Boys Central Conference
Aurora (21-5)
Hastings Adams Central (16-10)
Crete (20-6)
Northwest (17-9)
Columbus Lakeview (9-14)
York (9-15)
Seward (11-12)
Lexington (2-22)
Schuyler (0-21)
With the return of Canon Allen and Ryan Staehr for their senior seasons, Aurora earns the early nod as the Central Conference's top boys squad in 2025-26. Allen leads the way following a year in which he averaged 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds a night while also dishing out 102 assists and garnering 38 steals on the year. Staehr, meanwhile, poured in 8.5 points and brought down more than two rebounds a contest.
Sophomore Jaxon Slagle, who scored 5.0 points and grabbed 2.3 rebounds an outing, returns after earning plenty of playing time during the 21-5 Husky run.
Hastings Adams Central sits just ahead of Crete with the return of nearly their entire roster from a year ago. Junior Hunter Nepple, a second team Class C1 all-state honoree from both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star, helped guide the Patriots to a 16-10 record a year ago after averaging 21.8 points a game.
Junior Kowan Rader and senior Jackson Foster were named to the honorable mention All-Central Conference team after scoring nine and 5.3 points a game respectively. Junior Riley Propp and senior Brody Luskan combined for eight points a game collectively.
Don't count Crete out of the Top Dawg conversation of the Central Conference this year. The Cardinals went 20-6 a year ago and return leading scorer and First Team All-Central Conference honoree Carter Rezny who averaged 20.9 points and 2.1 rebounds a contest while dishing out 60 assists, grabbing 40 steals and blocking five shots on the year. Senior Oliver Oglesby, meanwhile, ripped the cords for 7.3 points and pulled down 4.3 boards a game. Senior Alexis Mora played in nine contests last winter and averaged 2.6 points a game.
A pair of juniors are set to lead the way for Northwest in 2025-26 as the Vikings stake their claim for the top spot in the Central Conference. Third Team All-Central Conference honoree Jaden Brandt and Dawson Urbanski, who was selected to the Honorable Mention All-Conference squad, are set to lead Northwest in its run to improve on last season's 17-9 record. Brandt averaged 8.5 points in the four games recorded on MaxPreps.com while Urbanski poured in 10.8 points a contest.
Led by Senior Grayson Vogt and Junior Logan Tomky, Tyler Colvin's Columbus Lakeview club could climb a rung or two in the Central Conference in 2025-26. Vogt leads all returning Viking scorers with a 10.9 scoring average to go a long with 4.9 rebounds a game. Tomky averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 boards a night while getting credit for 51 assists, 37 steals and a pair of blocked shots on the year. Returning seniors Levi Hrouda, Blake Rathbone and Caleb Sloup combined for 10.6 points and nearly nine rebounds a game a year ago.
Head coach Scott Lamberty welcomes back four regulars at York as he attempts to return the Dukes to better than .500 basketball after finishing 9-15 a year ago. Juniors Dylan Oberle and Cayce Hager both earned Honorable Mention All-Central Conference honors as did senior Brandon Wilson. Hager ripped the cords for 7.7 points a game while Oberle added 6.8 points and Wilson chipped in 5.5 points a night. The trio accounted for more than nine boards on average collectively. Junior Dax Peterson averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 boards for Lamberty.
A trio of seniors return to help Seward head coach Trevor Menke improve on the Bluejay's 11-12 record from a year ago. Tresten Hass and Jack Vyhnalek both earned Second Team All-Central Conference honors as juniors while Karson Dyer was selected to the honorable mention squad.
Honorable mention All-Central Conference selectees Bryant Truax, a junior, and sophomore Tyler Thorell return for Lexington head coach Tyler Slechta as the Minutemen hope to climb the Conference ladder and improve on last season's 2-22 record.
Schuyler head coach Jason Wehner turns to Junior Iker Lara and sophomore Ronaldo Garcia in hopes of improving Schuyler's 0-21 record from a year ago. Both honorable mention All-Central Conference selectees a year ago, Lara and Ronaldo will receive assistance from senior Landon Johnson and junior Johnny Nava.
Top Central Conference Players in 2025-26
Junior Hunter Nepple, Hastings Adams Central - 6-foot-10 Small Forward
21.8 Points, Second Team Class C1 OWH/LJS, First Team All-Central Conference
Senior Canon Allen, Aurora - 5-foot-9 Point Guard
12.3 Points, 4.0 Rebounds, 3.9 Assists, 102 Assists, 38 Steals, 4 Blocked Shots, Second Team All-Central Conference, Honorable Mention Class B OWH/LJS
Senior Grayson Vogt, Columbus Lakeview - 6-foot-3 Power Forward, Center
10.9 Points, 4.9 Rebounds, 20 Assists, 17 Steals, 15 Blocked Shots, Honorable Mention All-Central Conference, Honorable Mention Class C1 LJS
Senior Carter Rezny, Crete - 5-foot-11 Guard
20.9 Points, 2.1 Rebounds, 60 Assists, 40 Steals, 5 Blocked Shots, First Team All-Central Conference, Honorable Mention Class B OWH/LJS
Senior Ryan Staehr, Aurora - 5-foot-10 Point Guard, Shooting Guard
8.5 Points, 2.3 Rebounds, 50 Assists, 31 Steals, 2 Blocked Shots, Third Team All-Central Conference
Junior Jaden Brandt, Northwest - 6-foot-2 Point Guard, Shooting Guard
Third Team All-Central Conference
Senior Tresten Hass, Seward - 6-foot-3 Guard
Honorable Mention Class B OWH/LJS, Second Team All-Central Conference
Senior Jack Vyhnalek, Seward - 6-foot-4 Small Forward, Power Forward, Center
Honorable Mention Class B OWH/LJS, Second Team All-Central Conference
