Players to Watch:
Michael Nance, Boise
Luke Soltau, Boise
Colton Dennis, Borah
Dylan Luekenga, Borah
Marcellus Clay, Capital
David McNamara, Capital
Isaiah Telleria, Capital
Gabe Eddins, Centennial
Payton Knudson, Centennial
Andrew Palfreyman, Eagle
Emmanuel Chanuka, Kuna
Gannon Ysais, Kuna
Tristan Fortin, Meridian
TJ Sanor, Meridian
Landon Starnes, Mountain View
Jayce Allen, Owyhee
Logan Haustveit, Owyhee
Boden Howell, Owyhee
Javonte Boles, Ridgevue
Tucker Tiddens, Ridgevue
Mac Savedra, Rocky Mountain
Bryce Heinz, Timberline
Alex Ko, Timberline
Written by: Lucas Gebhart
THE FAVORITE
OWYHEE STORM
Head Coach: Andy Harrington, 4th Season
2023-24 Record: 24-3, Won State Championship
Owyhee was as advertised last season as one of the most talented rosters to ever come through the state capped off its third season with its second state title and the Owyhee dynasty appears to be just getting started.
With expectations as high as ever, the Storm aren’t totally reloading just yet, partly because their clip isn’t completely just empty.
The Storm lost Idaho’s Player of the Year, Liam Campbell, to DI St. Mary’s this offseason, but replacing Campbell is another loaded line-up that gives a sneak-peak into the future of all levels of college basketball.
Owyhee’s next round of stars includes Rice signee Boden Howell and junior Logan Haustveit, who holds DI offers from Idaho, Utah Valley and UT Arlington.
Vanguard signee Jayce Allen, College of Idaho signee Jackson Rogers, Northwest signee (NAIA) Cameron Downie and CSI signee Heath Sasser-Gunson also return to the rotation, meaning six of the 9 players in Owyhee’s normal rotation are set to play at the next level.
“Boden Howell is a mismatch nightmare who can score from the perimeter or the mid-post, and is a high-level passer,” head coach Andy Harrington said. “He is arguably the best playmaker in the state… Logan Haustveit and Jayce Allen are both primed for much larger roles this year within our offense. We anticipate all 9 guys in our rotation will be able to shoot the ball at a high level.”
Some of Owyhee’s 9-man rotation is coming up from last year’s 25-1 JV team.
THE NEW KID
RIDGEVUE WARHAKWS
Head Coach: Daniel Vint
2023-24 Record: 16-9, Finished 4th in 4A State Tournament
Ridgevue makes the jump to 6A after capping off its 4A stint with its best season in program history.
The Warhawks used their two bigs, Tucker Tiddens and Javonte Boles, who both return for their senior seasons, to won their first district championship in school history, booking the program’s first trip to the state tournament in the process.
But now the Warhawk bigs will face bigger and taller opponents but head coach Daniel Vint says with 5 of their top 7 players back, the Warhawks are ready for the challenge.
“We were a very young team in the past, and this year we are full of senior leadership that will be key as we move up to 6A,” Vint said.
Ridgevue’s inside presence should translate nicely, but its perimeter play needs work to compete at the 6A level, Vint says. The Warhakws lost their starting point guard, Keegan Randall to graduation, but do return guards Kaimana Nielson and Dawson Phillips.
“We have a nice mix of inside and outside players this season,” he added.
“They will be a matchup nightmare every night with their two bigs,” Boise head coach Manny
Varela said.
STATE TOURNAMENT CONTENDERS
TIMBERLINE WOLVES
Head Coach: Travis Noble, 7th Season
2023-24 Record: 22-5, State Runner-ups
Last year’s state runner-ups enter the new season as one of the most experienced in the state, returning four of five starters including one of the state’s best shooters in senior Alex Ko.
Although Timberline loses its sparkplug point guard, Reece Elder, the Wolves will start three seniors with forwards Bryce Heinz and Jacob Heyne back for their senior seasons.
“We have a very unselfish group,” head coach Travis Noble said. “They seem to share the ball and play well together. Curious to see how that impacts our team as we progress through the season.”
Many of the seniors played a role in Timberline’s two-and-out state tournament exit two seasons ago. But the same group found a way to right the ship in last year’s tournament, defeating both Eagle and Coeur d’Alene before falling to heavy-favorite Owyhee in the state championship.
The win would have given Timberline its first state championship in school history.
CAPITAL EAGLES
Head Coach: Blas Telleria, 4th Season
2023-24 Record: 18-10, Lost in State Consolation Championship
The Eagles get 10 varsity players back from last year’s state tournament roster and will once again be one of the most athletic teams in Idaho.
Most of the roster is made up of “3 and D athletes” which helped Capital set a SIC record for most made three-pointers in a single-season.
“We are arguably one of the fastest, most athletic teams in the conference, so we tend to force teams to play a faster pace than they are used to,” head coach Blas Telleria said. “That is a team goal for each game.”
Capital returns three four-year varsity players in Marcellus Clay, Isaiah Telleria and David McNamera, but lost the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, Ibrahim Talaso, and their 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Mekhi Dorrell.
“I think that added year of growth and chemistry will make us an even more for team to watch,” Telleria said.
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Head Coach: Josh Aipperspach, 11th Season
2023-24 Record: 16-10, Lost in State Play-in Game
The Patriots were one win away from last year’s state tournament and return seven players to their rotation, including the league’s leading scorer, Gabe Eddins.
The junior is Centennial’s biggest scoring threat, but head coach Josh Aipperspach says he isn’t the only threat.
“We want to have 4-5 guys in double figures every night,” Aipperspach said.
While Centennial’s line-up isn’t big, it’s one of the most athletic in the SIC. Point guard Payton Knudson will run this fast-paced offense that features several athletic guards such as Chase Tibbets, Henry Johnson and Tobin Knudson, who is one of Idaho’s best high jumpers. The wave of athletes means Centennial will consistently have five players on the floor they feel comfortable with.
“We can put five guys on the floor that can all shoot,” Aipperspach said. “Sharing the ball will be big for us this year.”
Centennial is trying to get back to the state tournament after losing to Lake City in last year’s state play-in game.
ON THE BUBBLE
EAGLE MUSTANGS
Head Coach: Cody Pickett, 5th Season
2023-24 Record: 17-11, Two-and-Out in State Tournament
Eagle lost much of last year’s state tournament roster and enters the new season with some question marks.
The Mustangs lost long-time starting point guard, Russell Gibson and their inside bully Cal Huish this offseason. That duo helped lead Eagle to a 6th consecutive state tournament and another winning season. Getting back to state this year means doing so with a much younger roster.
“This team is young, but coachable and hungry,” head coach Cody Pickett said.
Pickett, now in his sixth season, has never missed state as Eagle’s head man.
MERIDIAN WARRIORS
Head Coach: Jeff Sanor, 7th Season
2023-24 Record: 17-6, Two-and-Out in District Tournament
The Warriors return senior shooting guard TJ Sanor, one of the top returning players in the league, but Meridian lost much of its depth this offseason, including “three-level scorer” Ryan Baker and their starting power forward, Duncan Pearce. But head coach Jeff Sanor is remaining confident in his team’s ability to reload.
“We will have many contributors this year and it will be difficult for opponents to focus on only 1, or 2 of our players,” he said. “The scoring responsibility will be shared by more players this year than in years past.”
Sanor says Tristin Fortin will take over the point guard, a position he says fits his talents much better than how Meridian utilized him last season, which ended before Meridian hoped.
After cruising through the regular season, Meridian hit a cold spell at the wrong time as the Warriors lost the first two games in last year’s district tournament, ultimately meaning the Warriors missed out on the state tournament despite winning 17 games.
BOISE BRAVE
Head Coach: Manny Varela, 10th Season
2023-24 Record: 10-12, Lost in District Play-in Game
Boise returns one of the best shot blockers in league history and with one of Idaho’s most exciting freshmen joining the rotation, the Brave could be one of the more exciting teams to watch.
The 6-foot-7 Michael Nance terrorized opposing offenses last year, finishing 7th all-time in blocked shots in SIC history.
“We have one of the best defenders we have had come through our program,” head coach Manny Varela said.
With Nance locking down the paint, the Brave also have one of the best perimeter defenders in the SIC in guard Eli Rich. The three-sport star also plays on Boise’s football team and is one of the fastest athletes in Idaho, finishing third in last year’s state 100-meter sprint.
Offensively, Boise’s “downhill” and “selfless” nature helped point guard Luke Soltau finished with the SIC’s second-most assists.
This year, Soltau will have another weapon to work with in freshman Harrison Bell. The 6-foot-8 wing should see early playing time and is one of Idaho’s emerging stars.
“He loves to work inside,” Varela said.
WORK TO DO
BORAH LIONS
Head Coach: Jeremy Dennis, 9th Season
2023-24 Record: 3-17, Lost in District Play-in Game
Borah is looking to take a huge step forward this season as head coach Jeremy Dennis says this year’s team should be deeper and much improved.
The Lions get four core guys back in Dylan Luekenga, Ayden Melendez, Colton Dennis and Hendrix Castro while adding in some new pieces to its rotation.
“We are more athletic and deep this year,” Dennis said. “We can play a lot of guys. Chemistry is great and I think we will improve dramatically from last year.”
Borah has not eclipsed the .500 mark since winning its last state tournament in 2020.
MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Head Coach: Jon Nettleton, 20th Season
2023-24 Record: 6-16, Lost in District Play-in Game
The Mavs return three core players in point guard Landon Starnes, and wings Cooper Patterson and Zach Smith, but have some work to do after finishing last season with six wins.
Head coach Jon Nettleton says the Mavs will play a 5-out type motion offense, meaning Mountain View’s success will be determined by how well the Mavs shoot.
“The players don’t care who shoots or scores,” Nettleton said. “They just want to compete every night.”
The Mavs lose two all-conference honorable mentions from last year in Brevin Binder and Owen McBride.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Head Coach: Ivory Miles Williams, 2nd Season
2023-24 Record: 6-16, Lost in District Play-in Game
Rocky gets one of the league’s best returning players back in senior guard Mac Savedra and for the first time in three season feel as if they have some stability at the head coaching position.
Head coach Ivory Miles Williams officially enters his second season as Rocky’s head coach and is the first returning head coach the program had since it lost Dane Roy following the 2020-21 season.
Rocky went 15-5 that year and punched a ticket to the state tournament, but the Grizz haven’t returned to state, or even eclipsed the .500 mark since as the program went through three head coaches in three seasons.
Now, with Williams at the helm and installing systems and stability, the Grizz can begin the next phase of rebuilding.
KUNA KAVEMEN
Head Coach: Paul Egwuonwu, 2nd Season
2023-24 Record: 8-14, Two-and-Out in District Tournament (Won Play-in)
A young Kuna team took its lumps under first-year head coach Paul Egwuonwu, but with just one senior lost to graduation, Kuna is hoping can build off last season’s 8-win team.
The Kavemen get some key pieces back including all-conference honorable mention Gannon Ysais who is now a senior.
But like last year, Kuna will still have one of the younger line-ups in the SIC. Along with Ysais, junior Jackson Edwards and sophomore Emmanuel Chanuka along with guard Birder Barrus will help make up this year’s starting five.