Substate Preview: 4A-6
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The favorite: Indianola has been building for this season for the last few years and the Indians have been impressive, racing to a 19-2 record and a top-10 ranking in both scoring offense (66.2, 6th) and defense (51.8, 9th). The…
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Continue ReadingThe favorite: Indianola has been building for this season for the last few years and the Indians have been impressive, racing to a 19-2 record and a top-10 ranking in both scoring offense (66.2, 6th) and defense (51.8, 9th). The top 10 scorers are all seniors, so this group is extremely experienced, has played together a ton, and is deep with versatile talents. Drew Kingery Drew Kingery 6'4" | SF Indianola | 2023 State IA (15.5, 6.7 rebounds) is the headliner, a 6-6 wing who can score from all three levels, defend multiple positions, and create shots for others. Brayden Drea Brayden Drea 5'10" | PG Indianola | 2023 State IA (14.7, 4.1 assists) is a tough lead guard and elite shooter who is burying nearly 47% of his 3-point attempts, and Brady Blake (10.5, 36.5 3P%) provides some additional scoring as a combo forward. This is an athletic, quick team that plays really good, disciplined defense, and has six legitimate scoring threats. They play in the Little Hawkeye Conference, which has some teams licking their chops, thinking that this may be the most vulnerable #1 seed of any in 4A, but this team is really, really talented, and they’re ready for this moment.
The biggest threat: The defending champions lost a ton of production off of last year’s team, but Ames has once again been nearly impossible to score against, allowing just 44.4 points a game, second in the class. The Little Cyclones are led by junior wing Jack Wynter Jack Wynter 6'3" | SG Ames | 2024 State IA (14.2, 38.1 3P%), a lefty sharpshooter who had a breakout week at the state tournament last year and who has carried that momentum into his junior year. Senior wing Lucas Lueth Lucas Lueth 6'6" | SF Ames | 2023 State IA (11.8, 3.1 blocks) is arguably the best defensive player in the state, regardless of class. A 6-7 wing who can defend point guards through centers, contesting shots and moving his feet. Frank Keller Frank Keller 6'6" | PF Ames | 2023 State IA (9.7, 8.0 rebounds), a move-in from Texas, has been strong on the glass and as another versatile defensive piece. This group can struggle to score at times, but they’re going to make it really difficult for opposing teams to score as well.
The dark horses: Ankeny owns an early-season win over Ames, their semifinal opponent if they win their first game against Ottumwa. The Hawks are led by a pair of talented juniors in point guard Carson Johnson Carson Johnson 5'11" | PG Ankeny | 2024 State IA (14.6, 42.1 3P%) and Lio Aguirre Lio Aguirre 6'3" | SF Ankeny | 2024 State IA (13.8). Johnson is a knockdown shooter both off the dribble and the catch while Aguirre is a physical wing who loves to play downhill and attack the rim. This is a quick team hat has shown they can play at an elite level with their win over Waukee, but they’ve also been a bit inconsistent this season. If they can put together three straight games of good effort, they have the talent to navigate their way to the state tournament.
Sophomore forward Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State #244 Nation IA (19.4, 2.0 blocks) is one of the best players in Iowa’s 2025 class, and he leads a Linn-Mar team that can get hot and run off some wins here. A 6-7/6-8 forward who can score inside and out with his feathery stroke as well as protect the rim at a high level. Senior guard Jackson Severson Jackson Severson 5'11" | PG Linn-Mar | 2023 State IA (12.0) has given the Lions a boost since getting back into the lineup, a three-level scorer and playmaker, and sophomore wing Payson Nietert Payson Nietert 6'6" | SF Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA (8.0, 35.9 3P%) is a good shooter with a quick release off the catch and plenty of range.
Liberty has had an up-and-down year, but in senior wing Da’Shon Fisher Da’Shon Fisher 6'2" | SG Liberty | 2023 IA (21.7, 4.0 assists), they have one of the most explosive scorers and playmakers in the class. A 6-2 guard who can put it on the floor and get to the rim at will, he has really improved as a shooter this year, making him extremely dangerous. Luke Ramsey Luke Ramsey 5'11" | SG Liberty | 2023 State IA (11.3, 37.6 3P%) and Trey Hughes Trey Hughes 6'2" | SG Liberty | 2024 State IA (11.3, 41.7 3P%) are also dangerous shooting threats, and Gage Kampman Gage Kampman 6'7" | PF Iowa City Liberty | 2024 State IA (7.2, 2.4 blocks) is a rim-protecting big who can alter game plans.
Players to watch
2023
Drew Kingery
Drew
Kingery
6'4" | SF
Indianola | 2023
State
IA
, Indianola
2023
Brayden Drea
Brayden
Drea
5'10" | PG
Indianola | 2023
State
IA
, Indianola
2023 Brady Blake, Indianola
2024
Jack Wynter
Jack
Wynter
6'3" | SG
Ames | 2024
State
IA
, Ames
2023
Lucas Lueth
Lucas
Lueth
6'6" | SF
Ames | 2023
State
IA
, Ames
2023
Frank Keller
Frank
Keller
6'6" | PF
Ames | 2023
State
IA
, Ames
2024
Carson Johnson
Carson
Johnson
5'11" | PG
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
, Ankeny
2024
Lio Aguirre
Lio
Aguirre
6'3" | SF
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
, Ankeny
2025
Davis Kern
Davis
Kern
6'8" | PF
Linn-Mar | 2025
State
#244
Nation
IA
, Linn-Mar
2023
Jackson Severson
Jackson
Severson
5'11" | PG
Linn-Mar | 2023
State
IA
, Linn-Mar
2023
Da’Shon Fisher
Da’Shon
Fisher
6'2" | SG
Liberty | 2023
IA
, Liberty
2023
Luke Ramsey
Luke
Ramsey
5'11" | SG
Liberty | 2023
State
IA
, Liberty
2024
Trey Hughes
Trey
Hughes
6'2" | SG
Liberty | 2024
State
IA
, Liberty
2025 Trae Brown, Ottumwa
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Indianola vs. Ames
The high-powered offensive attack of Indianola against the elite defensive efforts of Ames, this one would be a fun chessmatch to watch. Ames can struggle at times to score, which Indianola is able to take advantage of, reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2003.