Way Too Early Top 10: Class 4A
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 4A, 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.
Iowa commit Connor McCaffery looks to lead West to their seventh straight tournament appearance, and fourth title since 2012.1.) Iowa City West (State runners up, 21-5 last year, 53.6% of scoring back)
Behind the top two players in the 2017 class, the Trojans will look to not only get to their seventh straight state tournament, but win their fourth title since 2012. Connor McCaffery (15.5 points per game) and Devontae Lane (13.7) lead an attack that lost a number of solid contributors in Wali Parks, Nate Barnes, Alex Henderson and Tanner Lohaus. Patrick McCaffery (4.7) should have a much bigger impact this season as a sophomore. He looked much more comfortable last year when he was playing in the starting lineup, something that didn’t happen often, but will this year. He’s the top ranked player in the 2019 class, a 6-8 wing who can do a bit of everything. They’ve got a number of players coming up from a sophomore team that went undefeated last year and should contribute, most notably Seybian Sims, a 6-7 forward who may crack the starting lineup. Evan Flitz and Hakeem Odunsi could also contribute from that group, and last year’s varsity players like Nate Disterhoft (1.3), Izaya Ono-Fullard (1.4), Marshawn Yarbrough (1.0) and Jake Anderson (0.4) could also make contributions as well. The Trojans have become the definition of a program in Iowa high school basketball, and are as safe a bet as any to enter the season No. 1, and potentially remain there throughout the course of the season.
2.) Des Moines Hoover (State qualifier, 21-2 last year, 60.8% of scoring back)
You know what you’re going to get from the Huskies – they’re going to defend the crap out of you, they’re going to be fairly efficient offensively and they’re going to be nearly impossible to come back on when they get a lead. This year shouldn’t be any different. The Huskies will be led by power forward Douglas Wilson (15.3 points, 9.8 rebounds), an uber-athletic, powerful interior presence who is intimidating on both ends of the floor. A lot of young players will be expected to contribute on the perimeter, led by sophomores Kenny Quinn (4.8) and Hosea Treadwell (4.5). Aldreais Campbell (6.7) is also back, and Devonte Thedford (2.0) looks like he could be primed for a huge increase in production. Hoover always wins a ton of games, and if their young guards take a step forward alongside the powerhouse Wilson on the interior, they’ll contend for a state title.
3.) Waukee (15-8 last year, 54.1% of scoring back)
This may be the one team across the state that I am most excited about. They looked great when I saw them at the Justin Sharp Shootout over the summer, and that was without leading scorer Jacob Rau. They’ll be led by the aforementioned Rau (13.2 points, 7.9 rebounds), who broke his foot over the summer but should be good to go now. He’s a big interior presence on both ends of the floor, and is a player that is capable of scoring on the block when the Warriors go into a drought. Drew Johnson (11.6) is back on the perimeter after a very good junior season, as is Cade Longnecker (6.3), who posted a 99-39 assist-to-turnover ratio last year. That duo isn’t overwhelming, but they don’t turn the ball over, they defend and they knock down threes. Nathan Johnson (3.5) is a long, athletic wing who can play inside and out and provides them with some versatility. Nathan Nelson (1.8) saw some time last year and is a solid role player. The Warriors also have a pair of young sophomores to be very excited about in 6-7 combo forward Dylan Jones and 6-2 combo guard Noah Hart. Jones is a do-everything forward who was sensational at the Top 250 Expo, and Hart was great all summer with the Barnstormers. This is a roster that has loads of talent and versatility, and they’re going to be very, very tough.
4.) North Scott (15-6 last year, 99.3% of scoring back)
The last time the Lancers returned as much as they do this year, they went ahead and won the title in 2015. Does this group have the same chemistry and talent as that group? Maybe not, but there is certainly something to be said for continuity and the man on the sidelines. Seamus Budde is about as good as it gets, and he’s got plenty of talent to play with this year. Division I wing Bailey Basala (17.8) is the leading scorer and a dangerous threat from anywhere on the floor. Corvon Seales (12.2) keeps getting better and is a shutdown defender on the wing, while Drew Bofelli (10.6) is a tough, physical guard who doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves for doing all the small things. Throw in Gary Morgan (7.2), Reece Sommers (2.8), Nate Wilkerson (2.5), Sam Stonskas (1.5) and Cole Rollinger (1.8) and every rotation player is back from last year. Potentially add in Cortavius Seales, and the Lancers could go nine or ten deep this winter.
5.) West Des Moines Valley (State champions, 23-3 last year, 14.2% of scoring back*)
There’s an asterisk with this one because that scoring total doesn’t include star forward Quinton Curry, who tore his ACL during the summer. I’ve heard rumors that they think he’ll be back around January, but we don’t know for sure, so for now, we’re counting him as a non-returnee. Regardless, there is a lot of talent in this problem, headlined by the big man duo of Charley Crowley (3.6) and Blake Brinkmeyer. Brinkmeyer, a junior, has already earned a few scholarship offers, including one from Northern Iowa, despite not having played a varsity minute yet. Austin Hinkle (2.0), Reese Skinner (2.3) and Nate Dennis (1.7) are the only other returnees who saw any significant playing time last year, but look for guards Carter Frey and Trayvon Williams to make an immediate impact. The state’s largest school has turned into a very good program, and they’ll be formidable even without Curry. They’ve got size, solid guard play and some shooting, and they’re very well coached. It may take a while for them to all gel together, but we’re confident in them being a top-five team during the season.
6.) Sioux City East (18-5 last year, 39.0% of scoring back)
The strongest program out west, the Black Raiders lose 21-point-a-game scorer Connor Murrell, as well as some other key pieces in Jaylen Rees and Ty Benson. However, they bring back a very talented inside-out duo in 6-7 Van Rees (15.0 points, 11.6 rebounds) and Aidan Vanderloo (8.7 points, 50.0 3P%), who played great last year as a sophomore and freshman, respectively. That duo should be one of the best in the state, playing off each other at a high level. And that duo, and the school’s tradition, would be enough to have them ranked on it’s own. But they’ve also added Sioux City North transfer Jailen Billings, a lightning quick guard who averaged 20 points a game last year and shot the ball better than I’ve ever seen him shoot it during the summer. This three-headed monster will be among the best in the state, and should be enough to get the Black Raiders back to Des Moines.
7.) Dubuque Senior (State qualifier, 14-11 last year, 75.9% of scoring back)
This is a team that may still be a year away, but they’re going to compete this year regardless. Led by scoring guard Carter Stevens (13.0), the Rams were a surprise state qualifier last year, and they’ll look to build on that success. Noah Carter (9.4) had a great freshman season and he was very good during the summer as well. A 6-5 forward, he’s a matchup problem with his ability to stretch the floor or play in the paint. Nick Timmerman (5.8) is back and is a scrappy player who does a lot of little things and is a great competitor. Matt Hendricks (4.9) provides some size on the interior with his 6-6 frame, and Louis Psihoyos (3.8), Justin Blackman (5.9) and Sam Link (2.4) all played significant roles last season and return. The Rams have a lot of young talent on this roster, and they should compete and make a run to the state tournament. Whether or not they can compete for a title depends on the strides their young players make.
8.) Cedar Falls (State semifinalist, 20-6 last year, 44.1% of scoring back)
The Tigers took an unexpected blow when Treyshawn Labeaux left for Pleasant Valley. Still, they return arguably the most potent player in Iowa in A.J. Green (17.8), the dynamic point guard who has skyrocketed up recruiting charts after a dominant summer. He was sensational late last season, and carried that into the state tournament, where he was electric. This year, he’ll have to do more of it on his own, following the graduation of Tra’Von Fagan and the departure of Labeaux. But if any player in the state is going to carry a team, it’s going to be Green – he’s just that good. Isaiah Johnson (6.0, 61.6 FG%) is back after a solid junior season and Ben Gerdes (3.0) is also back, giving them some returning experience. Look for sophomores Logan Wolf and Jackson Frericks to make an impact on the varsity this winter. While they aren’t the top-five team they may have been with Labeaux back, this is still a team that is going to be really good because they’ve got perhaps the most dynamic player in the state on their side.
9.) Dubuque Hempstead (10-14 last year, 79.4% of scoring back)
Perhaps the most impressive team I saw during summer team camps, look for the Mustangs to be much improved, and contend for a state tournament berth for the first time in the school’s history. This group returns a lot of talent, headlined in the backcourt by Connor (11.5) and Lucas (8.8) Duax. Both are long guards who get after it on the defensive end, facilitate and can score. Lucas was particularly impressive over the summer and looks like he’s in line for a big junior year. Marshon Crowder (7.6) also returns in the backcourt, giving them a solid three-headed attack on the perimeter. The single most impressive player from the Top 250 Expo a few weeks ago was Keith Johnson, a 6-5 forward who looks like he’s going to be a major contributor for Hempstead after averaging 4.3 points last year. If he takes the step forward that we are anticipating, this group will be in the top 10 all season, and could be among the state’s elite towards February and March. They really defend, they’re scrappy and they’re learning how to win. This is a group that will be a lot of fun to watch this winter, and the Senior-Hempstead games will be must-see in Dubuque.
10.) Des Moines North (18-6 last year, 48.1% of scoring back)
The Polar Bears return a dynamic duo in point guard Tyreke Locure (13.3 points, 176 assists) and wing Jal Bijiek (14.1 points, 112 blocks). They’ll need to get increased production out of last year’s role players – guys like James Deng (6.4), Dariq Myles (1.8), Lino Malual (0.9) and Gatdoar Bijiek – to reach last year’s heights after losing leading scorer Dontre English. But there is certainly loads of talent on this roster. They play an up-tempo style that plays to their athletic advantages, and they’ve got a pair of Division I players on their roster, which is something few teams in the state can say. Still, we need to see this group win the big game before putting them too much higher than this. They routinely beat up on the weaker teams in the CIML, then struggle against the better teams that play a different tempo. Is this the year that all changes? Perhaps. One thing is certain, though. This team will provide more highlights than any other around the stae.
Eight more teams to watch
Cedar Rapids Washington (7-15 last year, 40.6% of scoring back)
It may seem odd to mention a team that was eight games under .500 and loses 60% of their production, but few teams in that situation return a player as good as Hunter Strait. Strait (12.9) has become one of the better point guards not only in the state, but across the Midwest. He’s a flashy player but he’s got the ability to get everyone involved and has really improved as a scoring threat. Add in Ian Thomas (6.7) as a returnee, and expect some big production out of guys like Donovan Beard and Max Campbell, and the Warriors are a team that will surprise some this winter.
Davenport Central (15-6 last year, 69.5% of scoring back)
The Blue Devils will be headlined by the backcourt duo of Ray Miller (15.5) and Tirique Randolph (13.2). A highly athletic group, they’re going to be a lot of fun to watch in transition, and should be solid in the halfcourt setting as well, with Miller taking his game to another level this summer. Tyrique Vesey (8.1) is a solid wing defender who competes on the glass. This is a team that will push North Scott and Bettendorf for the MAC title.
West Des Moines Dowling (State qualifier, 20-4 last year, 36.4% of scoring back)
The Maroons lost an abundance of talent from last year’s state qualifying team, but behind a Division I prospect at point guard, they’ll be very good once again. Sam Ingoli (9.7 points, 74 assists) is the type of player who makes everyone around him better, and he should elevate this group. He’s joined in the backcourt by last year’s second leading scorer, Joey Kern (10.7), a marksman from deep who shot above 45% from the arc a year ago. Look for big man Joseph Evans, a 6-8 athletic forward, to make an impact on the interior after losing Ted Brown and Stevie Sarcone. The Maroons may not be as good as they were last year, at least not to start the season, but this is a team that will be competing for a state tournament berth yet again.
Muscatine (15-8 last year, 52.7% of scoring back)
Led by the state’s best player, the Muskies will have a chance to build upon their 15-win season as Iowa commit Joe Wieskamp (21.6 points per game) enters his junior season. The problem here is that there isn’t a whole lot of other returning talent, with Jake Mussehl (3.3), Drew Greenhaw (3.5) and Derrick Woepking (2.1) the only returnees who saw any significant playing time. Still, with Wieskamp in tow, Muscatine will be very dangerous.
Johnston (11-11 last year, 55.5% of scoring back)
The Dragons lost leading scorer Jared Bacon, but they’ve got a number of talented players waiting for their roles to increase, headlined by the combo forward duo of Dawson Jones (10.1) and Grant Kramer (8.4). Both are big bodied players who are capable of playing on the interior or the perimeter and that tandem should present some matchup problems in the Des Moines metro. The guard tandem of Jeran Proctor (5.2) and Camden Vander Zwaag (7.2) is also solid, with Proctor the quick point guard who dished out 100 assists last year, and Vander Zwaag the sharpshooter, who shot 42.5% from the arc last year. If the Dragons can find some role players, they should be very good.
Ames (15-8 last year, 59.2% of scoring back)
The Little Cyclones lose their leading scorer, but bring back plenty of other experience with Joe Evans (9.6), Eric Steyer (9.2), Chuol Chuol (7.2) and Carter Mumm (3.7). This is a group that is routinely at the top of the class defensively, allowing the fourth fewest points per game last year, and they should be exceptional on that end of the floor again. Watch out for talented sophomore Japannah Kellogg, who should become a household name across the CIML over the next three years, starting this winter. With a methodical style of play that will keep scores low, this group has a chance to win a lot of games, and can push to make a return trip to the state tournament after a one-year absence.
Western Dubuque (11-11, 85.4% of scoring back)
The top three scorers return for the Bobcats, led by guard Jordan Lake (14.8). Dylan Gotto (9.7), Ryan Samson (7.2), Gregory Bennett (5.7) and Nick Lembezeder (5.2) round out a top five that should be pretty good. The problem with Western Dubuque is that they play in a 2A/3A conference (WaMaC), which will hurt them come playoff time. Still, this is a team that should win a lot of games and could be pushing for a spot in the bottom half of the top 10 for a big chunk of the season.
Newton (15-9 last year, 68.3% of scoring back)
Like Western Dubuque, the Cardinals play in a 3A conference and will have to step up to 4A when the postseason starts. Unlike Western Dubuque, Newton has a powerful duo of scoring threats that could carry them to some postseason wins. Connor Gholson (19.2) and Garrett Sturtz (17.0) form one of the better duos in the state and will win plenty of games for Newton almost by themselves. Gholson is a much better shooter than the 31.6% he shot from the arc last season (on 212 attempts), and if he’s able to increase his efficiency, they’ll be very good. Sturtz is at his best attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line, where he converted at an 84.1% clip last year. They’ll need to get increased production out of guys like Morgan Maher (4.5) and Josh Ventling (2.0) if they want to make a serious run, but that duo makes them dangerous.
Disagree with anything we’ve said here? Let us know in the comments section below.