Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 (12/13/2023)

This week's SBLive Iowa Top 25 boys basketball rankings

The first two weeks of the boys basketball season have produced surprises and a lot of movement in the rankings, including the top-ranked and defending Class 4A state champion West Des Moines Valley. 

Seven teams dropped out of our all-class Top 25: Algona (previously 13), Ames (17), Waverly-Shell Rock (18), defending 2A champion Central Lyon (20), Clarke (22), Charles City (23) and defending 3A champion Bondurant-Farrar (25).

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2-0) 

The Cougars move into the top spot with two blowout victories to start the season.

2. Linn-Mar (3-0)

The Lions have maybe the three best wins in the state (Bettendorf, Waukee, Cedar Rapids Xavier) behind all-stater Davis Kern. They have a top 5 matchup Friday vs. fourth-ranked Iowa City West.

3. North Scott (3-0)

The Lancers are off to a nice start and have four players averaging double figures.

4. Iowa City West (3-0)

The unbeaten Trojans, who also have four players scoring in double digits, have a big game Friday at second-ranked Linn-Mar.

5. Ankeny Centennial (3-1)

The Jaguars own a victory over the defending champions West Des Moines Valley but lost by 15 to West Des Moines Dowling.

6. West Des Moines Valley (3-1)

The defending 4A champions, who are playing without the MVP of the state tournament, Zay Robinson, who was injured during football season, fall five spots after single-digit wins over West Des Moines Dowling and Urbandale and a loss to Ankeny Centennial.

7. Williamsburg (2-0)

Hawkeye football recruit Derek Weisskopf is averaging 31 points for the unbeaten Raiders.

8. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (3-0)

The Lynx haven’t been tested yet with three blowout victories. They face an unbeaten Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson squad Friday.

9. Bishop Heelan (4-0)

The unbeaten Crusaders have three blowout wins and a 69-65 victory over city rival Sioux City East as Matt Noll is averaging 23.3 points per game.

10. Waukee (4-1)

The Warriors’ only blemish is a 61-59 loss to No. 2 Linn-Mar.

11. Bettendorf (2-1)

The Bulldogs lost their season opener to Linn-Mar but posted a big 61-42 victory over rival Pleasant Valley.

12. Norwalk (3-1)

The Warriors bounced back with three straight wins after losing their season opener to Ballard.

13. Pleasant Valley (1-1)

The Spartans lost 62-41 to Quad Cities rival Bettendorf.

14. Cedar Falls (2-0)

The Tigers, who beat both Waterloo directional schools, will find out a lot this week as they have road games in Cedar Rapids against top-ranked Kennedy and No. 19 Xavier Catholic.

15. Dallas Center-Grimes (4-0)

The Mustangs are off to a perfect start and will likely be 5-0 heading into Friday’s game at Johnston.

16. Clear Lake (4-0)

The unbeaten Lions got a big win over previously 18th ranked Waverly-Shell Rock

17. Ankeny (3-1)

The Hawks have won three straight after losing the opener to Waukee.

18. Johnston (3-2)

Des Moines Lincoln transfer Trovary Cavil averages 16 points for the Dragons, who have a difficult schedule on the horizon with games against No. 5 Centennial and No. 6 Valley this week and No. 15 Dallas Center-Grimes and No. 10 Waukee next week.

19. Xavier Catholic (3-1)

The Saints own wins over previously ranked Charles City and Waverly-Shell Rock, and their only loss was 62-59 to Linn-Mar, which is ranked No. 2

20. West Lyon (5-0)

The Wildcats are off to a strong start, which includes a 63-44 win over MOC-Floyd Valley, which beat defending state champion Central Lyon.

21. Waukee Northwest (2-3)

The Wolves have a losing record, but the losses came to Johnston, Valley and Waukee.

22. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (5-0)

The Yellow Jackets are off to a surprising 5-0 start. They face Sioux City East and unbeaten CB Abe Lincoln this week.

23. Carroll (4-0)

The unbeaten Tigers own a couple of impressive one-point wins over state tournament teams Kuemper and North Polk.

24. Pella Christian (3-1)

The Eagles only loss was to Norwalk 54-46.

25. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (4-1)

The Knights have won four consecutive games since losing their season opener on a buzzer-beater to unbeaten Carroll.