Comfortably nestled in the central Midwest, the state of Iowa has long heated up cold winter nights with an exemplary brand of boys basketball, and as such, its state tournament is considered to be among the nation’s very best.

Following 11 years inclusive (1912-1922) in which the state of Iowa had unsupervised, non-Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)-sponsored boys basketball state championships, in 1923 the IHSAA began its extraordinary run of sponsoring such tournaments.

In that inaugural sanctioned tournament played in a round-robin format at Boone High School, Osage emerged as the first IHSAA boys basketball state champion. Buzz Hogan was the driving force for Osage, which defeated three larger schools en route to winning the title and finishing the season 33-1. Hogan went on to become an All-American player at the University of Iowa, which he helped lead to the Big 10 title in 1926.

The tournament expanded to two enrollment classifications (Classes A and B) in 1925 and 1926, but reverted back to one division from 1927 to 1955. From 1956 to 1960, two state champions were again crowned, but the IHSAA once again went back to one class from 1961 to 1966.

The IHSAA boys basketball state tournament inside Wells Fargo Arena.

The subsequent 48 years were an era of ongoing expansion, as from 1967 to 1974, there were two classes (Class 1A and Class 2A); then three from 1975 to 1984 (same two as before, along with Class 3A); and since 1985, there have been four enrollment classifications (called “A,” “1A,” “2A” and “3A” from 1985 to 1992; then known as “1A,” 2A,” “3A” and “4A” since 1993).

In addition to the changes in enrollment classes, several different venues have been host to the IHSAA boys basketball state tournament.

In addition to the aforementioned Boone High School, Ottumwa High School, Iowa State College, the State University of Iowa, Drake University, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the University of Iowa and Wells Fargo Arena have housed the state championship. Veterans Auditorium did it the longest, during the years 1955 to 1959, 1961, and 1963 to 2005. Since 2006, Wells Fargo Arena has hosted the state tournament.

IHSAA Executive Director Rick Wulkow (left) and National High School Hall of Fame Inductee Fred Hoiberg at the 2012 induction ceremony.

Among team records, Dubuque Wahlert holds the record for most state tournament appearances (26), while Davenport-Davenport Central has had the most victories (51) and has won the most state championships (9). In 1976, Rock Valley lit up the scoreboard for a single game-record 111 points.

On the players’ record list, Curt Hofman of Hull Western Christian set the single-game scoring record of 56 points in 1991, while Rock Valley’s Mark Faber pulled down a single game-best 27 rebounds in 1977.

Among coaches, Paul Moon of Davenport holds the record for most state championships (7), while Mitch Osborn made the most tournament appearances (17) while coaching at Elk Horn-Kimballton, Pomeroy-Palmer and Harlan Community, and is tied for the record for most consecutive state tournament appearances (7 from 1989 to 1995).

Over the years, many players have distinguished themselves on Iowa’s biggest high school hoops stage.

One such player was 6-7 forward Neil Fegebank, who led Paullina to three consecutive state titles (1968 to 1970). He holds three tournament records: most points in a championship game (42 in 1970), most points in the state tournament, career (246 – nine games from 1968 to 1970), and most field goals in the state tournament, career (97 – nine games from 1968 to 1970). Fegebank then played for the University of Iowa, where he was a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes.

Another Paullina standout was Randy Kraayenbrink, who led the Panthers to consecutive state titles in 1981 and 1982. Ironically, his record-114 state tournament points in the 1982 tourney edged Fegebank’s 112 set in 1970. Renowned as a scoring machine, Kraayenbrink went on to play at Northern Iowa, where he still ranks second with 2,004 career points.

As a burly 6-7 center, Mark Gannon led Iowa City Regina to state championships in 1976, 1978 and 1979. Named to the all-tournament team all three years, Gannon finished his career with 1,845 points. Gannon then played for the University of Iowa, and helped lead the Hawkeyes to the 1980 NCAA Final Four.

Fred Hoiberg, who was inducted into the NFHS’ National High School Hall of Fame in 2012, was known as “The Mayor” during his storied career at Ames High School. The 6-4, 210-pound guard led the Little Cyclones to the 1991 Class 3A state title by scoring 105 points in three games, and led the tourney with 31 rebounds. He subsequently was a four-year starter at Iowa State University, played 10 years in the NBA, and currently is Iowa State’s head men’s basketball coach.

One of the nation’s top high school big men, 7-0 Raef LaFrentz of MFL-Mar-Mac led his squad to the 1993 and 1994 state tournaments. In his first game in 1993, he scored 32 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a victory over Clear Creek-Amana. He continued to showcase his well-rounded skills with a triple-double of 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a 1994 semifinal loss to Council Bluffs St. Albert, and concluded his career with 24 points and 22 rebounds in a consolation victory over Algona Bishop Garrigan. A four-year starter for the University of Kansas, LaFrentz played 10 years in the NBA.

Another big man who played for the Kansas Jayhawks was 6-9 Nick Collision of Iowa Falls. He helped lead the Cadets to the 1997 state tournament and then capped off back-to-back undefeated seasons with consecutive Class 2A state titles in 1998 and 1999. An All-American at Kansas, Collison was a first-round NBA selection in 2003 and currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One of Collison’s teammates at Kansas was 6-4 guard Kirk Hinrich of Sioux City West. Playing for his father, Jim, since third grade, Hinrich led West to the state tournament his final three seasons, with a runner-up finish in 1997 and a state title in 1999. A clutch shooter, Hinrich was named 1999 Co-Mr. Basketball with Collison, and currently plays for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Shown above is Harrison Barnes (left) and Doug McDermott (right) playing for Ames High School at the IHSAA boys basketball state tournament.

A terrific tandem if there ever were one, Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott teamed up to lead Ames High School to a collective 53-0 record and to Class 4A state titles in 2009 and 2010. Often considered to be the best player in Iowa high school history, the 6-8, 225-pound Barnes scored 1,787 career points in high school, played two years for the University of North Carolina, and is now a small forward for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

Meanwhile, the equally sized (6-8, 225) McDermott averaged 20.1 points and 7.8 rebounds as a senior at Ames en route to earning first-team all-state honors. While playing college basketball for his father at Creighton (Nebraska) University, McDermott was a three-time All-American, and led the nation in scoring (26.7 points per game) and was named national player of the year as a senior. He currently plays for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

The 1934 IHSAA boys basketball state tournament program.

“For more than 100 years, Iowa boys have played in state basketball tournaments at venerable venues,” said IHSAA Executive Director Rick Wulkow. “From single-class to four classes, from the University of Iowa Fieldhouse, Drake Fieldhouse, Veterans Auditorium and now the modern-day Well Fargo Arena, Iowans have gotten to witness many of the all-time great players and teams. Since 1985, the weeklong, four-class, 32-team tournament showcases on a large stage the Iowa values of hard work, fairness and sportsmanship before large responsive crowds and a championship television network. It validates for our communities and schools - large and small alike - the purpose of educational activities.”