Conference Preview: Little Hawkeye

The Teams   Dallas Center-Grimes (22-5, 14.9% of scoring returning): The defending 3A state champions lost a lot of production off of last year's team, and will be moving up to 4A for the foreseeable future. The top four scorers graduated, leaving senior wing Trevor Hamil (4.7) as the top returning scorer. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (3.3) started a majority of games last season and is also back, providing some length and defensive versatility for the Mustangs in the paint. Look for Drew Rankin (1.2) to step into a bigger role, and [player_tooltip player_id='1178729' first='Jaden' last='Jones'] to emerge as a solid role player for this group this season. There will be a lot of new faces taking the floor for Joel Rankin this season, but he has turned this program into one that is strong annually, regardless of personnel losses. Look for DCG to remain competitive in the LHC.   Grinnell (4-17, 12.6%): The Tigers last season in the LHC could be a tough one, as they lost the top four scorers from last year's team, leaving junior forward Ethan Walker (3.1) and guard Cole Blackford (2.4) as the lone returnees who saw significant playing time last season. Walker was efficient last season, shooting 57% from the floor, and at 6-5 he'll provide some size and physicality in the paint. Look for members of the 2025 class - [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (1.6), Brady Coffman (1.0), and [player_tooltip player_id='2721799' first='Derek' last='Doty'] (0.9) - to get a bunch of time this season to start building towards the 2023-24 season and the transition in the WaMaC.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1219183" /></a></figure>   Indianola (17-5, 87.5%): Behind one of the strongest 2023 classes in the state, Indianola looks primed to make some major noise this season. The Indians were dominant after the holiday break last season, going 14-2 with a +16.4 point differential, and they bring back 10 of the top 11 from that group. [player_tooltip player_id='956873' first='Drew' last='Kingery'] (18.7) is the top-ranked uncommitted player in the state, a versatile three-level scorer who can dominate games on both ends of the floor with his size, length, athleticism, and IQ. He posted 52-36-74 shooting splits to go with 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists a game. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1167716' first='Brayden' last='Drea'] (11.9) will step into a primary ball-handling role this season following the graduation of Cooper Nailor, who led the team in assists last season. Drea, who transferred from Ankeny before the start of last season, knocked down 43% of his 3-point attempts last season and is a strong playmaking guard. [player_tooltip player_id='1167736' first='Charlie' last='Willmott'] (9.5) is a versatile inside-out scorer, while [player_tooltip player_id='1167732' first='Casey' last='Glascock'] (7.0), Brady Blake (5.6), and [player_tooltip player_id='1288855' first='Dakota' last='Heimbaugh'] (5.6) provide additional scoring punch on the perimeter. The Indians are loaded with offensive weapons, have the best player in the conference, and will be incredibly deep. This team is a real threat in Class 4A.   Newton (13-11, 71.8%): Eight of the top 10 scorers return for the Cardinals, led by a trio of talented senior guards in [player_tooltip player_id='1240081' first='Brody' last='Bauer'] (9.4, 36.4 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='1167723' first='Jake' last='Ingle'] (9.1, 35.2 3P%), and Tate Vanderlaan (5.0, 36.0 3P%), giving them three good shooting threats who can stretch the floor and carry the team when they get hot from deep. Cole Plowman (7.4) is a solid interior presence who rebounds well and protects the paint defensively, and we expect to see a breakout year from junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1256300' first='Caleb' last='Mattes'] (4.0), the younger brother of Adam Mattes, who led the team in scoring last season. Mattes is a versatile three-level scorer who can create looks for himself and others and should emerge as a solid playmaker this season. The LHC is always a meatgrinder, but with eight players coming back who saw significant playing time last year, the Cards have a league up on a lot of the other teams in the conference who lost significant chunks of production to graduation.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/50-Redek-Born.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/50-Redek-Born-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1290441" /></a></figure>   Norwalk (12-11, 79.9%): Six of the top seven scorers return for the Warriors, headlined by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (13.2), who led the team in scoring and assists last season. He's a high IQ guard who can score from all three levels and get others involved, and he looks like he's primed to have a huge junior season after producing at a high level as a freshman and sophomore. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1239874' first='Braeden' last='Carlson'] (12.9, 7.3 rebounds) is an athletic, active forward who loves to rebound on both ends of the floor, and he'll provide some versatility on the defensive end, while fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1240065' first='Landon' last='Edwards'] (2.0) should step into a more significant role as an athletic, rim-running forward who can protect the paint. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (7.2) was solid last season as a scorer and he's coming off a strong summer as a three-level scoring threat. If he can step up and take some of the scoring burdens off of Born's hands, the Warriors will be dangerous. This was a really young team last season, and they should be much improved and in the running for the conference title until the end of the season.   Oskaloosa (6-16, 33.1%): The Indians lost leading scorer Keaton Flaherty to graduation, the lone double-figure scorer from last year's team. Waylon Bolibaugh (8.4) is the lone returnee among the top five scorers last season and should become a go-to scoring threat this season, and expect junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1261860' first='Aidan' last='Scholes'] (4.5) to step into a much larger role this season as well. He's a talented ball-handler and shooter who could have a breakout junior season. Jakob Stek (2.6), a 5-11 guard, is the only other returnee who saw time last season. Osky has a few solid pieces to build around, but it will be a struggle to compete on a nightly basis in this loaded league.   Pella (17-7, 14.9%): The Dutch lost over 85% of their scoring output from last year's team, including the top five scorers, which leaves junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171672' first='Luke' last='Hardman'] (5.3) and senior forward Chase Lauman (2.5) as the top returnees. Hardman is a good athlete who can score from all three levels, and he should step into a bigger role this season and be a major contributor. Senior combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='1167696' first='Luke' last='Keitges'] (1.7) transferred from Knoxville before the start of last season, and he never really got into the flow of things with the Dutch but he should become an asset this year. As a sophomore at Knoxville, the 6-5 combo forward averaged 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds, so there is talent here to be unlocked and hopefully, with another year in the system, he'll be able to produce for the Dutch. The other pieces to watch here are sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Brayden' last='Traetow'], and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2377418' first='Mitchell' last='Miller'] (1.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='1171673' first='Romon' last='Hugan'] (1.0), who will each step into bigger roles. Pella always has a slew of athletes to put on the floor and they should remain competitive.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/3-Tysen-De-Vries-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1667146866.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/3-Tysen-De-Vries-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1667146866-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1644746" /></a></figure>   Pella Christian (19-7, 23.3%): The Eagles were fantastic last season, making it to the 2A semifinals behind the strength of a strong and deep senior class. A lot of production graduated, but there are a few pieces returning to keep the train running in Pella. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='De Vries'] (6.2) quickly became one of my favorites last season. He's small, but he's fearless and thrives when playing downhill and attacking the rim. A highly efficient finisher who won't shy away from contact, De Vries may be the favorite to lead the state in times a player hits the deck this year. He'll provide the Eagles with some quickness, toughness, and a bit of attitude as their leader. [player_tooltip player_id='1469788' first='Aiden' last='Stoltz'] (6.4) was also a major contributor for PC last season, giving them an athletic and versatile wing defender who also knocked down 40% of his 3-point attempts. While they lose a lot of pieces from the rotation, bringing De Vries and Stoltz back is a great place to start piecing together a team for this season. Expect PC to remain competitive within the conference, and a threat in 2A when postseason play arrives.     Projected Order of Finish   1. Indianola 2. Norwalk 3. Newton 4. Pella Christian 5. Dallas Center-Grimes 6. Pella 7. Oskaloosa 8. Grinnell   Analysis: Indianola appears to be a pretty clear favorite in the conference this season, the only team bringing back over 80% of their production from last year's team. Outside of the Indians, teams two through six could probably go in any order and it wouldn't surprise us. Norwalk and Newton bring the most back of that group, but PC, DCG, and Pella are always strong and can't be counted out. The LHC is always a grinder, and this year will be no exception.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Drew-Kingery-crop-3106x2040-1624124696-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1219183" /></a></figure>   Preseason Player of the Year   2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956873' first='Drew' last='Kingery'], Indianola: Kingery is the top returning scorer and rebounder in the LHC and is the best player on what we expect to be the best team in the conference. The top-ranked uncommitted player in Iowa's 2023 class, he's a long, versatile wing on both ends of the floor who can score from all three levels and defend multiple positions.     Players to Watch   2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956873' first='Drew' last='Kingery'], Indianola 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167716' first='Brayden' last='Drea'], Indianola 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167736' first='Charlie' last='Willmott'], Indianola 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167732' first='Casey' last='Glascock'], Indianola 2023 Brady Blake, Indianola 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1288855' first='Dakota' last='Heimbaugh'], Indianola 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'], Norwalk 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1239874' first='Braeden' last='Carlson'], Norwalk 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'], Norwalk 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240081' first='Brody' last='Bauer'], Newton 2023 Cole Plowman, Newton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167723' first='Jake' last='Ingle'], Newton 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256300' first='Caleb' last='Mattes'], Newton 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='De Vries'], Pella Christian 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469788' first='Aiden' last='Stoltz'], Pella Christian 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'], Dallas Center-Grimes 2023 Trevor Hamil, Dallas Center-Grimes 2023 Waylon Bolibaugh, Oksaloosa 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1261860' first='Aidan' last='Scholes'], Oskaloosa 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171672' first='Luke' last='Hardman'], Pella

The Teams