4A State Tournament: Breakout Candidates
Patrick McCaffery (Iowa City West)
We could have fit the younger McCaffery neatly into the “stars” category as well, but since we already had Lane and Connor McCaffery there we elected to put him over here. Just a sophomore, and in his first year starting with the Trojans, it can be argued that this could be a breakout week for him. But as the top-ranked player in 2019 and with averages of 14.3 points, 1.6 blocks and 4.7 rebounds , it’s safe to say he’s already a star.
Seybian Sims (Iowa City West)
This is a guy we have seen play a ton over the last two summers, and it came as no surprise that he’s had a great deal of success this season as a starter with the Trojans. Sims is a length 6-foot-6 forward and will likely turn a lot of heads next week should West make a deep run.
Evan Flitz (Iowa City West)
Yes, another Trojan prospect makes this list. Flitz — who is also the starting quarterback for West — would start, and star on most any other team in the state. But is just so happens that he’s playing behind the top two prospects in 2017. The skilled 6-foot combo guard is averaging 4.4 points and shooting 49 percent from deep this season.
Trey VanderLaan (Newton)
The rangy senior is third-option for a Newton team that has some serious talent. VanderLann averaged 10.3 points per game this seeason, and was a sharpshooter, drilling 65 3s at a 43 percent clip. Game-plan: Do not leave this 6-foot-3 sniper open.
Blake Brinkmeyer (Valley)
A 6-foot-8 center, Brinkmeyer is a lethal combo of bouncy and long; that’s probably why Division I programs North Dakota and Northern Iowa decided to offer him last summer before he played a lick of varsity. It looks as though Brinkmeyer — who had been starting — could be heading to the bench now that Quinton Curry is back and settled in. What a weapon for the Tigers.
Lino Malual (Des Moines North)
I was told at the CIML Jamoboree in November that a Polar Bears practice had to be stopped because of one of Malual’s high-flying, electrifying power-slams; his teammates just could not contain their excitement enough to carry with the practice. This 6-foot-2 guard can do that. And he pairs it with with a snipers ability from deep. This sophomore is a superstar in the making.
Jaihon McCaleb (Des Moines North)
A junior shooting guard, McCaleb has really come on strong of late for the Polar Bears. He’s got great size at 6-foot-3, and pairs with with a decent build. And what he does best is shoot the ball; he’s shooting 48 percent from deep this season (37-77).
DJ Carton (Bettendorf)
Just a sophomore, Carton comes into the state tournament as the leading scorer for the well-balanced Bulldogs. A 6-foot-1 point guard, Carton also lead his team in assists and pulls down 4.9 rebounds per game. We recently debuted him at No. 25 in our 2019 rankings.
Jackson Foley (Cedar Rapids Kennedy)
Drake Brewster and Derrick Diggins get most of the headlines, but 5-foot-7 junior Jackson Foley get plenty of buckets too. He’s the third leading scorer for the Cougars and strokes it well from deep, connecting on 43 percent of his tries.
Austin Hinkle (Valley)
What a season this senior point guard is having. Hinkle had the unenviable task of being All-State point guard Turner Scott’s replacement; and though he may not be putting up Scott -type numbers, he been more than formidable this season. Hinkle leads the Tigers in scoring and assists, and shoots it very well. He’s just a solid player.