The Register's list of the 50 best Iowa high school boys' basketball stars of all time

Editor's note: This story was originally published in March 2018.

From Barnes to Wieskamp. Raef to the Roland Rocket.

The Des Moines Register took on an ambitious project — to select the 50 greatest Iowa high school boys' basketball players of all time.

It's a list with a lot of challenges. How do you consider players from different eras that span more than a century of basketball history?

Players were selected based on criteria similar to those used for the Register's top 50 wrestlers and for the top 50 girls' basketball players.

College and professional careers were not considered in our selections. So even if you were a player who went on to star in the NBA, you weren't guaranteed a spot. We weighed factors like performance, honors and the legacy that accompanied individuals.

Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott, Ames teammates who won back-to-back state championships in 2009-10, are on the list. They're now side by side with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

Muscatine's Joe Wieskamp, who will lead his team to the state tournament this week, is the only current player to be selected.

Raef LaFrentz of MFL/Mar-Mac of Monona, who stood 6-11, is one of the tallest chosen. Gary Thompson, who earned the nickname "The Roland Rocket," stood more than a foot shorter.

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Statistics were considered, but they were not the sole determining factor in our selections — long a Register policy when choosing our all-state teams.

We also reached out to the public, offering readers a chance to provide their own nominees. Two well-known coaches, Tom Goodman and Don Hicks, submitted their own 50-member lists.

More than 100 names were suggested by readers. Hundreds of past players were considered.

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The Register welcomes feedback on our list. But if you think we missed anyone, it's likely they simply didn't make the cut.

The earliest athlete among the 50 is Marcellus McMichael of Des Moines Roosevelt, a 1933 graduate who was the first four-time Des Moines Register all-state selection. The most recent is Iowa recruit Wieskamp. Every decade between them is represented on the list.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

HARRISON BARNES, AMES

Barnes guided the Little Cyclones to a 53-game winning streak and two state championships. He scored 1,787 points in his career. Barnes went on to play at North Carolina and in the NBA.

HURL BEECHUM, D.M. NORTH

Beechum provided size (6-6) with outside shooting abilities. He scored nearly 1,600 points in his career. He was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

JOE BERGMAN, CLINTON ST. MARY

A dominant post in the mid-1960s, Bergman went on to play at Creighton and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He led St. Mary to a state runner-up finish in 1965 when Iowa has a one-class state tournament.

TODD BERKENPAS, MAPLE VALLEY (MAPLETON)

Berkenpas set the state's career scoring record with 2,536 points from 1978 to 1981. A guard who could hit from inside or outside. In 1981, he was named as the state's first Mr. Iowa Basketball.

JORDAN BOHANNON, LINN-MAR (MARION)

As a senior, Bohannon averaged 25.8 points a game. He was named Mr. Iowa Basketball in 2016. Chose to attend Iowa. One of four Bohannon brothers to play for Linn-Mar.

Leistikow:Why Bohannon's biggest fan — his older brother — hasn't missed one of his games

MATT BULLARD, W.D.M. VALLEY

Bullard grew to stand 6-10 but was best known as a great outside shooter. Perhaps one of the best centers to play a high post. Helped Valley to a state runner-up finish in 1984. Had an 11-year NBA career.

STEVE BURGASON, AMES

A tall and strong presence, he scored led Ames to a state championship and a 26-1 record in 1973. He scored a tournament best 63 points in three games. Burgason went on to play at Iowa State.

CARY COCHRAN, TRI-CENTER (NEOLA)

Cochran set the state's all-time scoring record in 1997 with 2,650 points. That mark held up until 2003, when it was broken by Wapsie Valley's Brooks McKowen. A prolific 3-point shooter.

NICK COLLISON, IOWA FALLS

Led his school to back-to-back state championships in 1997-98. Topped the Class 2A state tournament field both seasons. Shared Mr. Iowa Basketball honors in 1999. Later starred at Kansas and a lengthy NBA career.

BRIAN DAVID, CARROLL KUEMPER

Named Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1985 after leading Kuemper to a state championship. Dominant and tall (6-9), he went on to play for Arizona. He was named to the state's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

MIKE DAVIS, WATERLOO EAST

A three-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-stater, Davis led East to a 1990 big school state championship. Davis was named Mr. Iowa Basketball as a senior. Combined good height with agility.

RICKY DAVIS, DAVENPORT NORTH

Davis was an electrifying player who loved to dunk. He scored more than 1,600 career points. Davis went on to play at Iowa and in the NBA. A three-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-state selection.

JOE DYKSTRA, D.M. HOOVER

Dykstra was one of the top players in Des Moines history. A three-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-state selection who graduated in 1978. A gifted shooter who has been inducted into the state Basketball Hall of Fame.

BILL EVANS, NEVADA

A two-time Des Moines Register all-state selection in 1941-42. A versatile athlete who played basketball and baseball at Drake. Led Nevada to a state title in 1942, when he led the tournament in scoring.

NEIL FEGEBANK, PAULLINA

Fegebank was part of one of the most successful runs in Iowa high school history. Paullina won three consecutive state titles (1968-70) and 76 straight games. He was a three-time all-stater.

RAY FONTANA, ANKENY

A 1950 graduate, Fontana scored nearly 2,000 points during an era when players rarely reached 1,000 in a career. He led Ankeny to a state runner-up finish in 1950 when the state tournament had one class.

CHRIS GAINES, WATERLOO WEST

A 6-3 guard who could drive or shoot from the outside, Gaines was named Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1986. Went on to play at Hawaii. Named to the Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame.

MARK GANNON, IOWA CITY REGINA

Gannon stood 6-7 but could run the court with much smaller players. A two-time Des Moines Sunday Register first team all-state selection. Led Regina to a 50-game winning streak in the late 1970s.

MATT GATENS, IOWA CITY HIGH

A tremendous scorer, Gatens compiled nearly 2,000 career points. Named captain of the 2008 Class 4A all-tournament team. City High went 25-1 and won a state title. He earned Mr. Iowa Basketball honors.

TOMMY GOODMAN, SIOUX CITY NORTH

Goodman comes from a basketball family, the son and grandson of coaches. The 1985 graduate scored 27 points a game as a senior. A two-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-state guard.

ADAM HALUSKA, CARROLL

Scored 2,209 points in his career. A three-time first-team Class 3A all-state selection. Stood 6-5 but could handle the ball extremely well. As a senior in 2002, averaged 30 points and 10 rebounds.

BOB HANSEN, W.D.M. DOWLING CATHOLIC

Took Dowling to a state championship in 1979. Stood 6-5 and shot from outside, but could go inside, too. A two-time all-stater. Played on Iowa's NCAA Final Four team and won an NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls.

KIRK HINRICH, SIOUX CITY WEST

One of the greatest players from northwest Iowa, Hinrich both handled the ball and scored. Guided West to a state championship in 1999. Hinrich went on to play at Kansas and in the NBA.

FRED HOIBERG, AMES

Before he became known as The Mayor of Ames during his Iowa State career, Hoiberg was a high school star. He totaled 1,759 points in his career. Named Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1991.

JEFF HORNER, MASON CITY

Scored 2,194 points in his high school career and earned Mr. Iowa Basketball honors in 2002. A three-time first team Des Moines Sunday Register all-state selection. After playing at Iowa, he went into coaching.

DICK IVES, DIAGONAL

A big scorer in his day, Ives scored 640 in the 1942-43 season. Earned four letters at Iowa, where he was a three-time All-American. Elected to the state Basketball Hall of Fame.

PETER JOK, W.D.M. VALLEY

Jok's story of coming to Iowa as a South Sudanese refugee is inspiring. He learned to play basketball and developed incredible long range shooting skills. Mr. Iowa Basketball in 2013. Started his career at Roosevelt.

RANDY KRAAYENBRINK, PAULLINA

Led his team to back-to-back state championships in 1981 and 1982. Kraayenbrink tied for Mr. Iowa Basketball honors in 1982. A guard who could score outside or drive. Went on to play at Northern Iowa.

RAEF LAFRENTZ, MFL/MAR-MAC (MONONA)

A big man who could drive to the basket. Compiled 2,148 points in his career. Named Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1994. Went on to play at Kansas, earning All-American honors, and in the NBA.

BILL LOGAN, KEOKUK

A remarkable talent in the early 1950s. Led Keokuk to state in 1951 and 1952, leading the tournament in scoring both years. He had a whopping 190 points in those two seasons.

WADE LOOKINGBILL, FORT DODGE

Mr. Iowa Basketball of 1988, Lookingbill helped the Dodgers to a 23-1 record and a state championship as a senior. A two-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-state selection, picking up first team honors in 1988.

AL LORENZEN, C.R. KENNEDY

Lorenzen was one of the most decorated Iowa high school players of his generation. He was Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1984, taking his team to the state championship. He was an All-American and a major recruit.

DOUG MCDERMOTT, AMES

McDermott was a key piece of Ames' back-to-back title teams in 2009 and 2010. One of the greatest shooters for a man his size, McDermott stood 6-8 and was nearly unstoppable near the basket. Averaged more than 20 points as a senior.

BROOKS MCKOWEN, WAPSIE VALLEY (FAIRBANK)

Owns the state's career scoring record with 2,831 points, which he set in 2003. Scored 1,002 points in 2002-03, another record. Mr. Iowa Basketball as a senior. Played at Northern Iowa.

MARCELLUS MCMICHAEL, D.M. ROOSEVELT

McMichael was a phenom of his time, becoming the first Des Moines Sunday Register four-time all-state selection. Tall for a player in the 1930s. The 1933 graduate overcame childhood health problems to become one of the state's best.

LOREN MEYER, RUTHVEN-AYRSHIRE

A two-time Des Moines Sunday Register first-team all-state selection who used his 6-10 frame to dominate the competition. Strong and powerful, he scored 818 points as a senior in 1990-91.

DON NELSON, MARSHALLTOWN

A top player in one of the state's most storied programs. Nelson led Marshalltown to back-to-back championships in 1960 and 1961. He was an all-state both seasons. Nelson was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

DEAN OLIVER, MASON CITY

A rare four-time all-stater, Oliver was a point guard who could score as well as pass. Finished his career with nearly 2,000 points. He led Mason City to two consecutive state championships.

MARCUS PAIGE, LINN-MAR (MARION)

Paige is one of the greatest Iowa high school guards. Mr. Iowa Basketball in 2012 and an All-American. Scored 28.4 points a game as a senior. Went on to play at North Carolina.

CORDELL PEMSL, DUBUQUE WAHLERT

Pemsl was a strong and powerful post who stood 6-8. He scored 21.3 points as a senior in 2015-16. Also pulled down more than 10 rebounds a game. A three-time all-state selection.

ART SATHOFF, IOWA FALLS

One of the greatest rebounders in Iowa history. Had 1,669 points and 1,113 rebounds in his career. He had 488 rebounds in the 1987-88 season. His single game rebounding record is 28.

JESS SETTLES, WINFIELD-MOUNT UNION

Settles combined strength with power, running the court quickly while standing 6-7. Mr. Iowa Basketball in 1993. Career point total: 2,167. He was a three-time Register all-state selection.

TROY SKINNER, PALMER

Was part of a team that won 103 consecutive games in the late 1980s. Skinner Scored 2,497 points before going on to play at Iowa. Sank 142 3-pointers as a senior. A two-time all-state pick.

CHRIS STREET, INDIANOLA

Earned Des Moines Sunday Register all-state honors three times. Street stood 6-8 but could dominate with his agility as well as height. A two-time all-tournament selection at state.

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GARY THOMPSON, ROLAND

The Roland Rocket had one of the best-known nicknames from Iowa high school basketball history. In the 1952-53 season, he scored 837 points. He had 2,043 points in his career. An Iowa State legend.

LLOYD THORNBURG, PLEASANTVILLE

During the mid-1960s, Thornburg was one of the state's most dominant big men. He ranks No. 2 on the state's all-time rebounding list with 1,371, along with 1,570 points.

MORGAN WHEAT, W.D.M. VALLEY

Wheat was inducted into the state Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. A 1988 graduate, he was a two-time Des Moines Sunday Register all-state choice. Wheat helped lead Valley to the 1987 state tournament.

CARL WIDSETH, DAVENPORT

Widseth led Davenport to three consecutive state championships in the 1950s. After high school, he went on to play at Tennessee, become that college's scoring record holder.

MURRAY WIER, MUSCATINE

Before Wieskamp, there was Wier, who went on to lead the NCAA in scoring. Wier was inducted into the state's Basketball Hall of Fame in in 1969. He also became a successful high school coach at Waterloo East, winning a state title in 1974.

JOE WIESKAMP, MUSCATINE

Wieskamp averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior and finished as Iowa's all-time leading scorer with 2,376 points. A tremendous shooter.

Note: Where applicable, a player’s high school of graduation is listed.