Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding
performers in high school basketball. The tradition continues to close
out the 2025-26 season by naming the top player in each state.
Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in
addition to local and state accolades.
Lincoln Rogers of
Sentinel (Missoula) is the 2025-26 MaxPreps Montana High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-8 senior forward led the Spartans to a 20-3 record and their first state championship since 1986.
For the season, Rogers averaged 24.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals per contest while shooting 52 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range.
In a 47-46 overtime victory against Billings West (Billings) in the Class AA state title game, Rogers led the charge with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots while knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining.
Rogers grew nearly a full foot during his high school career as he came onto the scene as a 5-10 freshman in 2022-23 before hitting an aggressive growth spurt.
Both of Rogers' parents played sports at North Dakota State but he will continue his career at Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Each
state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in
the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in
April. Past selections include 2026 NBA All-Stars Karl Anthony-Towns
(2014), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015),
Jalen Brunson (2014, 2015), Cade Cunningham (2019, 2020), Kevin Durant
(2006), Jalen Duren (2021), Anthony Edwards (2019), De'Aaron Fox (2016),
Chet Holmgren (2020, 2021), Brandon Ingram (2015), Jalen Johnson
(2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019) and Norman Powell (2011).
Past MaxPreps Montana Players of the Year
2019-20 – Rollie Worster, Hellgate (Missoula)
2020-21 – Alex Germer, Sentinel (Missoula)
2021-22 – Brayden Koch, Capital (Helena)
2022-23 – Fischer Brown, Fergus (Lewistown)
2023-24 – Reynolds Johnston, Loyola-Sacred Heart (Missoula)
2024-25 – Curt Curnow, Kyler Engellant, Beaverhead County (Dillon)
