Way-Too-Early 2020-21 Preseason Rankings

<p>With the state tournament concluding on Friday, Prep Hoops Iowa takes a look at way-too-early standings for the 2020-2021 season. </p> <p><strong>Class 4A</strong></p> <p>Waukee </p> <p>Cedar Falls </p> <p>Council Bluffs Lincoln </p> <p>Davenport North </p> <p>Dubuque Hempstead </p> <p><strong>Just Missed the Cut: </strong>Johnston, Valley, Dowling, and Ames </p> <p>With all four of its leading scorers coming back next year, it was easy to pick Waukee to be the favorite for next year. This team will be hungry to get redemption after falling in the state championship to Ankeny. Cedar Falls brings back [player_tooltip player_id="682265" first="Trey" last="Campbell"], [player_tooltip player_id="796099" first="Chase" last="Courbat"], and [player_tooltip player_id="796127" first="Landon" last="Wolf"]. CBAL returns 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"] along with a couple of key role players. Davenport North’s duo of [player_tooltip player_id="796122" first="Quincy" last="Wiseman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="796114" first="Jayden" last="Houston"] are more than capable of getting back to Des Moines next year. Hempstead brings back double-digit scorers in [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"] and Jamari Smith. Ames could be a team to watch as 2022 five-star guard [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"] will be back from injury. Johnston has one of the most talented backcourts in the state. </p> <p><strong>Class 3A</strong></p> <p>Ballard </p> <p>Clear Lake </p> <p>Sergeant Bluff-Luton </p> <p>Clear Creek Amana </p> <p>Dallas Center-Grimes </p> <p><strong>Just Missed the Cut: </strong>Mount Vernon, Carroll </p> <p>Ballard brings back the trio of Mason Murphy, [player_tooltip player_id="796112" first="Connor" last="Drew"], and Ashton Hermann, their top three scorers from this year. Clear Lake returns the duo of [player_tooltip player_id="796155" first="Andrew" last="Formanek"] and [player_tooltip player_id="682292" first="Carson" last="Toebe"], who averaged a combined 30 points per game this season. Sergeant Bluff-Luton will lose [player_tooltip player_id="801838" first="Daniel" last="Wright"], but bring back lengthy forwards in Majouk Majok and [player_tooltip player_id="796115" first="Jake" last="Layman"]. Clear Creek Amana loses big seniors in Tyler Schrepfer and Nick O’Connor, and will rely heavily on their senior class next year. The DCG backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id="796144" first="Luke" last="Rankin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"] are a year older and could take that next step. Mount Vernon will be able to compete with [player_tooltip player_id="530135" first="Keaton" last="Kutcher"] (20 PPG) leading the group. </p> <p><strong>Class 2A</strong></p> <p>North Linn </p> <p>Monticello </p> <p>Boyden-Hull </p> <p>Aplington-Parkersburg </p> <p>Albia</p> <p><strong>Just Missed the Cut: </strong>Dike-New Hartford </p> <p>This depends on whether or not North Linn makes the move down to 1A. The Lynx lose [player_tooltip player_id="801963" first="Austin" last="Miller"], but bring back four players who started on the runner-up team as sophomores, including [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"]. Monticello, who was 21-3 last season, bring back its five top scorers from this year. Boyden-Hull has a chance to repeat with 2022 wing Tanner De Slaa carrying most of the scoring load, but also putting up efficient shooting numbers. AP’s season ended earlier than expected this year, but it also brings back its five leading scorers. Albia returns four of its five leading scorers after losing to Woodward-Granger in the Substate Final. Dike-New Hartford could make some noise as well. </p> <p><strong>Class 1A</strong></p> <p>Montezuma </p> <p>Springville </p> <p>Martensdale St. Mary’s </p> <p>Wapsie Valley </p> <p>Bishop Garrigan </p> <p><strong>Just Missed the Cut: </strong>Mount Ayr, West Fork </p> <p>If North Linn doesn’t move down to 1A, then Montezuma is my early favorite. The Braves bring back four of its five starters, including Truman State recruit [player_tooltip player_id="796108" first="Trey" last="Shearer"]. Springville brings back three double-digit scorers from a team that almost upsetted Bishop Garrigan in the quarterfinal round at Wells-Fargo. Trey Baker, [player_tooltip player_id="796177" first="Carson" last="Elbert"], and [player_tooltip player_id="796180" first="Jack" last="Franey"] lead a strong junior class for St. Mary’s that can make a run as seniors. Defending champs Wapsie Valley loses big man Kiks Rosengarten to graduation, but sophomore Gunner Meyer will have the spotlight as a junior. Bishop Garrigan loses a few seniors, but [player_tooltip player_id="796104" first="Angelo" last="Winkel"], arguably the best player in 1A, will be a force to be reckoned with as a senior. West Fork has a couple of pieces returning from this year’s state qualifier. </p>