Substate Preview: 4A-7

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-7.png"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1384082" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/4A-7-1024x335.png" alt="" width="1024" height="335" /></a> [caption id="attachment_1356612" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408.png"><img class="wp-image-1356612 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Pryce-Sandfort-crop-591x388-1640894408-300x197.png" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] Photo: Sean Bock <a href="https://247sports.com/player/pryce-sandfort-46097292/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">247Sports</a>[/caption] The favorite: In its first year as a school, Waukee Northwest has put itself in a position to win the state championship. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"] (27.5, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks) has been the best player in 4A this season, a 6-7 sharpshooter who is posting incredible 53-41-90 shooting splits on high volume. A remarkably gifted shot maker, he has the size and length to get his shot off whenever he wants, and he’s been a fantastic defender both on the ball and as a help defender all year. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="956887" first="Cade" last="Kelderman"] (16.3, 5.6 assists, 44.0 3P%) has provided some additional scoring and excellent floor leadership as a distributor, while junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1240092" first="Henry" last="Manning"] (11.7, 38.7 3P%) and sophomore combo forward [player_tooltip player_id="1376673" first="Grant" last="Tigges"] (8.0, 44.0 3P%) is another really good shooter who can score inside and out. The Wolves have the highest-scoring offense in the class, putting up 71.6 points a game, and they have the best player in the state in Sandfort. The scary thing is that only one senior on the roster sees significant playing time, so they’ll be even better next year. [caption id="attachment_1219183" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1219183 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956873" first="Drew" last="Kingery"][/caption] The biggest threat: Another high-powered offensive team that is playing excellent ball down the stretch is Indianola, who is averaging 70.0 points a game, 5th in the class. The Indians have a deep and balanced group of scoring threats led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="956873" first="Drew" last="Kingery"] (18.9, 7.6 rebounds), a long and bouncy three-level scorer with defensive versatility. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1167716" first="Brayden" last="Drea"] (12.2), an Ankeny transfer, has given them excellent perimeter shooting and has paired well with senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="1158457" first="Cooper" last="Nailor"] (8.1, 5.1 assists) to give them a pair of reliable ball-handling options. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="1167736" first="Charlie" last="Willmott"] (9.5) is an efficient interior scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id="1167732" first="Casey" last="Glascock"] (7.1) provides a lot of athleticism and quickness on the wing. Like Northwest, this is a young team with only Nailor seeing much playing time as a senior. They play primarily 3A schools during the year as members of the Little Hawkeye Conference, but that is the best 3A league in the state, and this team knows that they can play with just about anyone with their explosiveness on the offensive end. [caption id="attachment_1219188" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Grant-Uecker-crop-493x324-1624125403.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1219188 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Grant-Uecker-crop-493x324-1624125403-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1172912" first="Grant" last="Uecker"][/caption] The dark horse: Urbandale has been one of the most improved teams in the class this year, putting together an 11-10 season that included a good win over Hoover and six losses by single digits. The J-Hawks are led by sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1172912" first="Grant" last="Uecker"] (11.3, 46.4 3P%), who has been excellent in his first varsity season, leading the team ins coring, rebounding, and assists. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1367409" first="Brice" last="Lange"] (10.9, 37.4 3P%) is another solid shooting option, while [player_tooltip player_id="1158444" first="Greysn" last="Schmitz"] (9.7), Jack Craig (6.3), and [player_tooltip player_id="1067656" first="Kirby" last="Schmitz"] (6.1) are experienced pieces who provide some toughness and athleticism. Players to watch 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956868" first="Pryce" last="Sandfort"], Northwest 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956887" first="Cade" last="Kelderman"], Northwest 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240092" first="Henry" last="Manning"], Northwest 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956873" first="Drew" last="Kingery"], Indianola 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167716" first="Brayden" last="Drea"], Indianola 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1172912" first="Grant" last="Uecker"], Urbandale 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1367409" first="Brice" last="Lange"], Urbandale 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158446" first="Adam" last="Greiner"], Ottumwa 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167719" first="Riley" last="Edwards"], Southeast Polk 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171694" first="Tyron" last="Wright"], East   <h3 style="text-align: center;">SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</h3> Waukee Northwest vs. Indianola Sign me up for this one. Two of the top-5 offenses in the state, two of the top-4 juniors (Sandfort and Kingery), and a pair of teams that are actually pretty familiar with each other, as Northwest coach Brett Watson was at Indianola before taking over the head job in Waukee. Northwest has the best player in the state, and Sandfort carries the Wolves to the state tournament with a huge game.