New 2021 Rankings: Class 4A's Best

Prep Hoops Class of 2021 rankings have recently been updated and here’s a series of what they are looking like, players to watch, and some information on each player. Here is where Class 4A’s best ended up in the overall rankings:   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Tucker-DeVries-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1052513 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Tucker-DeVries-1-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="727862" first="Tucker" last="DeVries"] - Waukee High School, Wing - #1 Player in Iowa As has been written about many of times over the past year or so, DeVries is a playmaker who lets the game come to him. He’s not a player that’s going to force his shot, and is willing to work the ball around and allow himself to get a shot within the offense. He also is a player who you can give the ball to when needed and he can go create a shot for himself or for a teammate. He has really good shooting range and shoots it efficiently from all three levels of the court. DeVries will continue to be the go-to man, with his 21 point per game, for Waukee this year, and led his team in many other categories this past season other than points. DeVries’ recruitment is getting down to the end and seems to be down to Drake, Iowa State, and Creighton to go along with offers from Florida, Air Force, and South Dakota State, and more Power 5 interest. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/09/PaytonSandfort-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-237026 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/09/PaytonSandfort-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="727863" first="Payton" last="Sandfort"] - Waukee High School, Wing - #2 Player in Iowa The best shooter in the state, [player_tooltip player_id="727863" first="Payton" last="Sandfort"], comes in our rankings at #2 overall, and #2 in Class 4A. Though he’s known widely for his shooting ability, he has expanded his game over the past year and especially over the summer. He’s expanded his game to be able to take defenders off the dribble to get a jumpshot or get to the hoop. He also looked to go into the post more this summer and showed off a nice step back move, to go with some other spin moves to finish around the rim. Sandfort is a willing passer, and is good about creating for his teammates. He’s also effective on the defensive end where he uses his length to effect shots, stay in front of opponents, and get into passing lanes. Though DeVries was Waukee’s leading scorer, Payton’s 19.8 points per game, was not far behind. The best 1-2 punch in the state will look to continue their success and end with a state championship this year. Sandfort’s recruitment has an ending in sight and seems to be down to Iowa, Drake, and Stanford to go along with offers from Minnesota, Utah, Loyola, and Air Force. Sandfort will decide where his home will be for the next 4 years on October 1st. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Landon-Wolf.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1052563 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Landon-Wolf-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="796127" first="Landon" last="Wolf"] - Cedar Falls High School, Wing - #4 Player in Iowa If Sandfort is the best shooter in the state, Wolf is not too far behind him in that category. Wolf has probably had one of the most stock rising summers of all the prospects in the state. He’s shown a clutch gene in making game winners all summer, and carrying the load for his team. He too, has expanded his game significantly this summer and shown off some athleticism in getting to the basket and finishing at the rim. Wolf is also a player who doesn’t force shots, and will get his shots within the offense and is really just a smooth basketball player. He provides rebounding, good defense, and a fairly automatic free throw shooter to have at the end of games. I’ll be looking for an uptick from his 11.8 points per game this past winter season with Cedar Falls, as Cedar Falls will have a loaded team this season. If Wolf can be the go-to guy for the Tigers, they will challenge for the Class 4A championship. Wolf’s recruitment has blown up and might even grow more over the coming months, but his offer list consists of Northern Iowa, Toledo, St. Thomas, UW-Milwaukee, South Dakota, Western Illinois, Bryant to go with other DII offers from Quincy and Truman State. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2018/10/Michael-Duax-2021-Hempstead-High-School1-e1549488723333.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-591028 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2018/10/Michael-Duax-2021-Hempstead-High-School1-e1549488723333-276x300.jpg" alt="" width="276" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"] - Dubuque Hempstead High School, Guard/Wing - #5 Player in Iowa [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"] has been one of my favorite prospects in this class for a couple years now, as I like to call him a swiss army knife. Duax does a lot of things on the court well and that’s examplified with the way he leads his high school in mostly all categories. 21 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game, and an efficient field goal percentage on the court of 50% just goes to show why Duax is so effective for Hempstead. Duax is athletic and can finish above the rim and does a good job of knifing through the defense into space to create shots. He’s strong and may already have a college ready body that allows him to finish at the rim. Hempstead was a solid team this past season and could have some young pieces to play a part in a run at The Well this upcoming season. As for Duax, he wrapped up his recruitment in February as he committed to the University of Northern Iowa and Coach Ben Jacobsen. [player_tooltip player_id="796099" first="Chase" last="Courbat"] - Cedar Falls High School, Center/Forward - #6 Player in Iowa Cedar Falls is the second high school to have two players in the top 10 with Wolf and Courbat. Courbat is a big, tall post player who makes a living around the hoop. He is good about crashing the boards on both ends of the floor and was hyperactive on the offensive boards this summer when I watched him. He has made more and more improvements on his finishing abilities around the rim and is able to stretch the defense a little bit out to 15 feet. He lives around the rim so shooting it efficiently is one of Courbat’s strong suits shooting 58.8% from the field this past winter. As has been mentioned with Wolf, Cedar Falls will look to reach that championship game with everything they have coming back to their team this upcoming season and Courbat will be a big part of that physically and for the team. Courbat has also wrapped up his recruitment already committing to his hometown team, the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/09/ReidGrant-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-237030 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/09/ReidGrant-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"] - Johnston High School, Point Guard - #8 Player in Iowa If Wolf was the biggest stock riser in the state, then [player_tooltip player_id="796107" first="Reid" last="Grant"] was probably a close second from this summer. Grant is a heady point guard who just makes winning plays. He isn’t you’re typical scoring PG like you see in today’s game, but he’s a talented scorer and shooter when open. Grant is really good about getting his teammates involved, and when he breaks the defense down off the dribble and help side defense comes you can bet that he’s going to make that extra pass to his open teammate. When Grant is slashing towards the basket he’s good at finishing through contact and effective in beating his defender off the dribble. Grant is a competitor and he’s a player that any coach would want on his team as he’s always giving 100%. If he makes a mistake, which he doesn’t do often, he is going to come right back and do it correctly the next time. Johnston is a contender when Grant is at his best and being the lead guard he’s proven he can be. Grant has finished the recruiting process recently when he committed to North Dakota. [player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"] - Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, Wing - #9 Player in Iowa A tall, lanky wing/forward prospect, [player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"], is a savvy player with the ball. When he’s at his best is when he goes into attack mode with the ball whether in the half-court or in transition. He has nice dribble moves that allow him to slice his way to the basket, and has good IQ in the way he moves without the ball. Schlaak does many other things well as he’s a good defender with long arms that allows him to poke the ball loose from opponents, he’s a solid rebounder who uses his length to rebound inside, and gets out in transition to finish at or above the rim. Cedar Rapids Kennedy has lost some pieces from their team this past season, but does have a few young pieces in place to surround Schlaak. If he can be a reliable go-to guy for the Cougars they could be players in the Mississippi Valley Division. As for what’s next for Schlaak he holds offers from DII schools Wayne State, Truman State, Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State, Upper Iowa, and interest from other levels of programs. [player_tooltip player_id="796101" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"] - Iowa City West High School, Guard - #11 Player in Iowa The multi-sport athlete, Morgan, has offers in baseball and offers to play QB at the next level as well, but Morgan is no slouch on the hardwood either. The brother of former Northern Iowa star, Jeremy Morgan, Marcus is a leader for the West basketball team. Morgan is more of a combo guard as he’s able to run the offense, but also can play off the ball in order to score. He’s athletic and uses it to get the ball, finish above the rim, and effect the opponent on defense in blocking shots. Morgan is a high IQ player who is good at using his body to shield defenders, making the extra pass to an open teammate, and can shoot it from the outside. He is an efficient shooter eclipsing a 43.8% shooting percentage from the 3 point line. West was a challenger last season for the title, and could do so again but will have to make up for what they lost in [player_tooltip player_id="721180" first="Even" last="Brauns"]. Morgan will have to be the one to do so in that. Morgan’s recruitment is fairly open and more open than any other recruit in the state as he hasn’t said which sport he wants to play at the next level. He doesn’t hold any known offers for basketball, but does hold offers for baseball from Iowa and Grambling State and offers for football from Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Dartmouth, Central Michigan, Ball State and Toledo. [player_tooltip player_id="796110" first="Malik" last="Allen"] - Waukee High School, Point Guard - #12 Player in Iowa [player_tooltip player_id="796110" first="Malik" last="Allen"] seems like the next big prospect at Waukee. Allen has had the attention of many since his freshman season where he was a key contributor for the Polar Bears. Allen was the 5th leading scorer out of all classes in the state this past winter coming in at 26.4, so there is no doubt he can fill it up from anywhere on the court. That’s what impresses me with Allen, is his confidence in his scoring ability and the way he has not seen a shot he doesn’t like and has the confidence he will make those shots. Allen is quick with the ball in his hands and is a terror when he gets downhill at the defense or in transition. He’s a creator who uses several different dribble drive moves to get to his spots. He isn’t tall in stature by any means, but he makes up for that with is vertical leaping ability. Allen is a scorer but he’s also a good point guard who will pass it off to his teammates when they have a better shot than he does. Good at finishing through contact at the hoop and pesky on-ball defender totaling almost 3 steals per game this past season. Recently transferring to Waukee, Allen could lead the state in assists with the attributes he has and the team he has around him. As far as Allen’s recruitment goes, there are no known offers at the moment, but I have a feeling it’s only a matter of time before something comes in for him. I could see him project well either going the JuCo route, or NAIA, DII route. [player_tooltip player_id="796103" first="Ryan" last="Riggs"] - Dowling Catholic High School, Forward - #14 Player in Iowa The player that rounds out this top 10 list in Class 4A is [player_tooltip player_id="796103" first="Ryan" last="Riggs"]. He’s a tall, lanky post player who has good touch around the rim and couples that with a growing back to the basket post game where he likes to use his strong right hand. Riggs uses his length and athleticism to finish around the hoop and above the rim, and to block shots on the defensive end as well. He can extend the defense out to the 3 point line where he is an efficient shooter off the catch from the arch though he doesn’t shoot it much. Riggs is a solid rebounder on the inside both offensively and defensively. The upcoming season will have ample opportunity to have others step up statistically, and Riggs will be relied upon heavily with others either transferring out or exhausting eligibility the past year. If Riggs can take the next step in his game in dominating the paint area and being able to hit the jumpshots he has done in the past he may move up in the next set of rankings. In his recruitment I don’t believe there’s any known offers, but interest that has ranged from all different levels. DII-Low DI could be a good spot for Riggs in the future.