Substate Preview: 3A-7
In this article:
The favorite: There isn’t much separating the top two seeds in this substate, but given the fact that they’ll have a slightly easier path to the substate final, we’ll side with Winterset as the favorite here. The Huskies are led…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe favorite: There isn’t much separating the top two seeds in this substate, but given the fact that they’ll have a slightly easier path to the substate final, we’ll side with Winterset as the favorite here. The Huskies are led by the Wilmes twins – seniors Hudson Wilmes Hudson Wilmes 6'0" | SG Winterset | 2024 State IA (16.0, 3.0 assists, 41.5 3P%) and Hayden Wilmes Hayden Wilmes 6'0" | SG Winterset | 2024 State IA (14.0, 3.3 assists). They’re both excellent shooters off the catch who can also create for their teammates off the dribble. Younger brother Hank Wilmes Hank Wilmes 5'9" | PG Winterset | 2025 State IA (5.0, 5.3 assists) is a small lead guard, but he’s quick, tough, and loves to get his teammates involved. Sam Hensley Sam Hensley 6'5" | PF Winterset | 2024 State IA (13.9, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) is a versatile forward who can score inside, protect the rim, and occasionally step out and space the floor. The Huskies play a 2-3 zone that gives teams a lot of issues with the speed that they’re able to put on the floor. Generally when you think of a zone team, you think of a team that may be trying to take advantage of their length. With Winterset, they use their speed to make it unique. If teams aren’t protecting the ball, the Huskies can turn defense into offense in a hurry.
The biggest threat: Pella enters postseason play limping a bit, having lost five of their last seven games, but they’ve played against a gauntlet of a schedule during that stretch. Two losses came to 17-3 Dallas Center-Grimes, another to 16-5 Pella Christian. One to 16-4 Norwalk, and a setback against 17-3 Waverly-Shell Rock. So, while yes, you’d like to see the Dutch get a few wins during that tough stretch to prove they’re among the best in the class, the losses are all understandable. Sophomore wing Jack McGuire Jack McGuire 6'5" | SF Pella | 2026 State IA (14.3, 7.7 rebounds, 60.1 FG%) leads the team on the offensive end. He’s a long, lanky wing who is at his best when he’s playing downhill and getting to the rim. Luke Hardman Luke Hardman 6'0" | SF Pella | 2024 State IA (12.1, 41.2 3P%) is the team’s best shooter, while Cameron Rowe Cameron Rowe 6'3" | SF Pella | 2024 State IA (11.1) and Cole Griffith Cole Griffith 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2025 State IA (9.2) can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. This year’s Pella team isn’t quite as deep as we’re accustomed to seeing, but their top six is among the best in the class, and they’ll certainly be well prepared for postseason play.
The dark horses: Senior wing Jack Cooley Jack Cooley 6'5" | PF Clarke | 2024 State IA (23.8, 11.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists) leads an explosive Clarke offensive attack that is averaging 70.8 points per game, which ranks 4th in the class. Cooley, a 6-4/6-5, athletic wing, can score from all three levels, create off the dribble, defend multiple positions, and he dominates the glass on both ends of the floor. Fellow senior guard Bo Otto Bo Otto 6'0" | PG Clarke | 2024 State IA (10.3, 7.1 assists) has been fantastic with the ball in his hands, setting the table for his teammates and posting a 2.91 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Ashton Giza (9.3) provides shooting, and Cole White Cole White 6'6" | C Clarke | 2024 State IA (7.6, 1.4 blocks) gives them some rim protection. This is an experienced team, with their top six comprised of five seniors and a junior, and they’ve been building towards this season for the last four years. The question for the Indians is how tested they are throughout the season, with a strength of schedule that ranks 62nd in the class out of 64 teams.
Knoxville has a pair of potent scorers in the Norris brothers – junior Landen Norris Landen Norris 6'4" | PG Knoxville | 2025 State IA (20.1, 8.4 rebounds) and freshman Lincoln Norris Lincoln Norris 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2027 State IA (10.8). Both are good three-level scoring threats who can play with or without the ball in their hands. Junior combo forward Kaiden Smith (7.0, 2.7 blocks) is a versatile defender who can switch on the perimeter or protect the paint defensively. The Norris brothers are the standout offensive weapons, but three others Panthers – Jay Kellar (5.4, 34.7 3P%), Carson Uitermarkt (6.1), and Gabe Clark Gabe Clark 6'1" | PG Pella | 2025 State IA (4.9, 37.7 3P%) – have knocked down at least 23 3-points this season, giving them some additional shooting and floor stretching.
Players to watch
2024
Hudson Wilmes
Hudson
Wilmes
6'0" | SG
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
, Winterset
2024
Sam Hensley
Sam
Hensley
6'5" | PF
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
, Winterset
2024
Hayden Wilmes
Hayden
Wilmes
6'0" | SG
Winterset | 2024
State
IA
, Winterset
2026
Jack McGuire
Jack
McGuire
6'5" | SF
Pella | 2026
State
IA
, Pella
2024
Luke Hardman
Luke
Hardman
6'0" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
, Pella
2024
Cameron Rowe
Cameron
Rowe
6'3" | SF
Pella | 2024
State
IA
, Pella
2024
Jack Cooley
Jack
Cooley
6'5" | PF
Clarke | 2024
State
IA
, Clarke
2024
Bo Otto
Bo
Otto
6'0" | PG
Clarke | 2024
State
IA
, Clarke
2024
Caleb Mattes
Caleb
Mattes
6'0" | SG
Newton | 2024
State
IA
, Newton
2024 Christian Lawson, Newton
2025
Landen Norris
Landen
Norris
6'4" | PG
Knoxville | 2025
State
IA
, Knoxville
2027
Lincoln Norris
Lincoln
Norris
5'11" | PG
Knoxville | 2027
State
IA
, Knoxville
2025 Kaiden Smith, Knoxville
2024
Mason Smith
Mason
Smith
5'7" | PG
Chariton | 2024
State
IA
, Chariton
2025 Quinten Gruwell, Chariton
2024 Tate Osterhaus, Carlisle
2025 Calvin Frey, Carlisle
2026 Wor Wor, Hoover
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Winterset vs. Pella
Does Pella shoot it well enough from the arc to expose the Winterset zone? They don’t really have the traditional size that could beat the smaller Huskies on the inside of the zone, and I’m not sure they have the shooting to beat the Huskies from deep. Winterset’s speed and shooting is the difference-maker, and the Huskies head off to Des Moines.