Now, I’m not promising perfection here. There’s going to be a bracket-buster or two, or three, or four along the way, but through the first couple of months, there’s been a lot to like across the board.

Region 1 unsurprisingly brought back a bevy of talented shooting guards, and while that’s all good and fun, I think it’s widely agreeable how fun Region 5, and some facets of Region 12, have become hoops-wise in just a short range of time.

Few folks would’ve penned Roy at 8-2 when the season began, and I’ve included them below as a balanced roster that could very well hold their own through a competitive Region 5. Ogden, having won six straight, is another holiday surprise that continues to challenge expectations.

With two months to go, here’s my midway favorites from the latest high school boys basketball season:

Davis (8-2)

There’s a lot of experience floating around Region 1, and it’s undeniably apparent in the case of Chad Sims and Davis High.

A veteran backcourt led by JT Turley (14.3 ppg) and Bode Sparrow (14.0 ppg), and multiple options at forward – namely Tradon Bessinger, first-year addition Cameron Bower (14.7, 3.9 rpg), and Dilan Peterson (6.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg) – have helped Davis get things off the ground in a hurry.

The defending 6A champs have played a largely out-of-state schedule, which includes two nonregion losses against Richland, Wash., coming down to one possession and Westlake by 19 in the season opener.

New Year’s Resolution: Seizing the middle eight (Davis has won 90% of games where they led by 10 or more at halftime).

Next game: at Pleasant Grove, Jan. 2.

Layton (9-2)

Welcome to the top 5, Lancers.

Layton spent part of its break topping Nevada’s top prep program, the Liberty Patriots, 71-56 at the annual Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

As of Monday, Layton rests No. 5 in the state behind Davis (4th), LCA (3rd), Westlake (2nd), and Timpview (1st).

The math’s not hard when four of your dudes – perhaps most notably Karter Miller (21.o ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.46 rpg) – are averaging double figures every night in the scoring column, and Layton’s shot well enough to snag key, in-state wins over Lone Peak and East High to begin the year.

New Year’s Resolution: Winning the third quarter (averaging 9.9 points).

Next game: Pleasant Grove (at Olympus), Dec. 30.

Syracuse (6-4)

The weekend saw Syracuse put it together in the third quarter.

The Titans, now inside Utah’s top 30, have now won four of their last six, including a 69-66 win at new-look Box Elder and a 68-49 pullaway home win against West Field leading up to Christmas break.

Colton Hoenigman (19.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Skyler Orton (17.0 ppg, 4.2 apg) aren’t shy toward the rim, but Region 1 is crowded with shooters, and Cuse needs an even bigger glass edge via Carter Robinson (16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) to take away some of those second chances.

New Year’s Resolution: Winning the third quarter (averaging 11.7 points).

Next game: Desert Hills (at Riverton), Dec. 30.

Roy (8-3)

Could the script have flipped at Roy? They’re sure rebounding like it.

Roy’s top 4 rebounders are averaging 4.4 or more boards per night, and that includes 3.0 or more defensively. Jesse Jones is tough to miss inside, with an average of 7.8 boards per night in addition to 12.5 points.

The Royals feature nearly 20 feet between Jones, Jake Hamblin and Rock Speredon, and two shot-ready guards in senior Boston Greenhalgh (18.5 ppg) — a Luka Dončić-type, according to Roy coach Ryan Hannah — and a quick-footed newcomer in Anthony Parker (11.9 ppg).

Together, Roy has doubled 2025’s four wins before January.

New Year’s Resolution: Protect the perimeter. West shot 16 of 30 (53%) behind the arc in an 88-66 win at Roy on Dec. 27.

Next game: at Fremont, Dec. 30.

Morgan (8-2)

Once again, Scott Hunt’s Trojans find themselves atop their region heading into the new year.

Winning eight of its first 10 games, Morgan dropped a second loss to 5A foe Provo – the other coming at West Field – before opening the doors for Christmas break. Mason Williams (12.9 ppg) has three double-doubles in that stretch, and is pulling down 10.9 boards per night (9th in the state).

A realigned Region 12 should deviate from the runaway Morgan used to reach the 3A title a year ago. Ogden (7-4) and Grantsville (6-4) each boast capable rosters more than happy to dethrone the defending champs.

New Year’s Resolution: Silence the whistle (12.3 fouls per game).

Next game: Delta (8-3), Dec. 30.

Ogden (7-4)

After a 1-4 start, the Tigers appeared still somewhat snake-bitten by the second half. As of late, they’re killing it in those final two frames.

Ogden is flirting with 30-point second halves (averaging 27.8 following its 4-0 strut through the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas), as well as the fourth-highest scorer in 3A, Jackson Maw (17.8 ppg, 5.6 ppg). Maw and Blake Weston (5.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) each have a double-double already this season.

The slightest improvement to Ogden’s 30% 3-point shooting margin could make a huge difference down the stretch. The team’s leading shooter behind the arc, Peter Archibald, is just 17 of 44 on the year.

Finding a rhythm deep – and continuing to pursue the rim with big bodies Weston and Ryan Kirkland (7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg) – is the recipe for a playoff run in 2026.

New Year’s Resolution: Swing the rock (averaging 8.6 assists per game).

Next game: Deseret Peak, Dec. 30.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.