Substate Preview: 3A-4
In this article:
The favorite: The top seed in the substate is Marion, and the Wolves have to feel pretty good about the draw they got for the first two rounds of this bracket (a potential third meeting with Mount Vernon in the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe favorite: The top seed in the substate is Marion, and the Wolves have to feel pretty good about the draw they got for the first two rounds of this bracket (a potential third meeting with Mount Vernon in the substate final, maybe not so much). They’re led by explosive senior guard Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA (pictured, 21.9, 51.9 FG%), one of the best pure scorers in the state. Capable of scoring from anywhere at any point in time. Laube is a threat to drop 30+ points on any given night. He has unlimited range, tight handles, and a quick first step that he uses to blow by unbalanced defenders. Alex Mota Alex Mota 6'1" | SG Marion | 2023 State IA (10.3), an Iowa football signee, provides more athleticism on the perimeter, and they’ve gotten great production out of senior forward Calen Claypool (10.2, 6.2 rebounds) this season. Claypool has taken his game to another level as a rebounder and defender and turned himself into an extremely valuable piece for this team. Myles Davis Myles Davis 6'1" | SG Marion | 2024 State IA (6.1, 37.7 3P%), an Iowa baseball commit, is a physical guard who moves his feet well defensively and knocks down open looks, and Payton Hodges Payton Hodges 6'1" | SG Marion | 2024 State IA (5.3) can provide some scoring spark off the bench for this group. The Wolves have the best player in the substate, and have largely been dominant this season. They shouldn’t have too many issues getting to the substate final here.
The biggest threats: Mount Vernon enters postseason play hot, winning seven of their last nine regular-season games, including great wins over Xavier, Marion, and Waverly-Shell Rock. The Mustangs are led by junior guard Jackson Kutcher Jackson Kutcher 6'0" | SG Mount Vernon | 2024 State IA (17.1, 38.2 3P%), a high-level shooter who is enjoying a breakout junior season after injuries hampered his sophomore year. Brady Erickson (11.0, 51.4 FG%), an efficient senior wing, provides some additional scoring punch, while Joe Rhomberg Joe Rhomberg 6'1" | SF Mount Vernon | 2024 State IA (9.9, 8.2 rebounds) is a dominant interior force on the glass. The ‘Stangs are athletic, deep, don’t hurt themselves, and have proven down the stretch that they’re capable of beating just about anyone in the class. This is probably a team that Marion didn’t really want to see in their substate.
Charles City has lost just three times since the holiday break – to 4A Waterloo West (15-5), 1A powerhouse Grand View Christian (21-0), and 2A powerhouse Aplington-Parkersburg (19-2). Senior wing Chase Low Chase Low 6'3" | PF Charles City | 2023 State IA (16.1) is a fantastic athlete who can take over games with his ability to get to the rim and impact the game on the defensive end. He has improved his jumper and is posting impressive 56-47 shooting splits. Kam Mestas Kam Mestas 6'5" | PF Charles City | 2024 State IA (14.6, 6.5 rebounds) and Keenan Wiley (11.4, 7.9 rebounds) provide additional scoring and rebounding. Wiley has been a very welcome addition as a transfer from Mason City, adding length, size, and athleticism to their frontline. The Comets are playing well, but there are certainly some questions about their quality of the teams they’ve beaten since the holiday break (with the exception of Waverly-Shell Rock).
The dark horse: In junior wing Ben Bockman Ben Bockman 6'5" | SF Decorah | 2024 State IA (22.6, 9.1 rebounds, 38.0 3P%), Decorah has one of the best scorers in the class, and that makes the Vikings dangerous. A 6-3/6-4 shooter with good size and length, Bockman is the type of player who can get hot and carry his team offensively for long stretches because of the variety of ways that he can fill it up. He can create his own shot, he moves well without the ball, and he shoots it really well both off the dribble and the catch. Matthew Bockman (10.6, 4.3 assists) and Tate Johnson (10.3) are also solid scoring threats, while junior forward Kaiden Quandahl Kaiden Quandahl 6'4" | SF Decorah | 2024 State IA (8.4, 7.7 rebounds) has provided some physicality in the paint. Bockman is dangerous, and in turn, so are the Vikings.
Players to watch
2023
Brayson Laube
Brayson
Laube
6'2" | PG
Marion | 2023
State
IA
, Marion
2023
Alex Mota
Alex
Mota
6'1" | SG
Marion | 2023
State
IA
, Marion
2023 Calen Claypool, Marion
2024
Jackson Kutcher
Jackson
Kutcher
6'0" | SG
Mount Vernon | 2024
State
IA
, Mount Vernon
2023 Brady Erickson, Mount Vernon
2023
Chase Low
Chase
Low
6'3" | PF
Charles City | 2023
State
IA
, Charles City
2024
Kam Mestas
Kam
Mestas
6'5" | PF
Charles City | 2024
State
IA
, Charles City
2024 Keenan Wiley, Charles City
2024
Ben Bockman
Ben
Bockman
6'5" | SF
Decorah | 2024
State
IA
, Decorah
2024 Matthew Bockman, Decorah
2024
Cameron Dunbar
Cameron
Dunbar
6'2" | SG
Vinton-Shellsburg | 2024
State
IA
, Vinton-Shellsburg
2023 Bryce Smith, West Delaware
2024
Tanner Michael
Tanner
Michael
6'0" | PG
Hudson | 2024
State
IA
, Independence
2023
Zach Mehmert
Zach
Mehmert
6'5" | PF
Crestwood | 2023
State
IA
, Crestwood
2023
Maurice Powell
Maurice
Powell
5'8" | SG
Crestwood | 2023
State
IA
, Crestwood
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Marion vs. Mount Vernon
These teams split their regular season meetings, with Marion winning 59-48 on January 13 and Mount Vernon winning 65-52 on January 30. Each team won on their home court, while this would be played at a neutral. In that game on the 30th, Mount Vernon let Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA get his, as he went off for 36 points, and made the rest of the team beat them. The rest of the Wolves didn’t beat them in that one, and Jackson Kutcher Jackson Kutcher 6'0" | SG Mount Vernon | 2024 State IA didn’t play for Mount Vernon. Logically that would mean that the advantage would go to Mount Vernon, but we’re going to side with Marion here, who will have the best player on the floor, and in a coin flip situation, I’m going to side with the team that has the most dynamic player on their side.