Iowa's best high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's top centers

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school boys basketball. The final list of the series focuses on the centers. 

There are hundreds of standout boys basketball players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. If you know of any other centers worthy of our attention, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Johny Amina, 6-5, Sr., North Cedar

An athletic and mobile big man, Amina has a soft touch on mid-range jumpers. He’s made 61.5 percent of his shots while averaging 17.6 points and 13.5 rebounds in 15 games.

Titus Barber, 6-8, Sr., Murray

On a defensive-minded team, Barber is the ultimate rim protector, ranking second in the state with 4.2 blocked shots per game (54 total). The productive big man has scored 19.9 points and pulled down 13.4 rebounds through 13 game. Murray is allowing just 42.73 points per game.

Colin Bower, 6-3, Soph., CAM

An undersized post, Brower has managed to score 11.8 points and grab 10.6 rebounds in 15 games this season. His rebounds per game rank among the top 25 in the state.

Michael Boyd, 6-5, Jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Boyd is the leading scorer on a 10-4 ballclub with an average of 13.3 points per game. He is shooting 54.7 percent from the field and adds 7.1 rebounds per contest.

Kanyon Bryte, 6-8, Sr., Western Dubuque

Bryte is averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 8.6 rebounds through 13 games. He shoots 55.9 percent from the field and is not afraid to step out and fire away from the arc.

Jaxon Clark, 6-9, Soph., Keokuk

Clark is quietly putting together an outstanding sophomore season, averaging 19.1 points and 12.3 rebounds for an 8-4 team. He is shooting 63.3 percent (81 of 128) and has even made five 3-pointers. Clark ranks in the top 20 in the state with an average of 2.9 blocks per game.

Marach Dow, 6-5, Soph., Ames

Dow has swatted away 2.7 shots per game, ranking among the top 20 in the state. The Little Cyclones are one of the top defensive teams in the state and sophomore Dau is second on the team at 5.1 rebounds per game.

Landon Frost, 6-5, Sr., Don Bosco

Frost isn’t much of a scorer but ranks among the top rebounders in the state. His 195 caroms rank third overall and second in Class 1A, an average of 13.0 per game. Frost also averages 2.4 blocked shots while contributing just over six points a contest.

Caleb Haack, 6-8, Jr., Iowa Valley

Already a third-year starter, Haack averages 22.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists and blocked shots through 14 games. As a sophomore, he contributed just under 20 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots per game.

Scott Harr, 6-4, Sr., Hampton-Dumont

A 6-4 big man with really good touch around the rim, Harr put up nearly 24 points and 13 rebounds a game as a junior, earning first team All-North Central Conference honors. He is currently checking in with averages of 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds through 10 games, dishing out four assists a night.

Hunter Hillman, 6-6, Sr., Saint Ansgar

Nobody in the state has blocked more shots than Hillman. In fact, his 68 total blocks are 12 more than his closest competitor. Hillman also leads his team in scoring (15.2 ppg.) and rebounding (11.8 rpg.). Hillman was a first team all-state football receiver.

Dustin Hoksbergen, 6-3, Sr., Trinity Christian

Hoksbergen leads the Tigers with 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He is also a track and field standout for Trinity Christian.

Collin Homan, 6-6, Jr., Remsen St. Mary’s

Homan was a second team all-state pick in Class 1A as a sophomore last season as the Hawks made their fifth straight state tournament trip. He is the leading scorer on this year’s St. Mary’s squad, which has lost just twice in 11 games. Homan averages an even 16.0 points while shooting 52.5 percent and also pulls down 7.8 rebounds a game.

Hunter Horn, 6-4, Soph., Fort Dodge St. Edmond

The Des Moines Register recently honored sophomore Horn as its Athlete of the Week after he recorded a double-double with 32 points and 17 rebounds against Manson-Northwest Webster, making 15 of 21 shots. For the season, Horn averages 20.6 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Evan Jacobson, 6-7, Soph., Waukee

One of the most talented sophomores in the state, Jacobson runs the floor well, finishes at the rim and protects the paint well. He’s averaging 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds through 15 games for the Class 4A third-ranked Warriors.

Trevin Jirak, 6-9, Jr., West Des Moines Valley

The 6-foot-9 Jirak has the size and mobility that college teams covet. On a team filled with stars and defending its Class 4A state championship, Jirak has contributed 10 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 blocks through 12 games. He averaged just under 10 points and just over seven rebounds for the state champs last season as a sophomore.

Jackson Lanz, 6-5, Sr., Wapello

Lanz is currently ranked 10^th statewide with an average of 11.9 rebounds per game and 14^th in scoring at 22.9. He has pulled down a total of 167 rebounds and scored a career-high 41 points in a game against Lone Tree earlier this month. After not playing football as a sophomore and junior, Lanz led his team in catches, receiving yards and tackles during his senior campaign.

Tyler Netolicky, 6-8, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Netolicky has made big strides since becoming a starter for last year’s 4A state runners-up. He is leading the Saints in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.9 points and 10.8 boards through 13 games. Netolicky is also a 60.3-percent shooter.

Carson Ourth, 6-6, Sr., Danville

Ourth ranks third in the state with an average of 4.1 blocked shots per game and his 45 total blocks rank fifth overall and fourth in Class 1A. Ourth has also averaged 13.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists through 14 games.

Isaiah Sholes, 6-1, Soph., Essex

Sholes is just 6-1, but lines up down low for the Trojans, averaging a double-double. Through 14 games, he checks in at 10.0 points and 10.9 rebounds, ranking in the top 20 in the state in Class 1A rebounding.

Asher Wade, 6-7, Sr., Bettendorf

Wade is a strong all-around defender who uses his strength to hold his ground in the paint. He is not an overly productive offensive player, averaging 7.9 points per game, but he pulls down just under six boards and makes it difficult for opponents to score inside.

Cole White, 6-6, Sr., Clarke

White is a solid inside performer, averaging 8.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, along with 1.7 blocked shots. He ranks 10^th in Class 3A in blocks per game and has made 39 of 62 shots (62.9 percent) for a team that sports an 11-2 record.

Jacob Williams, 6-6, Sr., Dubuque Senior

Williams earned Class 4A third-team all-state honors as a junior. He can play either the post or forward and his smooth left-handed stroke has produced 18.9 points per game to go along with 8.9 rebounds for the Rams, ranked sixth in Class 4A.

Jaxon Zaugg, 6-2, Sr., West Bend-Mallard

Operating as an undersized center, Zaugg has been able to put up some respectable numbers this season. The 6-2 senior averages an even 15 points per game and 7.4 rebounds.

--Barry Poe @SBLiveIA