After pouring through oodles of statistics, all-state, all-conference and all-area teams, last year's state tournament bracket and plenty of postseason rankings, we have uncovered our Heartland Athletic Conference projections for 2025-26.
After playing its way into the 2024-25 Class A State Basketball Quarterfinals, Lincoln North Star is loading up for another deep postseason run this winter. Navigator coach Bryan Castor returns Second Team Class A All-Stater Jordan Castor who poured in 17.3 points an outing a year ago. Senior William Schafer and junior J'Shawn Afuh are also back.
Alex Bahe returns a roster featuring a trio of players that averaged 10 points or more during last season's 15-10 run. Uzziah and Makkiah Sanders poured in 19.4 and 17.2 points respectively while Jaxyn Cruse averaged 12.9 points an outing.
Kearney returns Second Team Class A All-Stater Jacob Webber who averaged 21.7 points an outing a year ago. Seniors Grant Fredericks and Easton Switzer averaged 10 points or more for Montgomery Ritchie at Lincoln Northeast.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Heartland Athletic Conference
Lincoln North Star (20-6)
Lincoln Southwest (15-10)
Kearney (16-7)
Lincoln Northeast (19-6)
Lincoln Southeast (17-9)
Grand Island (13-12)
Lincoln High (9-14)
Lincoln East (8-16)
Fremont (10-15)
Columbus (7-18)
Norfolk (3-20)
Lincoln North Star
2024-25 Record: 20-6
Record Over Past Decade: 132-113
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class A Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Bryan Castor
Top Returning Players:
Junior Jordan Castor | 5-foot-11 Guard
17.3 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 140 Assists | 79 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class A Omaha World Herald
Senior William Schafer | 6-foot-4 | Forward
10.5 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 47 Assists | 49 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Junior J'Shawn Afuh | 6-foot | Guard
8.3 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 29 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 116-122
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class A Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Alex Bahe
Top Returning Players:
Senior Uzziah Sanders | 5-foot-11 | Guard
19.4 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 72 Assists | 70 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Makkiah Sanders | 5-foot-11 | Guard
17.2 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 72 Assists | 63 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Jaxyn Cruse | 6-foot-4 | Point Guard
12.9 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 14 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Hudson Mezger | 6-foot | Shooting Guard
6.7 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 15 Assists | 5 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Dakari Wilson | 5-foot-9 | Guard
6.0 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 53 Assists | 28 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Kearney
2024-25 Record: 16-7
Record Over Past Decade: 165-79
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Drake Beranek
Top Returning Players:
Senior Jacob Webber | 6-foot-7 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
21.7 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 16 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class A Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Leyton Paider | 6-foot-3
6.3 Points | 2.6 Rebounds | 12 Assists | 14 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Lincoln Northeast
2024-25 Record: 19-6
Record Over Past Decade: 122-123
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Montgomery Ritchie
Top Returning Players:
Senior Grant Fredericks | 6-foot-4 | Guard | Small Forward
13.2 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 38 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Easton Switzer | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
10.0 Points | 2.5 Rebounds | 59 Assists | 15 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast
2024-25 Record: 17-9
Record Over Past Decade: 123-121
2024-25 Postseason: 1-1 | Lost in Class A Semifinals
Head Coach: Joey Werning
Top Returning Players:
Senior Prospedi Mukendi | 6-foot-4
8.6 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 13 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Rowan Lambert | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
8.1 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 29 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Grand Island
2024-25 Record: 13-12
Record Over Past Decade: 100-139
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jeremiah Slough
Top Returning Players:
Senior Victor Fisher, Jr.
17.0 Points | 8.6 Rebounds | 51 Assists | 31 Steals | 35 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
First Team Heartland Super Squad
Lincoln High
2024-25 Record: 9-14
Record Over Past Decade: 79-154
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Richie Ross
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brady Nick | 6-foot-5 | Small Forward | Shooting Guard
17.7 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 59 Assists | 44 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Deveraux Sanders | 6-foot | Guard
7.0 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 26 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Junior Ikenna Osuji | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard
5.1 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 14 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Lincoln East
2024-25 Record: 8-16
Record Over Past Decade: 149-94
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jeff Campbell
Top Returning Players:
Senior Nolan O'Neill | 6-foot-5 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
7.4 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 22 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
Senior Jack Lowell | 6-foot-4 | Small Forward
7.9 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 38 Assists | 14 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
Senior Reid Voog | 6-foot-3 | Small Forward
6.5 Points | 2.7 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 15 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Fremont
2024-25 Record: 10-15
Record Over Past Decade: 83-154
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jalen Hueser
Top Returning Players:
Senior Zach Keaton
11.5 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 54 Assists | 19 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Columbus
2024-25 Record: 7-18
Record Over Past Decade: 71-158
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Nathan Sliva
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Jaxson Vasicek | 6-foot-3 | Forward
10.5 Points | 5.7 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 9 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Sophomore Gavin Anderson | 6-foot-4 | Forward
7.8 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 21 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Norfolk
2024-25 Record: 3-20
Record Over Past Decade: 99-145
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ben Ries
Top Returning Players:
Senior Drew Streich | 6-foot-5
13.1 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 22 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Gavin Jarecki | 6-foot-5
7.7 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 19 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
