Class 4A: Top 10 Returning Shot Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (Iowa City West) - 89 blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If he isn't already, there's a real chance that Jack grows to be (significantly) taller than older brother Patrick, which should be a terrifying thought for MVC opponents. Already standing around 6-8, he uses that tremendous length to impact the game on the defensive end, turning away nearly 4 shots a night as a sophomore. Don't be surprised if McCaffery drops a points-rebounds-blocks triple-double at some point this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171691' first='Anthony' last='Gott'] (North Scott) - 58*</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big 6-7/6-8 lefty who covers a lot of ground, Gott was strong on both ends of the floor as a junior for Davenport Central, averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds to go with nearly 3 blocks a game. He has good timing and great size in the paint, and he'll be an interior enforcer for North Scott this winter following his transfer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171693' first='Cade' last='Courbat'] (Cedar Falls) - 54</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most impactful defenders in the state, Courbat has great size at 6-8, is a super bouncy athlete, and has tremendous timing as a shot blocker. He can defend multiple positions, come out of nowhere for helpside blocks, and he's improving his offensive skill set rapidly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381412' first='Davis' last='Kern'] (Linn-Mar) - 46</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The prototypical stretch-4, Kern is a great rim protector who uses his timing, length, and agility to cover a ton of ground and contest shots both on the perimeter and at the rim. He averaged 19.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a game with 53-42-85 shooting splits as a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288908' first='Gage' last='Kampman'] (Liberty) - 40</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kampman is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2024 class, a long, athletic 6-8 big man who is really starting to put everything together on both ends of the floor. With his combination of size, length, and mobility, he provides versatility on the defensive end for the Lightning. He's coming off a really strong summer with the Barnstormers in which he displayed some things on both ends of the floor that we haven't seen from him before. He looks like he's primed to have a huge senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1938205' first='Jordan' last='Dewaele'] (Council Bluffs Jefferson) - 39</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets won just three games last season, but Dewaele, a 6-6 forward, was a standout on both ends of the floor, averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a game. He's a mobile combo forward who can defend multiple positions and score inside and out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256295' first='Kavon' last='Phillips'] (North Scott) - 35</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A perimeter-oriented player, Phillips is a long, athletic wing who covers a lot of ground with his length and quickness. He contests shots on the perimeter and will pair with Gott to give the Lancers a pair of rim protectors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171682' first='Caden' last='Wilkins'] (Bettendorf) - 34</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another perimeter-oriented player who does a great job contesting jumpers, Wilkins has turned himself from a pure scorer into one of the better two-way players in the state over the last few years. He provides the Bulldogs with an athletic, versatile defender with good size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak'] (Valley) - 32</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The presence of Jirak in the paint makes Valley even more dangerous, as their bevy of hyper-athletic and long guards and wings are able to play even more aggressively on the perimeter, knowing that they have an athletic shot blocker like Jirak sitting behind them. A 6-8/6-9 big man with athleticism and length, Jirak is drawing some interest from high-major programs early in his recruitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376680' first='Reid' last='Burkle'] (Prairie) - 29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic 6-5 combo forward who can defend multiple positions, Burkle enjoyed a breakout junior year for the Hawks last season, averaging 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. With several key losses to graduation, Prairie will be his team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->