Pre-season 3A Top 10

1. Carroll: The duo of Kasperbauer and Haluska look to lead their team back to Des Moines in March. They got there last year, but this year they want to bring home a title.

2. Charles City: This team has returning all-state performer Nathan Buss leading the charge, but he has a few other guys on the team who can really play. Don't be surprised to see them challenge for the 3A crown.

3. Sioux City Heelan: Heelan cruised to the championship last year, but they also lost a lot of talent to graduation. That said they still have two really good returners in Zach McCabe and Alex Malloy. If the Crusaders get some quality play in the back court this team could repeat.

4. Forest City: High-scoring guard Tyler Putz returns for his senior year. He has help from the Rosacker brothers, but will it be enough to make a run at the title?

5. Mount Pleasant: The coaches have been waiting for the class of 2011 to arrive. The class features four talented players who showed promise last year led by post Henry Krieger-Coble.

6. Harlan: Every single year you know that the Cyclones will be good. This year is no different as they should have enough talent to make a run in Des Moines.

7. LeMars: The bulldogs return 4 of their top 5 players. They are led by the duo of Sam VanWettering and Paxton Strub. They will face some tough competition which will give an indication if this team has what it takes to get to the state tournament.

8. Ballard: The Bombers are led by Austin Vier, but he's not alone as there is enough talent on the roster for this team to win a lot of games this winter.

9. Marion: The Indians lost a huge weapon in Amry Shelby to graduation. So, this winter Kasey Semler and Corey Kramer will need to step it up in a big way if they want to get back to Wells Fargo again this season.

10. Norwalk: They were runner-up last season, but took major hits due to graduation. If they want to get back to state they need a few guys to emerge this winter.

Watch List: Carlisle, Denison-Schleswig, Jefferson-Scranton, Pella, and Washington.

First Team All-State
G-Tyler Putz (Forest City)
G-Casey Kasperbauer (Carroll)
F-Nathan Buss (Charles City)
F-Zach McCabe (Sioux City Heelan)
F-Henry Krieger-Coble (Mt. Pleasant)

Second Team All-State
G-Chad Malloy (Williamsburg)
G-Michael Kaufmann (Harlan)
G-Isaac Gardner (Washington)
F-Austin Vier (Ballard)
F-Joe Daniel (Davenport Assumption)

Third Team All-State
G-Casey Semler (Marion)
G-Blake Haluska (Carroll)
F-Alex Malloy (Sioux City Heelan)
F-Paxton Strub (LeMars)
C-Patrick Burmester (Central Clinton-DeWitt)

We will update the team rankings every other week throughout the season, so keep checking back to see where your school or alma mater is ranked.