If you're looking for a high school basketball team to follow all the way to the state tournament in Des Moines this March, the Xavier boys could be it.

The Saints have the size, playmakers, talent and coaching to go a long way in the Class 3A tournament this season. That's somewhat of a surprise, considering the Saints graduated four starters - including three who are playing basketball in college this season - but has rebuilt the team in a hurry.

The Metro area has some talented Class 4A clubs as well with Linn-Mar, Washington, Kennedy and Prairie, so don't count any of them out as we head into the new year and the heart of the campaign.

Xavier finished third in the Class 3A state tournament last year, but Adam McDermott, Calvin Winker and Michael Mims left for college ball and Connor Ramlo left for Division I soccer. The Saints looked like an ordinary club when they lost to Kennedy at home this season, but they were still trying to put the pieces together at that point.

If you saw the Saints drill Davenport Assumption right before the holiday break, you saw a ballclub that could do some serious damage this season. The Saints (5-1) are ranked No. 4 in Class 3A and look like a club that could go a long way.

Xavier has the size with 6-foot-7 Ryan Stulken, 6-7 Max Techau and 6-5 Jackson Joens. They have two quality point guards in Mitchell Burger and Matthew Mims. They have shooters, rebounders, an outstanding coach and some capable players off the bench.

Techau, a transfer from Kennedy, may have been the missing link for the Saints this season, giving the club a formidable front line of 6-7, 6-7, 6-5 that should be able to compete with most Class 3A clubs.

Luehrsmann said his team needs to improve its defense to reach its ultimate goals this season, but the Saints appear to have the hunger and desire to get it down.

If you saw the Linn-Mar Lions get dismantled by Waukee in the season opener, you probably thought the Lions might struggle this season without enough size up front. But if saw Jordan Bohannon and the Lions drub Prairie last week, you can see the possibilities for a team that features two Division I players in Bohannon (Iowa) and Jared Printy (Western Michigan).

Bohannon poured in nine 3-pointers and scored a career-best 40 points against Prairie. He scored from all over the court, including a shot from more than 30 feet when he took two dribbles after crossing mid-court and hit nothing but net.

Printy, a transfer from Washington, has been a nice addition to the club at 13.2 points. The key to the whole shebang could be Beau Klostermann, an undersized center at 6-foot-4 who is mobile and has a nice touch from outside.

The Lions are a finesse team and will face much bigger squads along the way, but they have the firepower to make the state tournament if they land in the right substate (and don't have to face a club like Iowa City West).

The Washington Warriors might have the second-best 4A team in the Metro this season. The Warriors beat Kennedy and have a solid 1-2 punch in Laveechie Williams and Keion Wills. Williams is averaging a double-double at 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds despite playing with a broken nose, and Wills is a talented guard with a 12.0 scoring mark.

New Washington Coach Justin Decker has the size, talent and quickness to compete with just about anyone and it should be fun to watch the Warriors in 2016.

The Kennedy Cougars were still a work in progress heading into the holidays, but they have two potential all-Metro players in sophomore point guard Derick Diggins (14.0) and forward Drake Brewster (13.6) and a deep bench. Coach Jon McKowen has been easing football star Shaun Beyer into the mix and he could be the 'X' factor this season if he continues to develop at a rapid rate.

The Prairie Hawks did not look good against Linn-Mar in the 91-55 drubbing last week, but nobody would have looked good with Bohannon on fire like that. The Hawks have improved in Year 2 under Jeremy Rickertsen and are led by Cal Clark (12.8) and Max Smith-Drahos (12.8). Jalen Rima was slowed by an ankle injury when the season began, but he could be the 'X' favor for Prairie even though basketball is not his top sport.

The Jefferson J-Hawks also have improved since last season and entered the holidays with a 3-5 record. Dennis McKinney has emerged as Jefferson's top player and the J-Hawks appear headed in the right direction.

The Marion Indians also took a 3-5 record into the holidays with Jacob Manderscheid scoring at a 12.4 clip. Coach Mike Manderscheid always gets the most out of his club and 2016 should be no exception.

The Huskies from Cedar Valley Christian have a 1-7 record at this point with new head coach Craig Foote working hard to build the program.

METRO RECORDS

1. Xavier (5-1), 2. (tie) Linn-Mar (4-2), Prairie (4-2), 4. Kennedy (3-4), 5. Washington (2-3), 6. (tie) Jefferson (3-5), Marion (3-5), 8. Cedar Valley Christian (1-7).