Top 30 players in Class 3A, 2A and 1A Idaho high school boys basketball

Author:
SBLive Staff
Publish date:
Jan 22, 2021 4:08 PM EST

Here is an inside look at the Top 30 Idaho high school boys basketball players in Class 3A, 2A and 1A. There are dozens of standout 3A, 2A and 1A boys basketball players in Idaho and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. DM or tag us on Twitter or Instagram @sbliveid and let us know about players worthy of fans’ attention in 2020-21.

TOP BOYS PLAYERS: TOP 25 5A PLAYERS | TOP 25 4A PLAYERS

TOP GIRLS PLAYERS: TOP 20 5A PLAYERS | TOP 20 4A PLAYERS

The list is in alphabetical order.

TOP 30 PLAYERS IN 3A, 2A, 1A BOYS BASKETBALL

C Jacob Ankeny, sr., Marsing

Ankeny is a dominant two-way big man who was last season’s Western Idaho Conference player of the year and a 2A first-team all-state pick. The 6-foot-6 senior holds an offer from Western Montana and is averaging 17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.4 blocks per game this season. “Jacob has a desire to get better every time he is in the gym, is extremely coachable and just determined to take advantage of each opportunity in the gym to work on his weaknesses and get better as a player,” Huskies head coach Tim Little said. “He is probably one of the most unselfish players that I have coached.”

G Carter Bailey, sr., Wallace

Coming off a complete ACL and MCL tear, Bailey averaged 13 points and three assists per game last season and earned 1A second-team all-state honors. He is a three-time all-Scenic Idaho Conference selection who gets it done on both ends for Wallace. “Carter is a great leader and facilitator,” Miners head coach Corey Miller said. “He does all of the things that don’t always show up in the stat book.”

G Braeden Blackmore, so., Bonners Ferry

Blackmore was an immediate impact player for Bonners Ferry, putting up 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals per game as a freshman en route to 3A all-Intermountain League honors. The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 15 points, 8.5 rebounds and three steals per game as a sophomore and had a double-double against Wallace with 28 points and 11 rebounds. “Braeden is a great player for us … and is very athletic,” Badgers head coach Nathan Williams said.

F Ben Blythe, sr., Ambrose

Blythe was a second-team 1A all-state tournament selection last season as Ambrose won the state title. The undersized small forward is averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game this winter for the Archers, who are now in the 2A Western Idaho Conference. “Ben is an exciting open-court player who excels at getting to the basket,” Ambrose head coach Ken Sugarman said. “He can shoot the three, is a good anticipator on defense and is a strong offensive rebounder.”

G/F James Bodily, sr., North Gem

A prolific scorer, the 6-foot-3 Bodily averaged 24.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a junior. He was the Rocky Mountain Conference player of the year and a first-team 1A Division II all-state selection.

F Nolan Bower, jr., Fruitland

Standing 6-foot-7, Bower is a big forward who can finish down low and make shots on the perimeter. He is averaging 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one block per game as a junior. “He is starting to hit his stride after a football injury slowed him down at the beginning of the season,” Grizzlies head coach Mark Van Weerdhuizen said. “He’s also a good passer.”

F Malachi Bullington, jr., North Idaho Christian

Bullington is one of the state’s tallest players at an even 7 feet. He was voted MVP of the Mountain Christian League championship game last season after recording 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in a victory over Pullman Christian. This winter, Bullington is averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and one assist per game. “People naturally look at Malachi and see all the physical gifts and abilities he has, but people don’t see all the hard work and perseverance that he has shown these past few seasons,” head coach Michael Thompson said.

G Crew Clark, sr., Sugar-Salem

Clark netted a game-high 21 points in last year’s 3A state title game as Sugar-Salem defeated Kimberly for its second consecutive championship. Clark, who also helped lead the Diggers to a state football title in November, was a second-team all-state basketball pick last season.

F Charlie DeBoer, sr., Riverstone

The 6-foot-6 DeBoer averaged 18 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for Riverstone a season ago. He was a second-team 1A all-state selection.

G Jaxon Dines, so., Homedale

One of the state’s top sophomores regardless of classification, Dines is a pure scoring guard who can get hot in a hurry. He led the 3A Snake River Conference in scoring last season at a hair over 16 points per game and was a first-team all-league pick. “His ability to make deep threes opens up driving lanes where he finishes well at the rim, and he has good vision and sets up teammates for scores when the defense focuses on him,” Trojans head coach Cam Long said. “He’s a smooth athlete in his movements.”

F AJ Ellenwood, jr., Lapwai

A second-team 1A all-state selection last season, the 6-foot-4 Ellenwood has the ability to play inside and out. Ellenwood possesses excellent quickness and agility and is still growing, according to Wildcats head coach Zachary Eastman. He is averaging 7.5 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game as a junior. “He is great with his back to the basket and also has the ability to put the ball on the floor to get to the rim,” Eastman said. “He has been one of the best basket protectors in the White Pine League and is also a great student and has a great work ethic.”

G Eli Gibson, sr., St. Maries

The reigning 2A Central Idaho player of the year, Gibson is a four-year letter winner for St. Maries, which placed third at the 2020 state tournament and second in 2019. He was voted second-team all-state as a junior and is also the Lumberjacks’ starting quarterback. Gibson is averaging 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game this season. “Eli is a very tough kid that loves the weight room,” St. Maries head coach Bryan Chase said. “He’s a strong competitor and brings great leadership.”

G Chase Green, sr., Mackay

Green is a strong two-way point guard who averaged 17.6 points, six rebounds and three assists per game last season en route to second-team 1A Division II all-state honors.

C Day Day Higgins, sr., Lakeside

Higgins looks the part of a traditional center at 6-foot-8, but the senior has excellent feet and can shoot from beyond the three-point arc. He was a three-time 1A Division II all-North Star League selection — Lakeside is now in the 1A Scenic Idaho Conference — and made second-team all-state last season as the Knights earned their first state title since 1997. Higgins is averaging 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season. “Day Day has a great attitude and leads by example,” Lakeside head coach James Twoteeth said. “He’s a good rebounder and passer and can score in a variety of ways.”

G Luke Hill, sr., North Fremont

Hill, a first-team all-Nuclear Conference selection last season, is in his third year starting for the two-time defending 2A state champions. Huskies head coach Shannon Hill said Luke Hill is one of the best lockdown defenders in the state. He is averaging 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, four assists and 1.3 steals per game as a senior while shooting a team-best 57.1 percent from three-point range. “At only 5-foot-11, Luke has the ability to not only defend the guard position, he can play against post players too because of his physicality,” coach Hill said.

G Bracken Howell, sr., Marsh Valley

Howell averaged 16.9 points per game as a junior en route to second-team 3A all-state honors. The 6-foot-1 guard is a strong outside shooter and defender.

G Hudson Hughes, jr. Ambrose

Hughes is a lights-out shooter who twice has been voted second-team all-Western Idaho Conference. As a junior, Hughes is averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.8 steals per game. “Hudson has deep range and a scorer’s mentality,” Archers head coach Ken Sugarman said. “He’s a slasher, a good anticipator on defense and scores well in transition.”

G Covy Kelly, sr., Garden Valley

Kelly was the 2019 1A Division II state player of the year and received first-team all-state honors last season after averaging 25.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and three steals per game.

G Trentyn Kreager, jr., Priest River

Kreager was quite productive for Priest River a season ago, earning first-team all-Intermountain League honors after averaging 18.7 points per game. The 6-foot-3 guard has increased his averages to 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior. “Trentyn is a high IQ player with a very strong work ethic,” Spartans head coach Kevin Wylie said. “He is a very coachable kid and likes to be challenged by his coaches. Trentyn is a great leader with his voice, but maybe more importantly with his work ethic and accountability.”

G Jordan Lenz, jr., North Fremont

One of the state’s best offensive players regardless of classification, Lenz last season was named 2A player of the year after helping lead North Fremont to another state title. The 6-foot guard is averaging 18.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a junior while being a solid defender in both man-to-man and zone. “Jordan has great athleticism and is very smooth,” Huskies head coach Shannon Hill said. “Jordan understands the game of basketball very well, and he is very unselfish with the ball even though he can create for himself at any time.”

F Hyrum Lindsey, sr., Fruitland

One of the top players in 3A, Lindsey was a first-team all-state selection last winter as Fruitland placed third at the state tournament. The high-motored 6-foot-5 forward is averaging 19.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and one block per game this season. “Hyrum is effective both inside and on the perimeter,” Grizzlies head coach Mark Van Weerdhuizen said. “He has a great second jump and has improved tremendously on the defensive end of the floor.”

F Tristan Nelson, jr., St. Maries

Nelson is a versatile 6-foot-5 junior who made the 2A all-Central Idaho team last season. He is shooting a staggering 76 percent from the field as a junior, averaging 13.2 points, four rebounds and three assists per game. He also is a strong student with a 3.7 GPA. “He shoots the three-ball well, can lead a fast break or take you into the post,” Lumberjacks head coach Bryan Chase said.

G Brady Power, sr., Dietrich

A two-time 1A Division II all-state selection, Power played a big role in Dietrich’s third-place state tournament finish a season ago. The 5-foot-11 guard is an excellent two-way player who is averaging 20.5 points and seven rebounds per game on a team with state championship aspirations. Power is also a star quarterback who led Dietrich to the state football title in November. “He plays very good defense, rebounds well and plays hard all the time,” Blue Devils head coach Wayne Dill said. “He is constantly teaching and coaching other players during practice and games.”

F Bryler Shurtliff, jr., West Side

A 2A all-state football and basketball player, Shurtliff averaged nearly 15 points per game last season as West Side placed second at the state tournament. The 6-foot-4 standout is putting up 17.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting 36.2 percent on three-pointers. “Bryler is a long and athletic player, which makes him a great defender and rebounder,” Pirates head coach Tyler Brown said. “Everyone knows he can score, but he can do those other two things as well.”

G Kenyon Spotted Horse, sr., Lakeside

Spotted Horse, a 6-foot point guard, was named 1A Division II state player of the year after leading Lakeside to the 2020 state title. Knights head coach James Twoteeth said Spotted Horse is a pure point guard who can pass and score when needed. The senior is averaging 20 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.5 steals per game this season. “He has a long wingspan and is able to dribble and handle pressure with ease,” Twoteeth said. “He is an excellent passer and usually the smartest player on the floor.”

G Brett Stancil, sr., St. Maries

A second-team 2A all-state selection last season, Stancil is another talented guard on a loaded Lumberjacks roster. He is averaging six points, three rebounds and two steals per game as a senior. “Brett is a great shooter and lanky defender,” St. Maries head coach Bryan Chase said. “A good and bad thing for this team is we have seven guys that can put up 15 to 20 points on any night.”

F Lakota Steele, jr., Cole Valley Christian

Steele is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward with great range and athleticism. He has led Cole Valley Christian in scoring the past two seasons and is averaging 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and one assist per game this winter. As a sophomore, Steele scored 12 points in 34 seconds against Nampa Christian to send the game to overtime. “Lakota hasn’t received any formal awards yet but if double teams by the opponent count, then he’s got a lot of awards,” Chargers head coach Brennan Koch said. “He has a ton of upside and is a great teammate and person.”

G Gage Stoddard, sr., Grace

Stoddard averaged 19.5 points per game last season and was named second-team 1A all-state. Grace reached the state championship game, falling to Ambrose.

G Johnny Sugarman, jr., Ambrose

As a sophomore, Sugarman averaged 11.2 points and 3.1 steals per game and was voted first-team 1A all-state. The strong all-around point guard has improved his numbers this season, averaging 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.5 steals per game. “He is an outstanding leader, ball handler and distributor,” Archers head coach Ken Sugarman said. “He can score at all three levels and is a great anticipator on defense. He is the heart and soul of our team.”

G Titus Yearout, jr., Lapwai

Yearout is a sturdy 6-foot-2 guard and one of the Wildcats’ hardest workers, head coach Zachary Eastman said. He was a first-team 1A all-state selection last season and is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals per game this winter. “Titus is a strong ball handler, can shoot from anywhere on the court and plays intense defense every night,” Eastman said. “He’s a strong leader and has consistently gotten bigger every year due to his commitment in the weight room. He is a great student-athlete holding a 3.8 GPA and is a great mentor to our youth in our community.”

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