
The favorite: When you have one of the best players in the state in UNI signee Michael Duax
MichaelDuax6'5" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA (22.6) you’re going to
have a chance in every outing to the court. Duax is a player the business likes to call a swiss army knife, as he can do everything a coach asks him to do. Dubuque Hempstead is playing good basketball right now as they just recently fell to #1 Cedar Falls nearly by 6 points. In that game Duax was helped by another solid Senior wing man Jamari SmithJamariSmith6'4" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA (14.7), who would finish with a team high 19 points. Smith brings athleticism, defending, and a good facilitator of the ball. To round out the trio of players for the Mustangs, Junior big man Cameron Fens
CameronFens6'10" | CHempstead | 2022StateIA (9.8) is a player who can hang with anyone in the post and had a breakout summer/fall season but is getting his first taste of varsity basketball this season for the Mustangs. This team will need to take care of the ball and make some perimeter shots, but with these three
The favorite: When you have one of the best players in the state in UNI signee
Michael Duax
MichaelDuax6'5" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA (22.6) you’re going to have a chance in every outing to the court. Duax is a player the business likes to call a swiss army knife, as he can do everything a coach asks him to do. Dubuque Hempstead is playing good basketball right now as they just recently fell to #1 Cedar Falls nearly by 6 points. In that game Duax was helped by another solid Senior wing man
Jamari SmithJamariSmith6'4" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA (14.7), who would finish with a team high 19 points. Smith brings athleticism, defending, and a good facilitator of the ball. To round out the trio of players for the Mustangs, Junior big man
Cameron Fens
CameronFens6'10" | CHempstead | 2022StateIA (9.8) is a player who can hang with anyone in the post and had a breakout summer/fall season but is getting his first taste of varsity basketball this season for the Mustangs. This team will need to take care of the ball and make some perimeter shots, but with these three players winning this district is something this team is fully capable of doing.
The biggest threat: The obvious answer here is the #2 seed, North Scott, led by Senior, Truman State signee
Landon EilandLandonEiland6'4" | SFNorth Scott | 2021StateIA (13.3). The Lancers haven’t quite hit their peak in potential this season, and are going to be trying to be ride a 2-4 February record out heading into the postseason. Eiland is followed by Junior shooter Oliver Hughes (11.6 & 41% 3pt) who helps in the scoring department. The thing this team will need to be better at is rebounding the basketball, as the most important part of defense is finishing a play off with a rebound. The Lancers don’t have a single player who averages more than 4 rebounds per game, so that shows they gang rebound, but don’t have someone who takes control of the glass which could be important down the long postseason road.
The dark horse: Davenport West is a team that hasn’t really been recognized enough on the border of the state, but is a team that could make a run at Hempstead as early as the second round game. The Falcons haven’t quite found the most consistency yet, but with their leader Senior PG
John MillerJohnMiller5'10" | PGDavenport Central | 2021StateIA (17.4) at the helm this team should be ready to go into the postseason. Junior guard
Jermaine GardnerJermaineGardner5'11" | PGDavenport West | 2022StateIA (10.4) and big man Senior
Aldane BarrettAldaneBarrett6'7" | CDavenport West | 2021StateIA (9.4) will look to bring some consistency with Miller. This team is a dangerous .500 team.
Players to watch
2021
Michael Duax
MichaelDuax6'5" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA, Dubuque Hempstead
2021
Jamari SmithJamariSmith6'4" | SFHempstead | 2021StateIA, Dubuque Hempstead
2022
Cameron Fens
CameronFens6'10" | CHempstead | 2022StateIA, Dubuque Hempstead
2021
Landon EilandLandonEiland6'4" | SFNorth Scott | 2021StateIA, North Scott
2022 Oliver Hughes, North Scott
2021
John MillerJohnMiller5'10" | PGDavenport Central | 2021StateIA, Dubuque West
2022
Jermaine GardnerJermaineGardner5'11" | PGDavenport West | 2022StateIA, Dubuque West
2021
Jim BonifasJimBonifas6'5" | PFSenior | 2021StateIA, Dubuque Senior
2022 Jai Jensen, Clinton
2021
Noah YahnNoahYahn6'2" | SFMuscatine | 2021StateIA, Muscatine
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Dubuque Hempstead vs North Scott
Though Dubuque Senior or Dubuque West could pose some problems to Hempstead, the Mustangs will prevail getting them to this game. Should be a good matchup, but the edge goes to Hempstead with the inside presence of
Cameron Fens
CameronFens6'10" | CHempstead | 2022StateIA. North Scott will have troubles matching up with him and he could be the X-Factor for this team going forward as you know what you’re going to get from Smith and Duax.