Conference Preview: MVC Valley
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The Teams Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-15, 10.8% of scoring returning): The top five, and eight of the top nine, scorers from last year’s team graduated. Senior wing Dominic White (4.0) is the top returnee. Carson Dighton (1.9) started a few…
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Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-15, 10.8% of scoring returning): The top five, and eight of the top nine, scorers from last year’s team graduated. Senior wing Dominic White (4.0) is the top returnee. Carson Dighton (1.9) started a few games last season, and Logan Augustine (0.6) is the only other player who appeared in double-digit games.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy (21-4, 55.7%): The Cougars will have the best backcourt in the conference, and arguably the best in the state this season, with the returns of seniors Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (14.0) and Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (12.9), junior Cyrus Courtney Cyrus Courtney 6'1" | SG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (7.6), and the projected emergence of sophomore Trey McKowen Trey McKowen 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2025 State IA . Dolphin and Reed have a ton of varsity experience and complement each other well. Dolphin is a strong, physical guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands, showcasing a smooth lefty stroke from the arc and the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Reed is a pure point guard who loves to get others involved, and who has also really improved as a scorer. Courtney is a fantastic athlete on the perimeter, defending multiple positions, making plays for others, and getting to the bucket routinely. McKowen played really well on the sophomore team last season and is coming off a great summer with Martin Brothers. A high IQ guard who is the son of head coach Jon McKowen, he’ll fit into whatever role is asked of him – scorer, defender, facilitator. The Cougars also add Linn-Mar transfer Trevan Krumrei Trevan Krumrei 6'5" | SF Kennedy | 2024 State IA , a long, athletic wing who can score from all three levels. Kennedy is the team to beat in the conference and should be among the top 5 teams in 4A all year.
Cedar Rapids Xavier (11-12, 75.7%): The top three, and eight of the top ten, scorers return for the Saints. They’ll be headlined by the tandem of senior wing Aidan Yamilkoski Aidan Yamilkoski 6'4" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (15.2) and junior guard Joseph Bean Joseph Bean 6'3" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (13.3). Yamilkoski is a three-level scorer who has really improved his all-around game on both ends of the floor over the last year, while Bean is a high IQ guard who can score from anywhere or get others involved. He showed a flash of what he can do last year in their substate semifinal loss to Central DeWitt, going for 30 points and 9 assists, and if he’s able to stay healthy this year, the Saints offense should be among the best in the conference. Senior Josef Lemker Josef Lemker 6'2" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA (9.0) is a solid role player and shooter, while Aidan McDermott Aidan McDermott 6'2" | SF Xavier | 2023 IA (5.3), Brody Hoffman Brody Hoffman 6'2" | SF Xavier | 2023 State IA (3.6), Maverick Burger Maverick Burger 5'8" | PG Xavier | 2023 State IA (2.4), Grayson Hartman (2.1), Thomas Sundell (1.2), and Tyler Netolicky (2.0) all return with plenty of playing experience. The Saints should be deep, and with Yamilkoski and Bean leading the way, they’ll be very good offensively.
Dubuque Hempstead (13-11, 9.1%): Like Jefferson, the Mustangs were decimated by graduation. The top five scorers from last year’s team graduated, leaving only sophomore Reed Strohmeyer (2.7) as the only player who appeared in more than four games last season. It will be entirely new faces taking the floor for Hempstead this winter, which could lead to a long season.
Dubuque Senior (12-11, 79.8%): A young team last season, the Rams bring back five of their top six scorers from a team that probably overachieved a little bit. While they may not have a ton of traditional size, they are long and hyper-athletic, which allows them to be an aggressive defensive unit that should be among the best in the class. Junior forward Jacob Williams Jacob Williams 6'4" | PF Senior | 2024 State IA (10.5) led the team in scoring and rebounding last season. He’s a long, bouncy forward who has really improved his offensive game over the last year. Sophomore forward Jalen Johnson Jalen Johnson 6'2" | SF Senior | 2025 State IA (6.7) and senior Devonta Jackson Devonta Jackson 6'4" | PF Senior | 2023 State IA (6.2) provide additional athleticism and length in the painted area, which will make this team tough to score against inside the arc. Senior guard Hayden Jacobsmeier Hayden Jacobsmeier 6'0" | SG Senior | 2023 State IA (7.2) is a talented perimeter scorer who can get to the rim or knock down jumpers, and sophomore wing Josh Brauer Josh Brauer 6'4" | SF Dubuque Senior | 2025 State IA (4.2) was a solid contributor as a freshman. Look for incoming freshman Tevin Schlutz to play a major role for the Rams as well this season. A talented 6-7/6-8 big man with great footwork, hands, and touch, he has a chance to make an immediate impact. Senior will be deep, talented, athletic, and a nightmare to play defensively.
Iowa City West (13-9, 48.8%): The Trojans got off to a strong 9-2 start last season before going just 4-7 down the stretch. The drop-off offensively was huge from the first 11 to the final 11, dropping by nearly 11 points a game, which is something that needs to be figured out heading into this winter. Jack McCaffery Jack McCaffery 6'8" | SF Iowa City West | 2025 State #70 Nation IA (9.9) is the team’s top returning scorer, a 6-8 combo forward who can score inside and out. The sophomore had an up-and-down freshman season at West but has a ton of talent and great size. He had a productive summer with D1 Minnesota and looks ready to step into a bigger role. Junior guard Jacob Koch Jacob Koch 6'1" | PG Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (8.6, 40.4 3P%) is a quality playmaker and shooter, and wing Kareem Earl Kareem Earl 6'5" | SF Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (8.2) should have a better season after an up-and-down sophomore year. The Trojans added some additional firepower in the form of junior guard TaeVeon Stevens TaeVeon Stevens 6'1" | PG Iowa City West | 2024 State IA , who averaged 10.5 points and shot nearly 40% from the arc last season at City High. The loss of Savion Taylor is a major one to overcome on both ends of the floor. He was a high IQ wing who could defend multiple positions and really shoot it. He suffered a knee injury early last season, and then his father took the head coaching job at Elon, so Taylor is now down in North Carolina. With McCaffery, Koch, Earl, and Stevens, West has a solid core to build around.
Waterloo West (8-14, 67.0%): A pair of big-time scorers return for the Wahawks in seniors Si’Marion Anderson Si’Marion Anderson 6'2" | SG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA (15.5) and Keishaun Pendleton Keishaun Pendleton 6'0" | SG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA (14.8), who combined to put up over 30 points a game last season. Both are at their best when they’re playing downhill and using their athleticism to attack the bucket. Sophomore guard Jahlil Manago Jahlil Manago 6'5" | SG Waterloo West | 2025 State IA (7.3) was a solid contributor last season as a freshman and he should step into a bigger role as a playmaker this season. In Anderson, Pendleton, and Manago, West has a trio of viable playmakers and shot creators to help ease the transition of the new faces into the rotation.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Kennedy
2. Senior
3. Xavier
4. Iowa City West
5. Waterloo West
6. Hempstead
7. Jefferson
Analysis: Kennedy should be considered a pretty healthy favorite within this division. The Cougars have arguably the best backcourt in the state and the constant pressure that their quartet of guards will be able to put on opposing teams will be too much to overcome. Senior and Xavier were both young last season and should be improved, and Iowa City West is always solid.
Preseason Player of the Year
2023 Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA , Kennedy: A talented lead guard who loves to get others involved, Reed is one of the best pure point guards in the state, a true floor general who is another coach on the floor for the Cougars. He’s also a dynamic three-level scorer who will pace a Kennedy attack that will be among the most potent in the state.
Players to Watch
2023
Kenzie Reed
Kenzie
Reed
5'11" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
, Kennedy
2023
Colby Dolphin
Colby
Dolphin
5'10" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
, Kennedy
2024
Cyrus Courtney
Cyrus
Courtney
6'1" | SG
Kennedy | 2024
State
IA
, Kennedy
2024
Trevan Krumrei
Trevan
Krumrei
6'5" | SF
Kennedy | 2024
State
IA
, Kennedy
2023
Aidan Yamilkoski
Aidan
Yamilkoski
6'4" | SG
Xavier | 2023
State
IA
, Xavier
2024
Joseph Bean
Joseph
Bean
6'3" | PG
Kennedy | 2024
State
IA
, Xavier
2023
Josef Lemker
Josef
Lemker
6'2" | SG
Xavier | 2023
State
IA
, Xavier
2023
Si’Marion Anderson
Si’Marion
Anderson
6'2" | SG
Waterloo West | 2023
State
IA
, Waterloo West
2023
Keishaun Pendleton
Keishaun
Pendleton
6'0" | SG
Waterloo West | 2023
State
IA
, Waterloo West
2025
Jahlil Manago
Jahlil
Manago
6'5" | SG
Waterloo West | 2025
State
IA
, Waterloo West
2024
Jacob Williams
Jacob
Williams
6'4" | PF
Senior | 2024
State
IA
, Senior
2025
Jalen Johnson
Jalen
Johnson
6'2" | SF
Senior | 2025
State
IA
, Senior
2023
Walker Tart
Walker
Tart
6'2" | SG
Senior | 2023
State
IA
, Senior
2023
Devonta Jackson
Devonta
Jackson
6'4" | PF
Senior | 2023
State
IA
, Senior
2025
Josh Brauer
Josh
Brauer
6'4" | SF
Dubuque Senior | 2025
State
IA
, Senior
2023
Hayden Jacobsmeier
Hayden
Jacobsmeier
6'0" | SG
Senior | 2023
State
IA
, Senior
2025
Jack McCaffery
Jack
McCaffery
6'8" | SF
Iowa City West | 2025
State
#70
Nation
IA
, Iowa City West
2024
Jacob Koch
Jacob
Koch
6'1" | PG
Iowa City West | 2024
State
IA
, Iowa City West
2024
Kareem Earl
Kareem
Earl
6'5" | SF
Iowa City West | 2024
State
IA
, Iowa City West
2024
TaeVeon Stevens
TaeVeon
Stevens
6'1" | PG
Iowa City West | 2024
State
IA
, Iowa City West