Iowa’s Top Returning Shot-blockers: Class 4A
The season is here! Games across the state started on Monday, with most teams beginning their seasons Tuesday. And we’re here to bring you some quantitative lists, counting down the best returners in a given statistical category. The series concludes with us bringing you the best returning shot-blockers, from 4A to 1A.
10 Patrick McCaffery, Iowa City West — 1.0
At 6-foot-8 and with some length to boot, it’s no surprise that this future Iowa Hawkeyes wing makes the cut. He’s best on offense, where his poise and patience makes him one of the most efficient scorers in the state, but clearly he gets it done on both sides of the ball.
9 Logan Wolf, Cedar Falls — 1.16
He’s 6-foot-4 and is one of the best leapers in Iowa. When you’re tall and can jump high, it turns out you can block a lot of shots. Wolf is headed to hometown school Northern Iowa next fall, where he’ll play both wide-receiver for the football team and guard for the basketball team.
8 Kris Murray, Cedar Rapids Prairie — 1.18
Murray is another guy with some serious length (that will definitely be a theme on this shot-blocking lists). He’s known more for his shooting prowess than he is for his game-changing defense. But when you have arms as long as he does, you’re bound to get some blocks.
7 Daxton Washington-Smothers, Burlington — 1.23
In addition to leading his team in blocks, Washington-Smothers led the Greyhounds in scoring and rebounding, too. The 6-foot-4 forward will try and duplicate that success this season, and maybe get his team to a win or two, which would be one or two more than last season.
6 Raezjuan Shockley, Council Bluffs Jefferson — 1.35
Not known much for his offense, Shockley is certainly a guy that can get make an impact with his defense and rebounding. He averaged 3.8 points per game last season as a sophomore, but with his length and athleticism was able to lead the team in blocks.
5 Trey Hutcheson, Linn-Mar — 1.40
He’s got one of the longest wing-spans in Iowa, an that helps him generate the blocks. Especially since at 6-foot-5 he’s also taller than a lot of the guys he’s guarding. But make no mistake, Hutcheson is first and foremost a sharpshooter who can fill it up from deep.
4 Keshawn Pegues, Davenport Central — 1.43
This guy’s is everywhere on the floor, and is never one to shy away from making an aggressive play on the defensive end. Pegues is a bit smaller than the others on this list (6’2), but his athleticism more than makes up for his lack of size.
3 Peyton Williams, Johnston — 1.5
He’s signed to play baseball at Iowa, and has been for a while now, but he’s been excelling on the hardwood for two seasons still. People as big as Williams don’t typically have bounce, but he’s got plenty of it. The Johnston big-man will be an absolute menace for opponents this season.
2 Cole Jensen, Lewis Central — 1.7
The soccer standout was also among the state’s leading returning rebounders, and now checks in a top shot-blocker, too. A goalie for the Titans soccer squad, Jensen snaps rebounds and sends away basketballs as well as he does soccer balls when he’s in the net.
1 Dylan Jones, Waukee — 2.2
Jones had a monster junior season with Waukee, not only is he the state’s best returning shot-blocker, but he was also among the top guys on the returning rebounders list. He just committed and signed his letter of intent to play Division II hoops at Upper Iowa. The Peacocks continue to have a stronghold on top-level in-state talent.