The 2025-26 high school boys basketball season is right around the corner, with the season tipping off next week in all six classifications.
Familiar programs will head into the season as the teams to beat.
Four of last year’s six state champs will open the season ranked No. 1 in the annual Deseret News preseason coaches rankings when the season begins on Tuesday.
The six preseason No. 1s are American Fork (6A), Olympus (5A), Provo (4A), Morgan (3A), Kanab (2A) and Panguitch (1A).
Olympus, Morgan, Kanab and Panguitch are all defending state champions.
Davis was last year’s 6A state champ, and it checks in at No. 2 in the preseason rankings.
In 4A, Payson won its first-ever boys basketball state championship a year ago, but it won’t get the chance to defend that 4A title as it has been bumped up to 5A because of a realignment.
American Fork struggled to an 8-17 record a year ago, but it peaked last in the season and took eventual state champion Davis to overtime in the 6A second round. All five starters return from that team.
Olympus will be chasing a 5A 3-peat this season, and leading the way will be reigning Deseret News Mr. Basketball recipient Gavin Lowe, who finished third in the state last year averaging 22 ppg.
Olympus beat Timpview in the semis en route to the title a year ago, but all five starters from that T-Bird squad return, led by highly-recruited BYU commit Dean Rueckert. Brad Kitchen has taken over as head coach at Timpview.
In 4A, Provo edged Cottonwood for the top spot in tight voting from the coaches. Provo is loaded with all five starters returning from last year’s squad that earned a No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
Cottonwood returns two starters from last year’s quarterfinal squad.
Morgan returns three starters from last year’s 26-1 squad that won all four playoff games by double digits. Richfield lost to Morgan in the championship game, and a rematch could be in the cards as the coaches pegged the Wildcats as preseason No. 2.
For the second straight year, Kanab opens the season as the 2A preseason favorite as it returns two starters from last year’s championship squad. Both of those starters — Kyle Brown and Carson Visser — are returning first team all-staters.
In 1A, three-time state champ Panguitch will begin the season with its customary bullseye, but there’s work to be done for the Bobcats. They return zero starters from last year’s squad, but coach Barney said there’s a hungry group of talented players anxious for their turn to carry on the tradition.
Only one other boys basketball team in state history has won four straight state championships, and that was Lone Peak from 2011 to 2014.
Class 6A
Team (2024-25 record)
- American Fork (8-17)
- Davis (24-3)
- Bingham (17-8)
- Corner Canyon (18-8)
- Layton (21-5)
Others receiving multiple votes: Lone Peak, Westlake, Herriman.
Class 5A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Olympus (24-3)
- Timpview (20-6)
- Highland (23-4)
- Orem (21-4)
- Springville (17-8)
Others receiving multiple votes: Pleasant Grove, Alta, Wasatch, Cyprus, Viewmont, Bountiful, Woods Cross.
Class 4A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Provo (14-10)
- Cottonwood (17-9)
- Pine View (17-9)
- Dixie (18-8)
- Juan Diego (18-6)
Others receiving multiple votes: Crimson Cliffs, Judge Memorial, Ridgeline, Timpanogos, Green Canyon, Hurricane, Sky View, Desert Hills.
Class 3A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Morgan (26-1)
- Richfield (20-6)
- American Heritage (13-11)
- Ogden (11-13)
- Canyon View (22-5)
Others receiving multiple votes: Logan, Juab, Manti, Delta, Emery.
Class 2A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Kanab (23-4)
- Parowan (10-15)
- South Summit (19-8)
- South Sevier (22-5)
- Enterprise (17-12)
Others receiving multiple votes: ALA, North Summit, San Juan, Beaver, Gunnison Valley, North Sevier, Rowland Hall.
Class 1A
Team (2024-25 record)
- Panguitch (25-3)
- Rich (20-3)
- Bryce Valley (12-16)
- Piute (15-12)
- Valley (17-7)
Others receiving multiple votes: Wayne, Tabiona, Green River, Manila.