Raiders Boys Basketball Poised for Another Championship Run

The CDH Raiders boys basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with high expectations after an outstanding 29-2 campaign in 2024-25 that culminated in a trip to the state finals and a state runner-up finish.

Despite graduating two All-Conference standouts—Tommy Ahneman ’25, now playing college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, and Monteff Dixon ’25, who is continuing his football career at Iowa Central—the Raiders return a deep, talented roster ready to compete at the highest level once again.

Leading the way are team captains JoJo Mitchell ’26 and Ty Schlagel ’27, two of the premier players in the state. Mitchell, who has signed to play Division I basketball at the University of St. Thomas, and Schlagel, who has committed to the University of Nebraska, each average around 20 points per game. While their scoring ability anchors the team, the Raiders’ success goes far beyond their two stars.

Jason Johnson ’26 brings four years of varsity experience, including two seasons as the starting point guard. Known as one of the best defenders in the state, Johnson sets the tone on both ends of the floor. Julian Smith ’27 is an experienced guard with a knack for making big shots, while Dre Frierson-Hollie ’27 provides an inside-outside presence with excellent size and versatility.

The Raiders’ depth continues with key contributions from seniors Luke Hilger ’26, Isaiah Thom ’26, and Rayquon Gary ’26, along with juniors Isaac Feller ’27 and promising sophomores Anthony Armstrong ’28 and Zeke Gilbert ’28.

Head coach Jerry Kline Jr. ’93 believes the team’s balance and athleticism will be major strengths this season.

“Our depth and speed really stand out,” Kline said. “We have the ability to defend the entire court and shoot the ball well from the perimeter, which gives us a lot of flexibility.”

Mitchell has been the leader of this group through an incredible run of success, guiding the Raiders to two consecutive conference championships, two section titles, a state runner-up finish, and a fourth-place finish at state. During that span, CDH has compiled a remarkable 55-7 overall record and 34-2 record in conference play.