Conference Preview: CIML Central
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The Teams 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…
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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.
Johnston (12-5): With senior wing Steven Kramer Steven Kramer 6'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA (13.1) and guard Trey Lewis Trey Lewis 5'10" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA (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 Masen Ryan Masen Ryan 6'3" | SF Johnston | 2022 State IA (2.4), Andrew Pender (1.3), and Jaxsen Cahill Jaxsen Cahill 6'6" | SF Johnston | 2022 State IA 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 Riley Edwards Riley Edwards 6'3" | SG Southeast Polk | 2023 State IA (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.
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. Greysn Schmitz Greysn Schmitz 6'0" | SG Urbandale | 2022 State IA (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 Kirby Schmitz Kirby Schmitz 6'6" | C Charlotte | 2023 State FL (4.7) is a big, physical body in the paint who had a solid summer on both ends of the floor. Junior Brice Lange Brice Lange 5'11" Urbandale | 2023 IA (1.6) can knock down shots, and sophomore guard Grant Uecker Grant Uecker 6'3" | PG Urbandale | 2024 State IA 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 Eli Raridon Eli Raridon 6'7" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA (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 Ruot Bijiek Ruot Bijiek 6'8" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA (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 Mason Morrow Mason Morrow 5'11" | CG Valley | 2022 State IA (4.7) and wing Cade Grevengoed Cade Grevengoed 6'1" | SG Valley | 2022 State IA (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 Tucker DeVries Tucker DeVries 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #123 Nation IA , Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA , Malik Allen Malik Allen 5'11" | PG Des Moines North | 2021 State IA , and Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA , plus the transfer of Omaha Biliew. Oh, and the opening of a new school, Waukee Northwest, which took the top two returnees, Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA and Cade Kelderman Cade Kelderman 6'0" | PG Waukee Northwest | 2023 State IA . 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.
Projected Order of Finish
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.
Preseason Player of the Year
2022 Steven Kramer Steven Kramer 6'5" | SG Johnston | 2022 State IA , 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.
Players to Watch
2022
Steven Kramer
Steven
Kramer
6'5" | SG
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
, Johnston
2022
Trey Lewis
Trey
Lewis
5'10" | PG
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
, Johnston
2022
Masen Ryan
Masen
Ryan
6'3" | SF
Johnston | 2022
State
IA
, Johnston
2022
Eli Raridon
Eli
Raridon
6'7" | PF
Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Valley
2022
Ruot Bijiek
Ruot
Bijiek
6'8" | PF
Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Valley
2025 Curtis Stinson Jr., Valley
2022
Mason Morrow
Mason
Morrow
5'11" | CG
Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Valley
2022
Cade Grevengoed
Cade
Grevengoed
6'1" | SG
Valley | 2022
State
IA
, Valley
2023
Riley Edwards
Riley
Edwards
6'3" | SG
Southeast Polk | 2023
State
IA
, Southeast Polk
2022
Kormahyh Karmue
Kormahyh
Karmue
5'10" | PG
Southeast Polk | 2022
IA
, Southeast Polk
2023
Kirby Schmitz
Kirby
Schmitz
6'6" | C
Charlotte | 2023
State
FL
, Urbandale
2022
Greysn Schmitz
Greysn
Schmitz
6'0" | SG
Urbandale | 2022
State
IA
, Urbandale
2022 Jack Wattier, Urbandale
2024
Grant Uecker
Grant
Uecker
6'3" | PG
Urbandale | 2024
State
IA
, Urbandale
2022 Evan Curran, Dowling Catholic