS) that should give them some good variety of opponents.
Projected Starting 5 (Name, Year)
Donovan Moody (Senior)
Reed Emsick (Senior)
Zeb Svoboda (Senior)
Bryton Nelson (Junior)
Ethan Painter (Junior)