High school basketball rankings: Two-time defending Texas state champion Hitchcock headlines Preseason Small Town Top 25

Four Texas teams begin the 2024-25 high school basketball season ranked among the top eight in the Preseason Small Town Top 25, including defending Class 3A champion Hitchcock at No. 1.

Hitchcock is averaging 32 wins per season over the past three years, including three straight 14-0 records in district play. The Bulldogs began the season ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.


1. Hitchcock (Texas), 35-3 record in 2023-24
The Class 3A state champions return a pair of all-state players in Elijah Sherwood and Lloyd Jones III.

2. Booneville (Miss.), 30-2
The Blue Devils are 86-9 over the past three seasons while winning three straight Class 3A state championships. Jackson State recruit Kedrick Simmons, the Class 3A Mr. Basketball last year, returns for his fourth year as a starter.

3. Cherry (Iron, Minn.), 32-2
Won the Class A state championship last year but lose Small Town All-American Isaac Asuma to graduation. However, three all-tournament players return in sophomore Isaiah Asuma (13.5 points per game), junior Noah Asuma (14.1) and senior Noah Sundquist (18.0). A fourth starter, senior Carson Brown (12.9), also returns.

4. Martins Mill (Ben Wheeler, Texas), 32-5
The Mustangs lost in the fourth round of the Class 2A playoffs to Beckville last year but they don't lose a single player to graduation. All-state players Jak Kinder (19.4 points per game) and Archer Schneider (13.6) are among the returning starters.

5. Lipan (Texas), 36-4
Sophomore Court Gaylor returns after leading the Indians to the Class 2A state championship and earning tournament MVP honors. He is joined by fellow all-tournament pick Darius Steed.

6. Dale (Okla.), 31-2
Three-time defending state champion will miss Small Town All-American Dalton Forsythe, but three starters return, including 6-6 center Trayden Chambers. Forsythe's brother Denton Forsythe is a rising junior.

7. Wahoo (Neb.), 23-5
Four of the six leading scorers from last year's Class C1 championship team return, including 6-5 forward Dylan Simons (11.3 points per game) and 6-2 guard Cody Hesser (8.3). Wahoo has won 12 state championships.

8. Jayton (Texas), 39-3
The 20-man roster featured just two seniors on a team that won the Class 1A state championship. Jayton returns tournament MVP Colt Gentry and all-tournament pick Sean Stanaland.

9. Marked Tree (Ark.), 35-3
Winners of the Class A state championship and 23 straight games heading into the 2024-25 season, Marked Tree returns a pair of all-state players in guard Ladarius Brown and forward Jonah Walker.

10. Colfax (Wash.), 29-0
The Class 2B champions have won 29 straight games and return their two leading scorers in conference MVP Adrik Jenkin and all-conference pick Seth Lustig.

11. Simla (Colo.), 26-1
The Cubs won their first 25 games last year before losing at the Class 2A state tournament and finishing third. Simla returns five of the team's top six scorers from last year, including all-state picks Tatum Kocerha (17.3 points per game), and Caston Cox (15.1).

12. Ingomar (New Albany, Miss.), 27-9
The Class 2A champions return every player on the roster from last year, including three players who averaged in double figures in Cody Bost (11.6), Jack Denton (11.1), and Brayden Tillery (10.1).

13. Silsbee (Texas), 29-10
A small town team playing in Class 4A in Texas, Silsbee returns three of its top six scorers from last year, including sophomore Payton Jones (13.9).

14. Brownstown Central (Brownstown, Ind.), 28-4
The Class 2A state champions lose Small Town All-American Jack Benter to graduation but two starters return in guard Micah Sheffer (5.7 points per game) and 6-5 guard Chace Coomer (8.5) along with 6-6 sixth man Colby Hall (10.6).

15. Marcellus (N.Y.), 25-2
The Class B runner-up returns a pair of all-state players in guard Mitch Donegan (13.1) and junior guard Tucker Burnett (10.7).

16. Zillah (Wash.), 27-0
Conference MVP Dekker Van de Graaf, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, returns for the Class 1A state champions, who have won 29 games in a row.

17. Bonners Ferry (Idaho), 23-3
The Badgers won their first Class 3A state championship last year and look to add another this year behind state player of the year Asher Williams (28.4 points per game).

18. Beaverhead County (Dillon, Mont.), 21-4
The Beavers look to repeat as Class A state champions behind the play of returning all-state players Carter Curnow and Kyler Engellant.

19. Harlan County (Harlan, Ky.), 32-6
Trent Noah and his 30 points per game have graduated from the team that finished as the state runner-up last year, but the next three leading scorers all return in Maddox Huff (17.7), Reggie Cottrell (8.5) and Jaycee Carter (8.1).

20. Hamlin (Hayti, S.D.), 23-3
The Class A state runner-up returns Easton Neuendorf, a two-time all-state player who averaged 15.1 points per game last year.

21. North Linn (Troy Mills, Iowa), 26-1
The high-scoring Lynx went over 100 points three times last year and return all-section selection and leading scorer Mason Bechen (21.3 points per game).

22. Moundridge (Kan.), 23-3
The Wildcats have won back-to-back Class 2A state championships and return all-state third team pick Bear Moddelmog (13.3 points per game) and three other starters.

23. Zwolle (La.), 33-4
The Hawks have won a state record 17 state championships in Louisiana including back-to-back Non-Select Division V championships. All-state pick Preston Sanders returns for his senior year.

24. Needles (Calif.), 29-2
A California team that plays in the Nevada Class 2A tournament, Needles won the state tournament and returns four starters from that club. Xavier Russell (19.1) leads the way along with Luca Walema (11.1), junior Darrell Russell (9.2) and Holden Jones (8.3).

25. Benton (Ill.), 33-4
The Class 2A runner-up last year returns Class 2A state player of the year Docker Tedeschi (15.3 points per game) and starter Grant Owens.