Playoff Preview: 4A-8
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[player_tooltip player_id="727863" first="Payton" last="Sandfort"] The favorite: Outside of maybe Cedar Falls in 4A-4, there isn’t a bigger favorite in a substate than Waukee is here. The Warriors have beaten Ankeny, the substate’s #2 seed, twice this year by a…
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The favorite: Outside of maybe Cedar Falls in 4A-4, there isn’t a bigger favorite in a substate than Waukee is here. The Warriors have beaten Ankeny, the substate’s #2 seed, twice this year by a combined 65 points. The Warriors have a +23 point per game differential, and they’re winning games by an average of 28.5 points a game. Drake signee Tucker DeVries Tucker DeVries 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #123 Nation IA (18.9, 6.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 3.5 steals) leads the team in scoring, while Iowa signee Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA (17.7, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 47.5 3P%) leads the team in rebounding. His younger brother Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA (8.1, 57.5 3P%) is a sniper, and Dowling transfer Omaha Biliew Omaha Biliew 6'8" | SF Link Academy | 2023 #14 Nation FL (11.3, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 blocks) is one of the top 2023 prospects in the country. This Waukee team is loaded with talent and is an overwhelming favorite here.
The biggest threat: Ankeny has a young, talented group that will benefit from playing in a substate final. Among their top six scorers are three juniors, two sophomores and a freshman, so expect to see the Hawks among the top teams in 4A next year. Junior forward Ryan Crandall Ryan Crandall 6'1" | SF Ankeny | 2022 State IA (11.3, 7.2 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, and freshman guard Carson Johnson (7.9, 38.7 3P%) has a very bright future. They’ve been demolished by Waukee twice this year, but they should make it to the substate final, which makes them the biggest threat to Waukee in this substate.
The dark horse: The best individual non-Waukee player in this substate is Marshalltown guard Armonniey Thomas Armonniey Thomas 6'2" | PG Marshalltown | 2022 State IA (16.8, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists). The junior is quick, long and athletic and can impact the game on both ends of the floor. Sophomore wing Prince Jallah (12.6, 8.5 rebounds) is another impactful player for the Bobcats.
Players to watch
2021
Tucker DeVries
Tucker
DeVries
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#123
Nation
IA
, Waukee
2021
Payton Sandfort
Payton
Sandfort
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
#138
Nation
IA
, Waukee
2023
Pryce Sandfort
Pryce
Sandfort
6'7" | SF
Waukee Northwest | 2023
State
#123
Nation
IA
, Waukee
2023
Omaha Biliew
Omaha
Biliew
6'8" | SF
Link Academy | 2023
#14
Nation
FL
, Waukee
2021
Malik Allen
Malik
Allen
5'11" | PG
Des Moines North | 2021
State
IA
, Waukee
2021
Wyatt Heston
Wyatt
Heston
6'7" | SF
Waukee | 2021
State
IA
, Waukee
2022
Ryan Crandall
Ryan
Crandall
6'1" | SF
Ankeny | 2022
State
IA
, Ankeny
2024 Carson Johnson, Ankeny
2022
Armonniey Thomas
Armonniey
Thomas
6'2" | PG
Marshalltown | 2022
State
IA
, Marshalltown
2023 Prince Jallah, Marshalltown
2022
Corey Miner
Corey
Miner
6'0" | PG
Mason City | 2022
State
IA
, Mason City
2021 Cole Tunender, Norwalk
2021
Jakari Bradley
Jakari
Bradley
6'1" | SF
Roosevelt | 2021
State
IA
, Roosevelt
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Waukee vs. Ankeny
There won’t be much intrigue in this one. Waukee has already swept the Hawks by an average of 32.5 points a game. The Warriors make their way to Wells Fargo, where they’ll be eyeing Championship Friday.