Conference Preview: CIML Central

<h4>The Teams</h4> Dowling Catholic (12-9): The top eight scorers from last year’s state-qualifying team graduated, leaving Evan Curran (1.7) as the lone returnee for the Maroons who averaged more than a point a game last season. They also lost head coach Mike O’Connor, who stepped down after 15 years at the helm. Clay Thielking comes from Colorado to lead the charge, and he’ll have an almost entirely new varsity roster to contend with. [caption id="attachment_1148899" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1148899 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Kramer[/caption] Johnston (12-5): With senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] (13.1) and guard [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"] (12.6, 39.3 3P%) returning, the Dragons have arguably the best one-two punch in 3A. Kramer is a hyper-athletic 6-5 wing coming off a strong summer, and he recently committed to play his college ball at South Dakota. He’s a dynamic two-way player who can fill it up from all three levels or defend multiple positions. Lewis is a talented guard with great handles and limitless range from beyond the arc. They’ll have a lot of new faces in the lineup, losing four key rotation pieces from last year’s 4A runner-up (three graduations, one transfer), so they’ll need players like [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"] (2.4), Andrew Pender (1.3), and [player_tooltip player_id="1235029" first="Jaxsen" last="Cahill"] to step up into bigger roles. The Kramer-Lewis combination on the perimeter is one of the best in the state, and they should keep the Dragons float while the new talented pieces get acclimated to major varsity minutes. This should be a battle between the Dragons and Valley all year in the division. Southeast Polk (12-8): Another team hit hard by graduation, the Rams lost their top three scorers, and six of their top seven, so they’ll have a lot of new faces in the rotation this season. The good news is that junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167719" first="Riley" last="Edwards"] (9.4, 38.5 3P%) returns to lead the charge, coming off a strong sophomore season. He’s a good athlete and knockdown shooter who should lead this team in scoring. Senior guard Kormahyah Karmue (2.6) is a great athlete on the perimeter and has the potential to be a lockdown defender, which should give them a solid backcourt to start building around. There is quite a bit of talent in the 2025 class at SEP, so don’t be surprised to see some freshmen make an impact, most notably Bodie Goodman, who was dominant at a scorer when we saw this group in June. [caption id="attachment_1115533" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/118-Kirby-Schmitz-crop-2206x1449-1610566205.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1115533 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/118-Kirby-Schmitz-crop-2206x1449-1610566205-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> K. Schmitz[/caption] Urbandale (4-14): It was a long season last year for the J-Hawks, who ranked 45th out of 48 4A teams in scoring, putting up just 46.1 points a game. They lose two of the top three, and three of the top four, scorers from that team, but there is some reason for optimism in Urbandale. [player_tooltip player_id="1158444" first="Greysn" last="Schmitz"] (8.7) is the top returning scorer, a capable 3-point shooter, and an athletic guard who can get to the rim. His younger brother [player_tooltip player_id="1067656" first="Kirby" last="Schmitz"] (4.7) is a big, physical body in the paint who had a solid summer on both ends of the floor. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="1288875" first="Brice" last="Lange"] (1.6) can knock down shots, and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="1172912" first="Grant" last="Uecker"] should give this group some quality ball-handling and shot-making on the perimeter. Valley (16-5): It’s still unclear whether or not senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962490" first="Eli" last="Raridon"] (17.6) will play this season, but if he does, the Tigers will be big, athletic, and extremely dangerous. Raridon, a 6-7 forward who can score inside and out while also dominating the glass, has committed to play football at Notre Dame. He’ll pair with 6-8 combo forward [player_tooltip player_id="1158260" first="Ruot" last="Bijiek"] (12.8), who holds a handful of mid-major offers. He has the ability to stretch the floor, finish above the rim with authority, and protect the paint defensively. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="784973" first="Mason" last="Morrow"] (4.7) and wing [player_tooltip player_id="1234966" first="Cade" last="Grevengoed"] (2.2) saw significant playing time last season and look ready to step into bigger roles, while senior big Jake Auen (1.2) can provide some depth and physicality in the paint. Expect to see plenty of freshmen Curtis Stinson Jr., the son of former Iowa State point guard Curtis Stinson. He’s a 6-2 lead guard with a high basketball IQ and great court vision. He can defend as well, which is key if you’re going to play for BJ Windhorst. If Raridon plays, no team in the state can match up with the frontcourt that Valley will be able to put on the floor. Waukee (16-2): It will be an almost entirely new look for the defending champion Warriors this year following the graduations of [player_tooltip player_id="727862" first="Tucker" last="DeVries"], [player_tooltip player_id="727863" first="Payton" last="Sandfort"], [player_tooltip player_id="796110" first="Malik" last="Allen"], and [player_tooltip player_id="727899" first="Wyatt" last="Heston"], plus the transfer of Omaha Biliew. Oh, and the opening of a new school, Waukee Northwest, which took the top two returnees, [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] and [player_tooltip player_id="956887" first="Cade" last="Kelderman"]. So we don’t really know what to expect from Waukee this season. They should still have a strong stable of athletes and talent, but there will almost certainly be lots of growing pains this season in a strong league.   <h4>Projected Order of Finish</h4> 1. Valley 2. Johnston 3. Southeast Polk 4. Urbandale 5. Waukee 6. Dowling Catholic Analysis: Every team in this division has some major question marks. For Valley, will Raridon play? For Johnston, how long will it take for the new rotation pieces to feel comfortable? For Southeast Polk, Urbandale, Waukee, and Dowling Catholic, how do they adjust to largely new rosters? If Raridon plays, this division probably goes the Tigers direction. If he doesn't, we'd give the edge to Johnston. The rest of the division could be formidable, but it may take some time.   <h4><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1148899" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Steven-Kramer-1-crop-2791x1833-1615513419-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Preseason Player of the Year</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"], Johnston: The South Dakota commit is a versatile two-way player who can dominate the game on either end of the floor. Arguably the breakout star of the Class 4A state tournament last year, Kramer looks primed to have a massive year for the Dragons, who should be in a battle with Valley all year in this tough division.   <h4>Players to Watch</h4> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"], Johnston 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682278" first="Trey" last="Lewis"], Johnston 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1234969" first="Masen" last="Ryan"], Johnston 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962490" first="Eli" last="Raridon"], Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158260" first="Ruot" last="Bijiek"], Valley 2025 Curtis Stinson Jr., Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784973" first="Mason" last="Morrow"], Valley 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1234966" first="Cade" last="Grevengoed"], Valley 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167719" first="Riley" last="Edwards"], Southeast Polk 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235023" first="Kormahyh" last="Karmue"], Southeast Polk 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1067656" first="Kirby" last="Schmitz"], Urbandale 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158444" first="Greysn" last="Schmitz"], Urbandale 2022 Jack Wattier, Urbandale 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1172912" first="Grant" last="Uecker"], Urbandale 2022 Evan Curran, Dowling Catholic