Conference Preview: Mississippi Valley - Valley Division

The Teams: Cedar Rapids Jefferson (7-15): The Jayhawks struggled in the conference last year, winning just two games against CR Wash and squeaking out a couple of wins against CR Kennedy and Western Dubuque. The Jayhawks only bring back one starter this season. [player_tooltip player_id="682275" first="Brayden" last="Kindhart"] started twenty-two games, averaged 9.9 points per game, and shot 42% from three. Fellow juniors [player_tooltip player_id="962659" first="Andreas" last="Williams"] (6.3) and Ayrondus Hodges (4.6) will help Kindhart carry the load for Jefferson. Carson Blietz (1.8) and [player_tooltip player_id="962678" first="Kaden" last="Hall"]er (2.8) will have to step into bigger roles this season as well. The Jayhawks will have to improve defensively from last year when they gave up an average of 70.8 points per game to their opponents if they want to be more competitive in the league. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (14-9): CR Kennedy took a couple of close losses to CR Jefferson and Linn-Mar in the middle of the season before ending the season with a loss to a very good North Scott team in the Substate Semifinal. The Cougars bring back leading scorer and ninth-ranked player in the class of 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"], who averaged 17.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"] had a solid freshman season last year, starting nineteen games while averaging 7.6 points a game. [player_tooltip player_id="784983" first="Craig" last="Mills"], Cole Hrubes, and Max White will get more minutes more this season as the Cougars graduate four seniors who all saw good minutes. The Cougars bring back a couple of solid pieces and look to build off their previous 14-9 season. Cedar Rapids Xavier (11-12): Xavier graduates four of their five starters from last season. Top returnee will be [player_tooltip player_id="796106" first="Jaylon" last="Moses"], who averaged 8.8 points per game along with 7.7 rebounds per game. Moses will be asked to carry the load this season along with Max Kaiser (4.5) and Jack Breitbach (2.6). The Saints will look towards some other role players to step up if they want to compete with top teams in the league. [caption id="attachment_1073101" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Michael-Duax.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1073101" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Michael-Duax-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Duax[/caption] Dubuque Hempstead (15-8): Coming off a solid season last year, the Mustangs bring back their top two scorers [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"] and [player_tooltip player_id="964485" first="Jamari" last="Smith"]. Duax, a UNI commit and the fifth-ranked player in the class of 2021 emerged as one of the top players in the state, averaging 21.0 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. Accompanying Duax will be 6’4" combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="964485" first="Jamari" last="Smith"]. Smith can do it on both sides of the ball, averaging 14.1 points per game on the offensive side to go with 2.6 steals per game and a block per game. [player_tooltip player_id="796125" first="Cam" last="Davis"] and [player_tooltip player_id="962654" first="Kellen" last="Strohmeyer"], and 6’10" big man [player_tooltip player_id="1055294" first="Cameron" last="Fens"] will all contribute to a Hempstead team that will look to improve from a solid 2019-20 season. Be ready for another terrific season from [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"], and look for Hempstead to be solid again this season. Dubuque Senior (19-4): Aside from a 27 point loss to in-town rival Dubuque Hempstead, Senior lost three games by a combined eight points. Leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id="964827" first="Kendrick" last="Watkins-Hogue"] (11.9) returns for the Rams. [player_tooltip player_id="964834" first="Tyler" last="Schuster"] (8.3), [player_tooltip player_id="964842" first="Cain" last="McWilliams"] (7.8), and [player_tooltip player_id="964846" first="Jim" last="Bonifas"] (8.8) all started a significant amount of games last season and will return for the Rams. The Rams will also look for a solid season from class of 2023 6’1" guard, [player_tooltip player_id="962639" first="Walker" last="Tart"]. Dubuque Senior will again be at the top of the MVC again this season. Iowa City West (21-3): We’re going to see some new faces on the court for Iowa City West as they graduated four of their five starters. The Trojans will miss their 6’9" center, [player_tooltip player_id="721180" first="Even" last="Brauns"], who is now playing at Belmont. However, they bring back three-sport standout [player_tooltip player_id="796101" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"]. Class of 2022 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="682262" first="Christian" last="Barnes"] (2.8) will help Morgan carry the load this season. Mikey Brown and Andrew Tauchen also return for the Trojans. Coming off a 21-3 season last year and a trip to Wells Fargo, Iowa City West is going to need some new faces to step up if they want to have a repeat of last season. [caption id="attachment_1066214" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/15-RaMir-Scott-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1066214" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/15-RaMir-Scott-1-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Scott[/caption] Waterloo East (6-16): Waterloo East struggled last season due to some inexperience. With that being said, the Trojans have plenty of talent returning to have a comeback season. They'll be without 6’4" forward [player_tooltip player_id="682277" first="Trevion" last="Labeaux"], as he transferred to Ames. So, all-around guard [player_tooltip player_id="727877" first="Ra’mir" last="Scott"] (15.3) will be the top returnee for the Trojans. Alongside him, Dajuan Harris (2.5) and [player_tooltip player_id="964884" first="Brian" last="Keene"] (4.5) will help carry the load. Dayton Bruce and Martez Wiggly are two underclassmen that will make an impact this season for the Trojans as well. After a dismal 2019-20 season, be ready for Waterloo East to make some giant leaps this season. Waterloo West (20-3): Coming off a top finish in the MVC, and a nailbiting loss to North Scott in the Substate final game, Waterloo West will be in the same boat as Iowa City West. After graduating all five starters, [player_tooltip player_id="796161" first="Amar" last="Kulijuhovic"] (6.7) is the top returnee for the Wahawks. He will be joined by Mitch Fordyce (2.5) and Nate Ewell (3.2), who both appeared in over twenty games. If the Wahawks want to be at the top of the league again this season they will need their role players to step up. Projected Order of Finish: <ol> <li>Dubuque Hempstead</li> <li>Dubuque Senior</li> <li>Iowa City West</li> <li>Waterloo West</li> <li>Cedar Rapids Kennedy</li> <li>Waterloo East</li> <li>Cedar Rapids Xavier</li> <li>Cedar Rapids Jefferson</li> </ol> Analysis: With both Iowa City West and Waterloo West losing several starters, look for Hempstead and Senior to be atop the MVC Valley Division standings this season. With another year of experience, Waterloo East will climb in the standings after a 3-10 league record last year. Xavier and Jefferson both lost several starters as well, they will need some new faces to step up in 2020-21. Preseason Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id="796097" first="Michael" last="Duax"], Dubuque Hempstead (2021): 21.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals, 50.1% from the field, 70.3% from the free throw line. The fifth-ranked player in the class of 2021 will look to lead Dubuque Hempstead to Des Moines this year. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="682275" first="Brayden" last="Kindhart"], Cedar Rapids Jefferson (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"], Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"], Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2023) [player_tooltip player_id="796106" first="Jaylon" last="Moses"], Cedar Rapids Xavier (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="964485" first="Jamari" last="Smith"], Dubuque Hempstead (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="796125" first="Cam" last="Davis"], Dubuque Hempstead (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="962654" first="Kellen" last="Strohmeyer"], Dubuque Hempstead (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="1055294" first="Cameron" last="Fens"], Dubuque Hempstead (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="964827" first="Kendrick" last="Watkins-Hogue"], Dubuque Senior (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="964834" first="Tyler" last="Schuster"], Dubuque Senior (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="962639" first="Walker" last="Tart"], Dubuque Senior (2023) [player_tooltip player_id="796101" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"], Iowa City West (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="682262" first="Christian" last="Barnes"], Iowa City West (2022) [player_tooltip player_id="727877" first="Ra’mir" last="Scott"], Waterloo East (2021) [player_tooltip player_id="796161" first="Amar" last="Kulijuhovic"], Waterloo West (2021)