Way Too Early Top 10: Class 3A
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.
How well do these rankings predict what may happen over the course of the coming season? Well, the top ranked teams in each class in these “Way Too Early” rankings ended up playing for the state title in their class come March, with two of them winning it all (Cedar Rapids Xavier, Iowa City West). That may mean nothing this season, of course, but it’s something to note.
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.
1.) Cedar Rapids Xavier (State champions, 16-11 last year, 53.3% of scoring back)
The two-time defending champions in the class, the Saints have their work cut out for themselves if they want to make it a 3-peat, but they have one player on the roster that we’ll never bet against in Matt Mims (15.3). The lead guard of the attack, Mims is a proven winner who seems to play his best basketball when the team gets to Des Moines and the state tournament. He’s a lightning quick guard who excels at getting into the paint and is a gifted passer as well, dishing out 135 assists last season (to just 41 turnovers). He has committed to play college ball at South Dakota State following this season. While a lot of the talent from last year is gone, Mims won’t quite be alone, as he’ll be joined by fellow senior Jackson Joens (11.6, 45.2 3P%), who is one of the state’s best shooters. He’ll need to expand his offensive skill set a bit this year to keep the Saints at the top, but his shooting is top notch and playing alongside Mims, he’ll get plenty of open looks. They’ll need to find some increased production out of role players like Quinn Schulte (3.7), Gabe Lux (1.0) and Kyle Moeder (0.6). Also keep an eye on incoming freshman Jaylon Moses to make an impact. The Mims-Joens tandem is going to win a lot of games and be a real threat to take home a third straight state title. The record at the end of the year isn’t going to be pretty as they have to navigate an always brutal MVC schedule, but there is no doubt that this team is among the elite in 3A. There are teams in the class that return much more than the Saints, but with Mims and Joens returning, they seem as safe a bet as any to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason.
2.) Mount Pleasant (State qualifier, 22-3 last year, 88.1% of scoring back)
The Panthers only lose one player from last year’s state qualifying roster, Australian foreign exchange student Tom O’Connor, who certainly provided plenty of size for this team. The Panthers ranked second in 3A last year in both scoring offense (71.4) and defense (45.2), routinely blasting the teams on their schedule. And while they’ll lack the size they had in the middle last year, this is a group that has been playing together for a long time and they’ll be able to play at a faster pace with O’Connor gone. They’ll be led by senior guard Brady Sartorius (21.8, 58.6 FG%), one of the best scorers in the state armed with perhaps the state’s best mid-range game. A highly efficient scorer, he also tied for the team lead in assists last season and posted a better than 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Jordan Magnani (12.0), Colin Mulford (8.7), Kieran Kohorst (6.6) and Jonathan Ita (5.6) round out the likely starting five, a group of five that knows each other inside and out. The guard trio of Sartorius, Magnani and Mulford will be among the best in the state, while guys like Kohorst, Ita, Maison Ashton (2.9), Brody McGhghy (2.4) and Rhett Zeglen (2.1) know their roles and play them well. This team has had one major bugaboo over the past few years, and that is the team ranked above them in these rankings. The Panthers have only lost nine games in the past two seasons, but four of those losses came to Xavier. Avoid them, and they seem to be in pretty good shape. And perhaps with the losses the Saints suffered, this is the year Mount Pleasant overtakes them.
3.) Glenwood (18-6 last year, 99.1% of scoring back)
The Rams only lose 14 points from a team that lost three times to Atlantic last season, so they’re certainly happy to see Garrett Franken gone. They’ll be led by a trio of big-time scorers in Nate Mohr (19.7), Andrew Blum (16.9) and Christian Stanislav (15.8), who form perhaps the most potent scoring trio of any team in the state. They’ll be one of the most entertaining teams in the state to watch. Mohr is a gifted playmaker who led the team in assists and steals in addition to his scoring prowess, and he can do his damage at all three levels. He knocked down 76 3-pointers last year, which accounted for 43% of the team’s made 3s last season. Blum is a 6-4 wing who provides a little more size and rim protection, blocking 31 shots last year, while leading the team in rebounding. He’s a strong, physical player who can score in a number of ways. And Stanislav rounds out the “Big Three”, an athletic wing scorer who is primed for a breakout (as much as one can break out after averaging 16 points). Cody Buresh (6.2), Nate Kennedy (5.7), Blake Von Essen (2.2) and Jake Murtfeld (2.8) provide some quality depth for this group. And we’re expecting a big impact from sophomore guard Zach Carr (1.6), who played in just five games last year for the Rams but the former West Des Moines Valley guard is a highly talented playmaker who can stroke it and will provide even more scoring punch on the perimeter. If you’re looking for entertaining basketball and live in the western part of the state, make it a point to get out and catch a Glenwood game this season. They’re going to score a ton of points and have a real chance at winning a state title.
4.) Sioux City Heelan (17-7 last year, 77.1% of scoring back)
A traditionally strong program, the Crusaders haven’t been to the state tournament since 2012. That may not seem like too long of a drought, but for a program like Heelan, it’s an eternity. And we’re expecting that drought to end this year. They’ll be led by one of the most productive players in the state in Elijah Hazekamp (17.7, 12.4 rebounds), who headlines a team that returns seven of their top eight scorers from last season. Hazekamp plays with a relentless motor and has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. An all-around beast, he led (or tied for the lead) in every category except steals. He’ll be looking to end his high school career by leading Heelan back to state. Jack Boever (10.1) is the top scoring option on the perimeter, making 40.5% of his attempts from the arc. He’ll be joined by Brenden Roder (6.2, 37.2 3P%) and Tommy Schiltz (3.3, 45.5 3P%) in the backcourt. Colin Kasperbauer (6.6), Bryce Reynolds (9.5) and Eli Mollet (2.0) provide plenty of additional depth and versatility in the frontcourt. With one of the state’s best, most consistent, and most versatile players in tow, look for the Crusaders to get back to the promised land.
5.) Oskaloosa (15-9 last year, 79.5% of scoring back)
There may not be a more interesting team in the state this year than the Indians. An extremely young group last year, they lost five of their nine games by single digits (including three by a single possession), and they bring back seven of their top eight scorers from that team. The big name across the state (and the country) from this team is sophomore standout Xavier Foster (7.5), a super gifted and athletic young big man who is still getting accustomed to this level of play but is loaded with talent and potential. He blocked 87 shots last year and is set to take a major step forward as a sophomore, especially after getting some more experience over the summer playing with Team USA. Jared Kruse (14.1) was the team’s leading scorer last season and has an inside-out scoring skill set that makes him a matchup problem. At 6-5 and blessed with good footwork, he’s a force on the block but also stepped out to the arc and knocked down 20 3-pointers last year at a 40.8% clip. Cole Henry (12.3) is another Division I potential player, a 6-8 junior who led the team in rebounding and assists last year. Spencer Tucker (7.8) is a high-level ball handler and shooter (40.0 3P%) who provides a calming presence in the backcourt. Tanner DeKock (4.3), Rian Yates (4.3) and Tucker Nunnikhoven (1.7) also return from last year’s group. This is a team that is loaded with talent and potential, but they’re still pretty young and need to learn to win close games. There is a good chance that this team is playing in Des Moines come early March, and making some noise when they get there. The size they’ll be able to put on the floor is going to be unmatched by any other 3A team.
6.) Davenport Assumption (13-10 last year, 48.1% of scoring back)
Like Xavier, Assumption’s record is always going to be a bit deceiving, as they play in a 4A conference. So, they’re going to lose quite a few games, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t among the best teams in 3A. Five of the top seven scorers from last year’s group are back, headlined by Trent Fitzpatrick (11.9) and Dylan Peeters (7.6). A big reason we have the Knights ranked this highly is because we’re forecasting an explosion from Peeters, a long and super gifted 6-7 wing who had a great summer with Quad City Elite and is primed for a breakout. Luke Fennelly (6.5) also returns in the backcourt, pairing with Fitzpatrick to give the Knights a pair of experienced ball handlers who do a pretty solid job protecting the basketball and facilitating for teammates. Ray Thrapp (6.7) is an experienced player who has a bit of an old man’s game and is a versatile scorer who can do so in a number of ways. He shot 59.4% from behind the arc last season, so expect to see a little more of that (only 32 attempts last year) this season. We anticipate seeing a pretty similar record to what they had a year ago, but they’re going to be a threat to make it to Des Moines, and the anticipated improvement of Peeters is a huge reason why.
7.) Charles City (15-7 last year, 93.7% of scoring back)
The Comets only lose 85 points from a successful team that won 15 games last season, perhaps a year ahead of schedule. They’ll have the top five scorers from last year’s group returning, including a pair of dynamic scorers in Jackson Molstead (19.4) and Cade Hemesath (15.8), who do it in different ways. Molstead is a facilitator (131 assists) and scorer who can get to the rim or knock down 3s. He does a great job protecting the ball as well, and is one of the top lead guards in the class. Hemesath does more of his scoring inside the arc and blocked a team-high 24 shots last year. Noah Schlader (9.1, 40.6 3P%) joins Molstead in the backcourt to provide a lot of shooting, as they combined to knock down 102 3s at a 40.5% clip. Mike Cranshaw (5.9) and Hakeem Sharief (4.7) return to provide plenty of experience for this group. Four of their seven losses last season came by single digits, and we expect to see some of those games turn into wins with more experience on the floor.
8.) Norwalk (11-12 last year, 86.0% of scoring back)
You take a look at last year’s sub-.500 record, and maybe raise your eyebrows a bit at this selection. But then you do some further digging and realize that of those 12 losses, seven of them came by single digits, and even more astonishing, five came by three points or less. Of course, you want to win those games, but this was a pretty young team last year, and that type of luck is bound to even out. They’ll be headlined by one of the best guard duos you’ll find in senior Luke Vaske (20.1, 62 3PM) and sophomore Bowen Born (13.0). That tandem is quick and talented, and they can score in bunches. We’re looking for Daniel Geistler (5.5) to take a big step forward, providing the Warriors with an interior presence to go with Vaske and Born. Blake Johnson (4.6, 24 3PM) provides some additional scoring punch on the perimeter, and Drew Rosonke (2.4) returns after leading the team in rebounding last year. So between the bad luck (presumably) evening out a bit, and the two dynamic guards Norwalk has returning, we anticipate many more wins coming their way this season, and they’re a team that nobody will want to see in their district or substate come February.
9.) Waverly-Shell Rock (State semifinalist, 24-2 last year, 42.4% of scoring back)
Much like Western Christian in 2A, the Go-Hawks are a team that is going to be ranked in these preseason polls until they give us a reason not to. This is traditionally one of the best programs in the state, regardless of class, and it doesn’t seem to matter who they lose, because they’re going to win a ton of games regardless of who is there. This year figures to be no exception, as despite losing their top two scorers (and one of the best players in the school’s history), they do have a solid amount of experience coming back. They’ll be led by Jacob Bahe (6.8), a 6-5 power forward who is an efficient scorer who runs the floor well and can protect the rim a bit (22 blocks). He’ll be joined on the interior by Mosai Newsom (3.8), a highly athletic 6-5 forward who, like Bahe, runs the floor really well and seems to be primed for a breakout year. The backcourt will be led by Jack Seward (5.6, 46.6 3P%) and Luke Velky (5.3), a solid guard tandem that will be asked to increase their scoring load this year. Somebody is bound to step up from this program and become a major contributor, and we’re never betting against the Go-Hawks. They’re going to find a way to win plenty of games, and they’ll once again be a threat to find their way to Des Moines. They’re always well coached on both ends of the floor.
10.) Spirit Lake (17-6 last year, 88.1% of scoring back)
The No. 5 scoring defense in 3A last year, the Indians allowed just 48.9 points a game. And with their top four players back from that group, expect to see that swarming defense playing at a high level again this year. They’ll be led on both ends by 6-9 junior Owen Coburn (18.2), who has already committed to play college ball at South Dakota State. A talented young big man who is steadily improving, he shot just under 70% from the floor last season and is reliable at the free throw line as well, which is rare for a big like him. He runs the floor well and is a vocal leader on both ends of the floor. Alex Van Dyke (13.0) will join Coburn on the interior to provide some toughness and scoring, with the ability to also stretch out to the arc and knock down some 3s. The backcourt will be led by Frankie Ramos (9.0), a varsity mainstay who really gets after it on the defensive end and is a capable shooter from the arc. His intensity on defense helps set the tone for this group and he has an infectious personality on the floor. Nick Christensen (7.4, 40 3PM) is the team’s top shooter, and returnees Mason McCaffery (3.3) and Kyler Olsen (1.4) provide some strong minutes on both ends of the floor as well. This group isn’t going to be very deep, but they’re going to get after it on defense, and they’ve got a difference making big man who can carry them. If they can find some reliable scoring on the perimeter, they could make a run back to the state tournament, where they were a few years ago.
Ten more teams to watch
West Delaware (State semifinalist, 25-2 last year, 45.4% of scoring back)
It’ll be an interesting season for the Hawks, returning just two of their top seven players from last year’s team, which was the last undefeated team in 3A, running their record to 25-0 before dropping the semifinal and consolation games at the state tournament. The good news is that one of the best players in the state, regardless of class, is back with 6-7 junior forward Derek Krogmann (15.8, 11.4 rebounds). Krogmann put together a great spring and summer with the Barnstormers and has been working to expand his range. If he can add some shooting ability to his great footwork and post moves that he has on the block, he’ll become unstoppable. The other returnee is wing Tyler Kelley (11.1), a good scoring wing who possesses some great length and size from his guard spot. Look for him to handle the ball much more this year following the graduation of Ryan Trainer, and at 6-5, he has the size to be a matchup problem there. This group was one of the best defensive teams in the class last year, ranking 4th, allowing just 45.6 points a game. Part of that can be attributed to playing a little slower pace on offense, but this group was very sound on the defensive end as well. With Kelley and Krogmann back, both possessing great length, they’ve got a solid foundation to build with there, but they’ll need a lot of players to step up. This may be the most interesting team in the class to watch early in the season, as there area lot of question marks that need to be answered, but they’ll have one of the best tandems in the class to help them out.
Center Point-Urbana (17-7 last year, 75.9% of scoring back)
The Stormin’ Pointers came on strong late last season, going 13-4 during the post-holiday break stretch, losing by just three to an undefeated West Delaware team in the substate final. They bring back three of the top four scorers from that team, headlined by one of 3A’s best and most versatile players in Grant Dirks (20.6). Dirks shot 57% from the floor last season, and at 6-5, he does a majority of his damage in the paint, showcasing great footwork and touch around the rim. He’s worked steadily on improving his range and ability to step away from the rim, and he knocked down 31 3-pointers last year at a 39.7% clip. With his versatility, strength and all-around scoring ability, he’s one of the most difficult players to defend in the state. Dylan Harris (12.2, 57 3PM) will take over primary ball handling duties after JoJo Frost’s graduation, and he’ll need to protect the ball, something this group as a whole struggled to do at the team camp we saw them at in June. Mitchell McCauley (9.9) is the other major returning piece for CPU, giving them some more scoring punch. CPU will need to find some role players to step into the places of some graduated players, and the two that stood out when we saw them in June were post players Cody Westcott (1.4) and Alex Grawe (0.2). Those two are 6-4 and 6-6, respectively, and played good minutes when we saw them. If they’re able to provide some production in the paint, it’ll allow Dirks to explore more on the perimeter, which could make this team very dangerous. With Harris being the only key returnee with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio last season, turnover prevention will be key to optimizing this team’s talent. Do that and they’ll have a chance to play for a trip to state again this year.
Dubuque Wahlert (7-16 last year, 65.0% of scoring back)
Following the graduations of guys like Cordell Pemsl, Riley Till and David Wedewer, the Golden Eagles were bound to take a significant step back last season, with a largely inexperienced roster. And they certainly did take a step back, winning just seven games after playing in the 3A championship game three straight seasons. Still, there were some serious bright spots last season, with high quality wins over Davenport Assumption, Cedar Falls and Dubuque Hempstead, and while they lose their leading scorer, the next five top scorers from last season return, giving them a much more experienced lineup heading into this year. When we saw them play at a team camp in Madison in June, they were an incredibly balanced team, and we expect to see more of that this winter. They’ll be led by Peter Timmerman (11.2), a gifted playmaking wing who can score or facilitate and is as tough as they come. He’s capable of scoring on the block or from the arc and at 6-6 can be a matchup problem. Will Leytem (7.9) and Craig Collins (4.8) provide some perimeter shooting, and Matt Bandy (7.7) and Jack Jaeger (5.7) will do a majority of their damage on the interior. Bandy was great at the aforementioned team camp, and is a physical banger in the paint who plays with great energy. If they’re able to get some production out of 6-9 Sam Gruhl (1.0), that would go a long way. He’s been a bit of a project, but he too played well at that camp, and has the size to make a major impact. There will rarely be a two-game stretch where the same player leads the team in scoring, which can be a good thing for this group. They’ll need to improve on their efficiency (39.6 FG%), and if they can do that, they’ll be a quality club. Regardless, having to go through the MVC is going to prepare them well for postseason play, and they’ll be a threat to make a run to Des Moines.
Winterset (6-16 last year, 100.0% of scoring back)
It may seem odd to include this 6-win team in here, especially after quite frankly, they weren’t very competitive in a majority of their losses last season. But on the strength of a pair of underclass, high-level guards, we anticipate seeing the Huskies take a major step forward this season, elevating themselves towards the top of the Raccoon River Conference, and becoming a viable threat in 3A. Every player from last year’s team is back, and they’ll be led by the aforementioned tandem of junior Casey Kleemeier (15.5) and sophomore Easton Darling (13.8). Few players across the state had a more productive summer than Darling, and he could quickly become one of the best guards in the class. Kleemeier is a strong, physical lead guard who excels at getting to the rim and using his thick frame to finish through contact. Justin Henry (11.5) also returns as a double figure scorer for Winterset. This is a group that needs to improve on their shooting (41.0 FG% last year), and if they do so, they should be much more competitive. But after strong seasons last year, we’re primarily banking on Kleemeier and Darling becoming one of the better backcourt duos in the state, and that should lead to a significant improvement in the win column.
Fairfield (9-12 last year, 97.9% of scoring back)
The Trojans are a bit like Winterset in that they were under .500 last season, and weren’t competitive in a majority of their games. So why are they a team to monitor? First, they’ve got a standout big man in Carson Crile (15.1, 10.1 rebounds), an undersized forward who is efficient and relentless on the glass. After a great sophomore season in which he shot nearly 56% from the floor, we expect to see his game take another step forward. And the Trojans lose just 24 points from last year’s roster, giving them plenty of experience to build with. Tristin Waugh (9.2), Dante Cingire (9.0), James Lyman (8.6) and Collin Breen (8.5) all return to the starting lineup alongside Crile, and that type of continuity should be good for another 4-5 wins this year, if not more.
Carlisle (15-8 last year, 73.6% of scoring back)
The Wildcats were on a seven-game winning streak to close out last season before falling to state tournament regular Pella in the district final. They return four of the top five scorers from that team, which was one of the most efficient in the state, shooting 52.2% from the floor. Behind Collin Lister (17.6, 54.8 FG%), the Wildcats were the No. 8 scoring offense in 3A last season, averaging 66 points a game. Every returning regular from last season shot at least 52.7% from the floor, so we don’t foresee a large dropoff in their offensive output or efficiency numbers this season. Tommy Donovan (10.7), Cole Henderson (10.0) and Max Goodhue (9.6) all posted strong seasons last year, and alongside Lister, provide one of the strongest quartets in 3A. That said, if Carlisle wants to make more noise this season, they will need to improve on the defensive end of the floor. They ranked 50th in the class last year, allowing 61.6 points a game, and they only held a team below 60 points once in games they lost last season. If they can get that scoring defense number down towards the 54-55 point/game range, with the firepower they have coming back, they should win a ton of games and have a real shot at making it to the state tournament.
Nevada (15-8 last year, 80.2% of scoring back)
Essentially the polar opposite of Carlisle, the Cubs had six losses last season in which they scored fewer than 50 points. They ranked 9th in scoring defense, allowing just 51 points a game, but were middle of the pack (No. 34) in scoring offense, putting up 59 points a night. With six of their top seven scorers returning, including a pair of sharpshooting guards, we anticipate seeing this group become a little more potent offensively. They’ll be led by Trent Stahl (14.1, 38.5 3P%), a versatile scoring threat who also dished out 93 assists last season. Tyler Sansgaard (8.9, 47.2 3P%) is coming off a strong freshman season in which he established himself as one of the state’s top perimeter threats, and the Stahl/Sansgaard combination can be lethal from the arc. The rest of the returnees will provide some solid size, with 6-4 Om’Unique Wilkerson (8.5) and Jack Higgins (2.7), 6-5 Matt Chitty (4.8) and 6-6 Luke Merfeld (9.6). That quartet combined to have 77 blocks last year and they’ll provide some solid rim protection for the Cubs, and were a big reason this group was so stout defensively a year ago. If Nevada can improve a bit on the offensive end, while maintaining that solid defense, they’ll win a lot of games again this year. What kind of noise they can make come playoff time remains to be seen, as they won’t get pushed terribly hard during the regular season (their schedule ranked 61st out of 64 3A teams last year).
Fort Madison (15-8 last year, 64.2% of scoring back)
Three of the top four scorers from last year’s Bloodhounds return, headlined by scoring guard Kaleb Cresswell (14.7). Cresswell knocked down 75 3-pointers last year and did so at a remarkable 46.9% clip, making him one of the most deadly shooters in the state. A high level scorer, he had a strong summer playing with Iowa Pump n Run, and looks primed to have a great senior year. Treavor Kokjohn (12.0, 8.8 rebounds) provides some size and strength in the paint, and we’re looking for a big step forward from point guard Logan Rashid (6.0), a speedy guard who led the team in steals last season and is a capable shooter from distance (21 3PM at 41.2%). This group isn’t going to be better than Mount Pleasant, who they lost to three times last season, but they should retain their place as the second best team in the Southeast Conference, and win plenty of games.
Webster City (15-6 last year, 70.3% of scoring back)
Five of the top six scorers return for a Lynx team that seemed to be peaking late last season, winning eight straight and nine of 10 down the stretch. They’ll be led by Jordan Tanner (14.5), a 6-0 guard who does a majority of his work inside the arc and was among the leaders in free throw attempts in 3A last season. A hard nosed guard who loves to attack the rim, he’s an efficient scorer (54.4 FG%) who knows what he’s good at and doesn’t stray from it. He’s joined in the backcourt by Cameron Moen (10.0) and Noah McKinney (6.7), who combined to knock down 75 3-pointers last season and are good complements to Tanner’s drive and kick approach. Look for 6-5 junior Henry Hoversten (4.4) to take a significant step forward as he attempts to fill the shoes of the graduated Connor Shannon, who controlled the paint on both ends of the floor. If Hoversten can provide some solid production to go with that trio of guards, the Lynx will be in business.
Atlantic (State qualifier, 19-6 last year, 63.5% of scoring back)
The Trojans lose possibly the best player in the school’s history, as Garrett Franken is set to start his college career at North Dakota, taking his 23.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists with him. The good news, however, is that the next five leading scorers return for a group that went to the state tournament last year and should have a good amount of balance this season. They’ll be led by the inside-out combo of Scott Leonard (14.7, 71.2 FG%) and Austin Alexander (11.9, 45.5 3P%), a lethal combination of efficiency from both spots on the floor. Both are 6-6, and that size at the point guard spot for Alexander gives him a huge edge in just about any matchup that he’ll see. He dished out 100 assists last season, and with the ball in his hands even more this season, that number should increase. Chase Mullenix (7.2), Grant Podhajsky (5.2) and Jaxson Eden (2.2) figure to round out the starting five, each of them being capable shooters to surround Leonard with. Any time you lose a player the caliber of Franken, you’re bound to take a step back. But with the (perceived) improved balance, the Trojans could be just as successful this season as they were last year.