Conference Preview: CIML Iowa
The Teams Fort Dodge (8-14, 7-13): The Dodgers won only one game last year against a team with a winning record, and fielded one of 4A’s worst offensive attacks, ranking 44th (out of 48 teams), averaging just 49.1 points a…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Teams
Fort Dodge (8-14, 7-13): The Dodgers won only one game last year against a team with a winning record, and fielded one of 4A’s worst offensive attacks, ranking 44th (out of 48 teams), averaging just 49.1 points a game. The good news is that they were a pretty solid defensive team, allowing 55.9 a night, which ranked in the middle of the pack at 21st. Ty Kershaw (11.0), also a standout receiver on the football field, returns to lead the way after finishing second in scoring last year and leading the team in assists, steals and blocks. He’s the only player among the top four in scoring who return. Dayson Clayton (4.0), Asle Thorson (1.2) and D’Arien Calahan (1.1) saw some time last year, but will step into much bigger roles this year. With the other teams that joined them at the bottom last year returning more production, it’s hard to see the Dodgers finishing anywhere other than the bottom of the division this year.
Marshalltown (8-12, 7-12): Marshalltown has mixed some eye-popping wins in with some head-scratching losses each of the past few years, and the key this year for the Bobcats will be finding some more consistency. Like Fort Dodge, they were a well-below average offensive unit, averaging just 49.4 points a game, which ranked 43rd in 4A, while allowing just 55.9, good for 20th. Unlike Fort Dodge, however, they return some more production, with six of their top nine scorers from last year’s group back. They’ll be led by sophomore guard Armonniey Thomas (10.4), who is coming off a highly productive freshman year in which he finished second on the team in scoring and led in steals. Look for the 6-1 sophomore to become a go-to scorer and emerge as the team’s primary ball handler. He’ll need to improve on his 31-56 assist-to-turnover mark of last year. Austin Shomo (3.8) will join him in the backcourt, and is the team’s top perimeter shooting threat. Will VanBuren (3.1) provides a bit of size at 6-3, and look for Gok Arou (1.1) to emerge in a much bigger role this year, a 6-7 forward. Thomas should win this group a fair amount of games, but they still don’t have the star power that some of the other teams in this division have.
Mason City (8-14, 6-13): The Mohawks were dismantled a few times last year by high quality teams, and while the talent in Mason City still isn’t going to stack up with the upper-echelon teams in the CIML, there is reason for optimism here with three returning starters and five of the top seven scorers coming back from a group that improved throughout last season with two freshmen playing key roles. Those freshmen, Corey Miner (9.7) and Carter Thomas (4.7) are among the three returning starters, alongside Jeffrey Skogen (11.6). Also returning are Avery Mellman (7.2) and Austin Richardson (3.8), who played key roles off the bench. Miner is a good shooter who led the team in 3-pointers and is an intriguing young prospect, while Thomas will play more of a facilitator role for this group. The big area of concern for the Mohawks will be fixing the defensive end of the floor, as they ranked 46th (out of 48) in 4A last year, allowing 67.5 points a game. If they can get that number down closer to 60 a night, they’ll have a chance to have an above .500 season. If not, there could be some more long evenings in the CIML. With plenty of experience back, and lots of teams around the state losing significant chunks of their rosters, there is reason to think this team can compete.
James Glenn
Southeast Polk (8-15, 7-15): One of the big surprises during the postseason last year was the Rams’ run to the substate final, where they lost by just four to Dowling Catholic. But perhaps we should’ve seen something coming. Ten of their 15 losses last year came by ten points or fewer, so this group was really close to having a much better record than they finished with, and they bring back three starters from that group, including one of the state’s best shooters in James Glenn (10.2). Glenn shot 46% from behind the arc last year and will be called upon to be the Rams’ go-to scoring threat following the graduation of older brother Sam, who contributed 15.5 points a game last season. Other returning starters, Dominic Caggiano (9.0) and Malichai Williams (5.7), provide the Rams with some size and toughness in the paint, although Caggiano has been working to extend his game out to the arc and could become a viable secondary shooting threat for this group. Kaleb Krier (2.3) and Fred Johnson (1.8) saw time last year off the bench, and look for sophomore guard Jaxon Dailey (0.8) to become a bigger piece for this group this season. They’ll need to clean up their decision making, as they had 308 turnovers last season, against 251 assists. That ratio needs to be positive. The Rams are headed in the right direction, and if Caggiano can take another step forward, and Glenn can emerge as an all-around scorer instead of just a shooter, this group could surprise some teams and be a real threat to knock off Waukee and Valley in this division.
Payton Sandfort
Waukee (22-3, 21-1): The Warriors were probably the favorite to win the state title last year prior to the injury to standout point guard Noah Hart, an efficient lead guard who controlled the game on both ends of the floor. Still, Waukee made it to State, won a game then came up just shy in the semifinals against Dubuque Senior, losing 57-55. The bad news for Waukee is that only one starter returns from that group, junior wing Tucker DeVries (9.6, 62 3PM). DeVries, son of Drake head coach Darian DeVries, was a big boost to the Warriors last year following the family’s move from Omaha, and at 6-6, he has the size to get his shot off whenever he wants, and the length to be a versatile piece for them on the defensive end. The good news for the Warriors is that also back is junior wing Payton Sandfort (6.2), who may have had the biggest summer of anyone in the state, raking up offers from Air Force, Drake, Iowa, Loyola (IL), Minnesota and Utah. Another 6-6 wing, Sandfort is one of the best shooters in the state, knocking down 26 3s last year off the bench, at a 44.8% clip. He’s ready to be a dominant scorer for this group. Jackson Payne (3.3) is the only other returnee who saw significant time, but expect to see another lengthy junior combo forward, Wyatt Heston (1.5), take a major step forward. Few teams are going to be able to match the length and size that Waukee will put on the floor, and if they can find a few reliable ball handlers, they’ll have a real chance to make it to State and do damage again. Few teams in the state can put a pair of Division I wings on the floor, and Waukee can. That makes them dangerous.
Will Berg
West Des Moines Valley (18-5, 15-5): The Tigers lose a lot of production off of last year’s team that was upset by Southeast Polk in the postseason, but one of the benefits of being the largest school in the state is that they have plenty of talent waiting to fill in those holes. Three players with starting experience return in guard Jake Auer (9.4), big man Will Berg (7.1) and wing Drew Jirak (4.3), giving Valley a nice nucleus of players to build around. Joining them will be Des Moines Roosevelt transfer Ty Walker, who led the Roughriders in scoring last year at just under 12 points a game, and shot 40.5% from the arc. He’ll pair with Auer (41.2 3P%) and Jirak (44.8 3P%) to give Valley a strong group of shooters to put alongside the 6-9 Berg, who should command double teams in the paint. Berg is the key to this group, as he’s as skilled as just about any player in the state, with the ability to score inside and out, run the floor and protect the rim. Consistency will be the key for him. The only other key returnee from last year’s group is Grant Rieker (2.9), another capable shooting threat. Valley always has a deep roster, and coach BJ Windhorst isn’t afraid to go deep into that bench, so expect that to be the case again this year. With the talent they have, and the shooting that the Walker-Auer-Jirak trio can provide, the Tigers will spend much of the year in the top 10, and will be competing for another state tournament berth after falling short last year.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Waukee
2. Valley
3. Southeast Polk
4. Mason City
5. Marshalltown
6. Fort Dodge
Analysis: While none of these teams open the year in our top 10 in 4A, the top three are all expected to be pretty high quality teams, and it should make for a very entertaining division race. We give the slightest edge to the Warriors, who have a pair of Division I wings on their roster, but it definitely wouldn’t surprise us to see always solid Valley, or a Southeast Polk team that finished strong last year, sneak up and finish atop the division.
Preseason Player of the Year
2021 Payton Sandfort, Waukee: 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 54.9 FG%, 44.8 3P%
No player in the state had a bigger summer than Waukee’s 6-7 junior sharpshooting wing, who picked up offers from Air Force, Iowa, Minnesota, Drake, Loyola (IL) and Utah following a dominant run with Kingdom Hoops. Armed with one of the most lethal strokes in the Midwest, along with great size and length, Sandfort will have a huge year for a Warriors team that loses a lot of production.
Biggest Sleeper
2021 Wyatt Heston, Waukee: Heston is another in a long line of lanky and versatile Waukee wings. He checks in at 6-7, and was highly impressive at our Top 250 Expo in September, showing the ability to knock down 3s consistently and he’s a switchable defender with good tools and instincts. Look for him to become a key contributor for a Waukee team that should be fighting for a State spot again.
Players to Watch
2021 Payton Sandfort, Waukee
2021 Tucker DeVries, Waukee
2021 Wyatt Heston, Waukee
2021 James Glenn, Southeast Polk
2021 Dominic Caggiano, Southeast Polk
2021 Malichai Williams, Southeast Polk
2020 Jeffrey Skogen, Mason City
2022 Corey Miner, Mason City
2022 Carter Thomas, Mason City
2020 Avery Mellman, Mason City
2020 Will Berg, Valley
2020 Jake Auer, Valley
2020 Drew Jirak, Valley
2021 Ty Walker, Valley
2020 Ty Kershaw, Fort Dodge
2022 Armonniey Thomas, Marshalltown