Way Too Early Top 10: Class 3A
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With July’s evaluation period now behind us, and plenty of time to kill between now and late November, it’s time to take a look at who we believe will be some of the teams to keep an eye on in each classification this winter. And, since everyone likes rankings, why not roll out a de facto pre-season top 10 for each class, with our “Way Too Early” top 10 lists. Below you’ll find our top 10 for Class 3A, along with some other teams that could make some noise, as well as a brief summary of why each team is in their respective spot. Enjoy.
PG Matt Mims will look to lead Xavier to back-to-back titles1.) Cedar Rapids Xavier (Defending state champions, 19-8 last year, 63.5% of scoring back)
This may be the easiest slot to fill on any of the four lists, as the defending champions return a wealth of talent. Yes, they lost some firepower in Mitchell Burger, the team’s leading scorer last season. And yes, they lost a pivotal defensive piece in Ryan Stulken, who caused plenty of issues with his length. But Matt Mims (12.1 points per game), Jackson Joens (10.3) and Max Techau (13.4) form one of the top trios of players in the state, regardless of class, and they each do different things for the Saints. Mims is the cool, calm and collected point guard who runs the show and was so good at the state tournament that North Dakota extended him a scholarship offer. Joens is a phenomenal shooter who can torch defenses when he’s left open. And Techau is a hard working big who runs the floor extremely well, scores at the rim and can stretch the defense, in addition to his defensive abilities. Nolan Butkowski is also back, a top-notch perimeter defender who showed he’s a capable scoring threat with a 22-point game against Waterloo East last season. There may be questions regarding the Saints’ depth, but they will no doubt find some players to step up and fill roles.
2.) Pella (State semifinalist, 24-2 last year, 47.8% of scoring back)
For the past three years now, the Dutch have been one of the most exciting teams in the state to watch, routinely scoring over 70 points a game, and running the prettiest fast break in Iowa high school basketball. Despite losing floor general Will Warner and 11-point a game scorer Payson Vande Lune, don’t expect to see too much drop off from this group. Ryan Van Wyk (14.9 points, 9.5 rebounds) is back after leading the team in scoring and rebounding, and he had a huge summer playing with Shoot It, a team made up primarily of his Pella teammates. Also back from last year are a number of players who saw significant playing time in the Dutch’s deep system – Donovan Holterhaus (7.0), Nick Finney (6.0) and Drew Pringle (3.8) are the standouts of the group, but look for Tyson Wassenaar (2.5), Kobe Diers (1.6) and Julian Vierson (1.3) to all play roles as well. Finney had a great season last year, posting 113 assists to just 44 turnovers, and he’ll assume even more of the facilitator role as he will have the ball in his hands more with Warner gone. Holterhaus is an athletic freak of a wing who can do a little bit of everything, and could be this year’s breakout player across the state. This is a team that will always share the ball, they’ll go deep and they’ll outscore plenty of teams. They’re as safe a bet as any to remain in the top-5 throughout the season.
3.) West Delaware (16-7 last year, 98.9% of scoring back) 2008
A 16-win team a year ago, the Hawks lose only 14 points from that group. They’ll be headlined by the interior tandem of John Nagel (14.6) and Derek Krogmann (11.5, 8.9 rebounds). Krogmann had a fantastic freshman season and will become even more of an interior force with a year under his belt. He’s got a seven-foot wingspan, great footwork and hands, and the ability to finish at the rim – don’t be surprised if he’s averaging a double-double of 18 and 12ish this year. They’re able to flank that duo with a trio of shooters on the perimeter in Kyle Wright (8.7, 41 3PM), Tyler Kelley (8.4, 41.1 3P%) and Marshall McCarty (4.6, 46.8 3P%), allowing that tandem to operate without much threat of a double team. The final piece of the puzzle is point guard Ryan Trainer, a seasoned veteran who puts his teammates in position to score and should be even better this season as a senior. This group hasn’t been to Des Moines since 2008, but there’s a chance that this team has the best chance of any in the the class at knocking off Xavier with their big man tandem.
4.) Waverly-Shell Rock (18-6 last year, 49.5% of scoring back)
A five-year state tournament streak ended last year when the Go-Hawks lost to Dubuque Wahlert in their substate final. Look for them to start a new streak this season. Behind Northern Iowa commit Austin Phyfe, this is a team that will be near the top of the rankings throughout the season, despite the fact that they’ll be breaking in a lot of new players. Phyfe, who averaged 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, is one of the best players in the state, and we look for him to have a dominant senior season. The backcourt will be anchored by John Stensland (7.7) and Luke Velky (5.2), with Velky looking to build on a very solid freshman season. This is one of the better programs in the class, and like Western Christian in 2A, count them out at your own peril.
5.) Mount Pleasant (18-6 last year, 99.4% of scoring back)
The Panthers lose even less than West Delaware does, with only eight points gone from last year’s roster. This is a group made up largely of juniors, who have been playing varsity together since they were freshmen, going through some growing pains but improving each time out. This season and next will produce loads of wins for Mount Pleasant. The junior quintet of Brady Sartorius (16.5), Jordan Magnani (10.4), Kieran Kohorst (9.2), Colin Mulford (6.3) and Jonathan Ita (4.4), and senior Pat Canby (4.4), all return and have tons of experience playing together. Sartorius is one of the better point guards in the state, posting a nice 2.6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last year, and is a dynamic scorer as well. Magnani has shown flashes of takeover ability on the offensive end, and the rest of the players all know and play their roles extremely well. This team will be very, very good and should be a solid bet to make the tournament.
6.) Glenwood (19-5 last year, 64.8% of scoring back)
A pair of fantastic junior scoring guards return for the Rams in Nate Mohr (17.8) and Andrew Blum (17.0), a powerful duo that is capable of outscoring most of the backcourts they’ll cross paths with this season. Also back is Christian Stanislav, who scored 9.4 points a game and shot 40.8% from the arc last year as a freshman. This is a team that will be fairly small, but Blum rebounds at a high level (8.3 rebounds a game) from his guard spot, and this group will outscore plenty of teams, averaging 71.7 points per game last year. That trio of guards is potent, and should be enough to make this team a significant threat.
7.) ADM, Adel (13-9 last year, 76.0% of scoring back)
One of last season’s biggest surprises will be even better this year, as the Tigers return three double figure scorers to a team looking to get to the state tournament for the first time since 2012. A group that was boosted by move-ins and transfers a year ago, ADM brings back a big-time scorer in guard Tajen Ross (15.9), an all-around offensive threat who is capable of dominating games. Also back are Matthew Larson (12.7) and Payton Conrad (12.6), both good offensive players in their own rights. Conrad dished out 4.8 assists per game, and each player is a capable threat from the arc. Cole Knoll (2.9), Jared Sapp (3.1) and Samuel McCartney (2.7) are also back after playing roles last year. With the big-time trio of guards ADM has in their backcourt, this team will win a lot of games.
8.) Carroll (9-15 last year, 74.1% of scoring back)
A pair of big-time scorers are back for the Tigers in Kolby Molinsky (17.0) and Dayton Ross (16.7), as is Cooper Ross (7.3). Each of those three attempted at least 117 three-pointers last year, and if they can improve on their 34.8, 34.2 and 31.6% shooting from the arc, respectively, this is a team that should be very dangerous. With a trio of talented guards back, the Tigers will certainly be a threat to make it to Des Moines for the first time since 2010.
9.) Storm Lake (10-13 last year, 97.4% of scoring back)
The Tornadoes have the longest state tournament drought on this list, having not made it to Des Moines since 1994. They’ve got a chance to end that streak this year, with all but one player returning from last year’s group (Mach Nyaw transferred to Grand View Christian). They’re led by a powerful scoring duo of Parker Lange (19.2) and Joshua Werge (14.1), who are both capable of torching defenses from anywhere on the floor. Brayden Hoops (9.3), Jal Lieth (7.3) and Kevin Duque (6.3) round out the rest of the top five, giving this group continuity and experience. This is a group that should improve their efficiency, having shot just 39.1% from the floor last year, and 29.9% from the arc. Look for both of those numbers to increase as the number in the wins column increases substantially.
10.) Atlantic (18-5 last year, 52.9% of scoring back)
The Trojans will undoubtedly miss Ryan Hawkins, who led the team in nearly every category last season. However, they’ve got a heck of a player coming back in recent North Dakota commit Garrett Franken, a 6-7 do-everything guard-forward, who averaged 16 points, led the team in assists and finished second in rebounding, steals and blocks. Scott Leonard (7.8) and Austin Alexander (5.1) are also back for Atlantic, giving Franken some experienced talent alongside him. This group has a solid chance at making their first state tournament appearance since 2002, but they’ll only go as far as Franken can take them.
Six more teams to watch
Davenport Assumption (5-18 last year, 66.6% of scoring back)
You may look at that 5-18 record from last season and wonder why the Knights are even being mentioned here, and that’s fair. Nine of those 18 losses were by single digits a year ago, and they bring back some very nice pieces in Trenton Wallace (10.8 points per game), Trent Fitzpatrick (10.9) and Ray Thrapp (6.3). All three of them started playing much improved basketball as the season went on, and should be able to help carry this team to many more wins this year. This team will almost certainly be above .500 in the regular season, and will be a dangerous threat come postseason time after playing a 4A schedule throughout the year.
Knoxville (12-11 last year, 91.4% of scoring back)
The top six scorers return from a team that lost six of their 11 games by single digits last season. They’ll be led by a trio of double figure scorers in Chase Larson (11.9), Trent Davis (10.4) and Blake McClung (10.3). Add in Cade McNeill (8.2), Ben Wallace (6.5) and Justin Little (5.0) and the Panthers have a strong core group of players returning to build around. This group should grab hold of the South Central Conference, and they’ll have a decent chance to make their first trip to Des Moines since 2000.
Norwalk (16-6 last year, 43.6% of scoring back)
The Warriors suffered a blow when junior big man Cade Moritz transferred to Des Moines Roosevelt, but this is a team that should still be pretty solid behind the play of point guard Luke Vaske, one of the top 2018s in the state. Vaske averaged 19 points a game last year and is coming off a sensational summer with Martin Brothers. This is a team that will benefit come playoff time from dropping back down to 3A after being in 4A last season. If they can get some increased production out of Trent Moritz (4.6 points, 72.0 FG%), forming a nice inside-out game with Vaske, they should be fine. Keep an eye out for freshman point guard Bowen Born, who should burst onto the scene with some early contributions for Norwalk.
Grinnell (14-9 last year, 68.6% of scoring back)
The Tigers may have been one of the top 5 teams in the class had they not lost some of their depth with the transfers of Zaine Leedom (East Marshall) and Brevin Hansen (Lynnville-Sully). They still return one of the best inside-out duos in the state in Cade McKnight (18.0 points, 7.1 rebounds) and Sam Allen (16.3, 4.3 assists), along with sharpshooter Ethan Mitchell (6.8, 46.6 3P%). With that trio in tact, Grinnell will win plenty of games and still be a threat to make a trip to Des Moines.
LeMars (10-12 last year, 92.8% of scoring back)
Trenton Hillbrands (23.9) returns after putting together a sensational junior year, in which he was among the state’s leading scorers. He did so with remarkable efficiency, shooting 55.6% from the floor and attempting more than six free throws a contest. Pretty much every other key contributor is also back for a Bulldogs team that will look to take advantage of a Lakes Conference that may be a bit down this year. Will Pottebaum (10.2), Jacob Thompson (7.3), Gabe Eckstaine (5.8), James Brownmiller (5.4) and Logan Lancaster (4.4) are all back after playing big roles. This is a team that should be much improved, and with a star scorer like Hillbrands, they can’t be counted out of anything come playoff time.
Mount Vernon (17-6 last year, 38.2% of scoring back)
The Mustangs may not be as successful as last year’s group, with four-year mainstays Tommy Hook and Connor Herrmann gone. However, Austin Ash (16.0) is back after leading the team in scoring, and he’s proven throughout grassroots, team camps and fall leagues that he’s capable of carrying teams with his scoring prowess. A lights out shooter who can get his shot off pretty much whenever he wants, he’ll likely have a pretty green light this season. Drew Adams (4.7) is a solid point guard who will be able to set Ash up for looks, and if the ‘Stangs can find some more help for Ash, they can make a push come postseason time. Either way, we’re not counting out any team that has a player who can shoot it like Ash does.
Disagree with anything we’ve said here? Let us know in the comments section below.