SALT LAKE CITY — The state of Utah had quite the year in high school basketball in 2015-16.

Whether it was a first state title for Olympus in Class 4A, or the return of Bingham to the top spot in 5A, the boys basketball season was filled with plenty of highs — and that’s not even mentioning Lone Peak’s Frank Jackson in his McDonald’s All-American nod, the first for a Utah prepster since 2000.

Below are the KSL Game Night MVPs in boys’ basketball for the Class of 2016.

Player of the Year: Frank Jackson, Lone Peak

The Duke-bound senior couldn’t bring his team the state title in a competitive 5A field, but there was little doubt Jackson was among the top players in the state.

Jackson led the state of Utah in scoring two years in a row, tying with Davis’ Jesse Wade as a junior with 26.8 points per game, then averaging 28 points as a senior in 2015-16 while leading the Knights to the 5A state quarterfinals.

The Lehi native originally committed to BYU shortly after his freshman year, but decommitted a year later after moving to Alpine and Lone Peak. The decommitment makes sense, too; the 2016 Deseret News Mr. Basketball was receiving offers from programs such as Arizona, UCLA and Stanford before ultimately signing with legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils.

5A MVP: Yoeli Childs, Bingham

The Miners big man averaged a double-double while leading Bingham to its first 5A state championship since 2006, putting up 16 double-doubles on the year.

The BYU signee averaged 17.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, finishing in the top 10 in the state in both categories. He also showed his range, making 41 3-pointers and shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc as a senior.

4A MVP: Gavin Baxter, Timpview

Baxter’s influence on a game was readily apparent to the Thunderbirds, who finished runners-up to Olympus at the 4A state tournament.

The 6-foot-7 senior forward was often described as “an athletic freak” by opposing coaches, and some of his biggest highlights came above the rim.

Baxter averaged 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while leading Timpview to the state finals, and his increased performance paid off when he accepted a scholarship offer from BYU this winter.

3A MVP: Tyler Bennett, Dixie

It’s not very often that you get to make history. But for Bennett and the Flyers, the history they made will be noted in St. George for years to come.

The Flyers won their first state title since 1970 thanks in large part to Bennett, who scored 30 points in the championship game against Juan Diego.

The unselfish Bennett wasn’t always the type to take over games from the floor, though. He averaged 21.4 points per game, but also 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals to show his senior leadership in every category.

But in the title game, he took over and scored the third-most points of his career.

Forty five years is a long time — and Bennett wasn’t going to make Dixie High wait any longer.

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2A MVP: Darrin Gethers, Summit Academy

It takes a team to win a state championship, as the Bears did in Class 2A this year.

But it also takes a difference maker — and Gethers was that.

The 5-foot-10 point guard averaged 20.5 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 steals per game in 2015-16, finishing in the top three in 2A in each statistical category for the state champs from Summit Academy.

Gathers scored in 19 points or more in every game of the 2A state tournament, and he and Layton Christian’s Mark Burton turned the title bout into their own personal game of H-O-R-S-E that saw the Bears hold on for a 64-63 victory.

He showed his versatility, as well, in a Jan. 8 game against Delta, when he put up 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and eight steals.

Gathers gave credit to his teammates — but his impact on the squad was apparent all year.

1A MVP: Tyus Millhollin, Diamond Ranch

Millhollin came to Diamond Ranch from California and promptly scored 30 points in his first game with the Diamondbacks last November.

He then went on to score in double-figures in every game but two, hefting Diamond Ranch to its first-ever boys basketball state championship.

Millhollin averaged 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.6 steals per game, finishing first or second in each statistical category in 1A.

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