Class 4A: Top 10 Returning Shot Blockers

1.) 2025 Jack McCaffery Jack McCaffery 6'8" | SF Iowa City West | 2025 State IA (Iowa City West) – 89 blocks

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.

2.) 2024 Anthony Gott Anthony Gott 6'8" | C North Scott | 2024 State IA (North Scott) – 58*

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.

3.) 2024 Cade Courbat Cade Courbat 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2024 State #120 Nation IA (Cedar Falls) – 54

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.

4.) 2025 Davis Kern Davis Kern 6'8" | PF Linn-Mar | 2025 State IA (Linn-Mar) – 46

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.

5.) 2024 Gage Kampman Gage Kampman 6'7" | PF Iowa City Liberty | 2024 State IA (Liberty) – 40

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.

6.) 2024 Jordan Dewaele Jordan Dewaele 6'6" | PF Council Bluffs Jefferson | 2024 State IA (Council Bluffs Jefferson) – 39

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.

7.) 2024 Kavon Phillips Kavon Phillips 6'7" | SF North Scott | 2024 State IA (North Scott) – 35

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.

8.) 2024 Caden Wilkins Caden Wilkins 6'7" | SG Bettendorf | 2024 State #69 Nation IA (Bettendorf) – 34

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.

9.) 2025 Trevin Jirak Trevin Jirak 6'9" | C Valley | 2025 State IA (Valley) – 32

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.

10.) 2024 Reid Burkle Reid Burkle 6'5" | PF Prairie | 2024 State IA (Prairie) – 29

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.