Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (2/19/2024)

The race for the 32 state-tournament berths has begun in Iowa’s four classes

Here are this week's Iowa boys basketball Top 25 rankings:  

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (21-0)

Cougars have been the cream of the crop in Iowa during the regular season. Now, they have to prove it in the postseason.

2. Sioux City East (20-2)

Black Raiders turned some heads with a 15-point win at Waukee on Jan. 27. They’ve continued to stack victories since.

3. Cedar Falls (18-3)

Tigers are the top seed in Substate 6 of 4A, but they could be challenged by either West Des Moines Dowling or Waukee Northwest.

4. Dubuque Senior (19-2)

Big 18-point win over Iowa City West on Friday gives the Rams momentum entering the postseason.

5. West Des Moines Valley (16-5)

Defending 4A champs have had a few bumps along the way but are certainly a threat to repeat.

6. Iowa City West (19-2)

Sometimes a late regular-season loss isn’t a bad thing. Davenport West and Bettendorf are also contenders in their substate.

7. Dallas Center-Grimes (18-3)

Mustangs figure to get a stern test in their first substate game against Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, a team they eliminated last year by three points.

8. Waukee (15-7)

Warriors are the top seed in Substate 7 of 4A, which includes DC-G and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln.

9. Pleasant Valley (16-5)

Spartans are the second seed in Substate 5 of 4A, which includes top-seeded Dubuque Senior.

10. Ankeny Centennial (16-6)

If form holds, it could be second-seeded Centennial and top-seeded Ankeny in the 4A, Substate 8 final.

11. West Lyon (21-1)

Wildcats need to beat Spirit Lake and then either Unity Christian or Emmetsburg in 2A to secure just their second trip to the state tournament.

12. Ankeny (15-6)

Top-seeded Hawks split with second-seeded Centennial during the season, losing 64-52 and winning 76-63.

13. Waverly-Shell Rock (17-3)

Go-Hawks are the top seed in Substate 6 of 3A, with Nevada earning the second seed.

14. Norwalk (16-5)

Warriors had three major tests to close the regular season, losing 66-64 to Ankeny, beating ADM 47-45 and losing to Dowling 62-54.

15. ADM (18-3)

ADM is the top seed in Substate 8 of 3A, and Bondurant-Farrar, which it beat by 7 and 11 points, is the second seed.

16. North Linn (21-1)

Lynx have played in the state championship game in each of the past six seasons, twice in 2A and four times in 1A, winning twice.

17. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (18-3)

Historic season for the Jackets, who have set a school record for wins and earned a No. 2 seed in Substate 2 of 4A.

18. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (18-3)

Dangerous Knights lead Class 2A in both 3-pointers made (218) and 3-point percentage (38.1%).

19. Solon (20-1)

Spartans are the top seed in Substate 5 of 3A, which includes second-seeded Clear Creek-Amana.

20. North Scott (15-6)

Lancers need one substate win to likely get a shot at top-seeded, top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

21. Ames (16-6)

Third-seeded in Substate 1 of 4A, Little Cyclones need a win over Mason City to get a shot at second-seeded Johnston.

22. Bettendorf (15-6)

Bulldogs completed a regular-season sweep of Davenport West on Thursday, but they likely will have to do it again in a substate semifinal.

23. Davenport West (15-6)

Third-seeded Falcons need to beat sixth-seeded Burlington in Substate 3 of 4A to get a third shot at Bettendorf.

24. Clear Lake (20-1)

Lions earned the top seed in Substate 2 of 3A, which includes second-seeded Ballard.

25. Hull Western Christian (18-3)

Hull Western Christian owns the most state championships of any Iowa school with 10.

--Kevin White