State Tournament: 4A Stars to Watch
The stage is set for the 2019 Iowa high school boys’ state tourney, and over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing the event. Here we take a look at 12 of the star players to keep an eye on during the Class 4A tournament.
Dylan Jones, 6’7 PF (Waukee) — 2019
After star point guard Noah Hart went down with a leg injury midway through the season, Jones’ already critical role with the Warriors became more important. He’s shined while carrying the Warriors to their third state tourney appearance in five years, averaging 14.5 points on 76 percent shooting, 3.1 blocks and eight rebounds per game.
Matt Stilwill, 6′ G (Dowling) — 2020
A breakout candidate and a star to watch, Stilwill burst onto the scene this season for the Maroons. As a sophomore, he didn’t play varsity, this season, the athletic and fiery combo-guard averaged a team-best 13.2 points per game.
Patrick McCaffery, 6’8 G/F (Iowa City West) — 2019
The state’s 2nd-ranked 2019 prospect and future Iowa Hawkeyes wing, McCaffery is certainly no stranger to Wells Fargo Arena. This will be his fourth time playing under the bright lights in Des Moines. He’s had a tremendous senior season (25.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg). Does he have what it takes to bring home a state title to West for the second time in three years?
Noah Carter, 6’5 F (Dubuque, Senior) — 2019
The future Northern Iowa forward has been one of the more dominant players in the state for some time now. His combo of strength, skill and athleticism make him one of the more fun players in the state to watch, too. Senior was our pick to win state before the season started, we still like their chances, mostly because of Carter.
Cortaviaus Seales, 6′ PG (North Scott) — 2019
The Seales name has been mainstay at the state tournament for half a decade now. Cortaviaus started it all back in 2015, when he helped carry the Lancers to their first-ever state title. Then there was Corvon Seales who shined at Wells Fargo Arena. Now, it’s Cortaviaus’ turn to do some damage. He’s the leading scorer (14.8) and steals-getter (1.8) for North Scott this season.
Ty Anderson, 6’5 SF (North Scott) — 2020
Another Northern Iowa recruit who will get the chance to showcase himself next week. Anderson was a role player last season the Lancers at the state tourney, this season he comes in a bona-fide star. The rangy and versatile forward comes into the tourney averaging 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Japannah Kellogg, 6’7 SF (Ames) — 2019
Kellogg is one in a duo of D1 prospects from Ames. A long and athletic wing, Kellogg — a UW-Green Bat signee — has done well to turn himself into a legitimate wing after starting his career as a post player. Kellogg and Co. got by an extremely tough Des Moines North squad to make it here, they’ll try and bring an eighth-ever state title home for the Little Cyclones next week.
Tamin Lipsey, 6’2 PG (Ames) — 2022
We thought about putting the freshman point guard on the forthcoming Breakout Stars list, but he’s past that stage. It’s not often you’ll see a freshman on a list like this, with other well-established stars. But the fact of the matter is, Lipsey was star before he even got to Ames High, and he’s maybe exceeded expectations this year while averaging a team-best 17.3 points and 4.8 assists per game.
Logan Wolf, 6’4 G/F (Cedar Falls) — 2019
Yet another Northern Iowa recruit will have the chance to shine next week in Des Moines. And this ain’t Wolf’s first rodeo. He was instrumental in helping the Tigers capture a state title last season, and in dominating fashion at that. Wolf — who will play football and basketball at UNI — is averaging a team-best 15.3 points and 4.6 assists per game this season.
Aidan Vanderloo, 6′ G (Sioux City East) — 2019
For the third straight year, this mesmerizing shooter will be starring for his team at Wells Fargo Arena. And just like in year’s past, he’s bringing in some smoldering shooting numbers with him. Vanderloo is not only averaging a team-best 23.3 points, but he’s shooting 52 percent from deep on 49 makes. Is this the year he gets the Black Raiders into the title game?
Javonte Keck, 6’7 F (Sioux City East) — 2019
The Black Raiders are certainly not a one star team, Keck has established himself as one of the 4A’s best players this season after averaging 14.1 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per game. We definitely could have also included Jaleque Dunson on this list, too, but we’ll save him for the Breakout Stars article.
Chase Courbat, 6’9 C (Cedar Falls) — 2021
His numbers are much less eye-opening compared to the other guys on this list, but we couldn’t have a “stars” article without including our top-ranked 2021 prospect. Last season as a freshman, the athletic 6’9 big-man played a minimal role in helping the Tigers to state title, this season his role will be much-increased. The Tigers have been so deep the past couple seasons that they’ve been able to ease even a special talent like Courbat into the rotation.