Substate Preview: 4A-2

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/4A-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/4A-2.png?w=617" alt="" class="wp-image-2348298" /></a></figure>   The favorite: Defending champion Valley hasn't been quite as dominant as most expected this season, but the Tigers dealt with injuries to their top two players - [player_tooltip player_id='1381422' first='Curtis' last='Stinson Jr'] (19.4, 51.7 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] (17.3, 3.4 assists) - who combined to miss 14 games this season, with very few of those absences overlapping. They may still be gelling together now, but one thing is for sure - nobody wants to see this team in their substate. They showcased just how dynamic they can be on both ends of the floor at last year's state tournament, and with most of those pieces returning, it may still be their title to lose. Stinson and Robinson are two of the best guards in the state, regardless of class, and their blend of size, strength, IQ, quickness, and athleticism is nearly impossible for anyone at this level to compete with when they're engaged and have it rolling. [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] (10.3), a Des Moines North transfer, has given the Tigers some additional length and athleticism on the wing, pairing with [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'] (9.8) to fill a defensive role. [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak'] (10.3, 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) holds down the paint on the defensive end and has a decent little face-up game offensively, and they can go really big if they want to and pair Jirak with [player_tooltip player_id='1759899' first='Marcus' last='McGregor'] (2.0), giving them beef, athleticism, and physicality in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id='1759897' first='Kyle' last='Cason'] (9.8) is the unsung glue guy of the unit, a good shooter who can play on or off the ball, and he does a lot of little things for this group. This is the most talented team in the state, and if they turn it on, watch out.   The biggest threat: [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (22.7, 4.0 assists) is the best non-Valley player in this substate, and that makes Norwalk dangerous. Born has saved his best basketball for last, averaging 29.8 points on 56-37-90 shooting over the last five games for the Warriors. That type of dynamic three-level scoring can carry a team to a bunch of wins, especially when the Warriors are able to surround him with good perimeter shooting threats like [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (9.5, 34.9 3P%), Timothy Koerselman (7.8, 36.6 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2721768' first='Grady' last='Sigrist'] (6.2, 31.6 3P%). Born is obviously the headliner, and jumping up to play against CIML competition like Valley in the substate final will be tough, but with Born on the floor, anything is possible for this group.   The dark horse: Council Bluffs Jefferson isn't a program that is accustomed to much success on the hardwood. Their 18 wins this season is more than the previous five seasons combined (15), and this is just their four winning season of the last 18. They've qualified for the state tournament just once, in 1970, and while it would take a significant upset to get to Des Moines, this is a team that has handled business this season, and they have a chance to make history. The Yellow Jackets are led by a quintet of seniors - [player_tooltip player_id='1376681' first='Jayden' last='Calabro'] (20.9, 3.4 assists), [player_tooltip player_id='1938205' first='Jordan' last='Dewaele'] (17.4, 8.0 rebounds), Devin Davis-Conti (11.3, 38.0 3P%), Jaden Dewaele (9.5, 6.4 rebounds), and Victor Atupra (6.3, 2.0 steals - and when you watch them play, you don't see a team that is used to losing. They play with confidence, and have a toughness about them that makes them dangerous. Calabro, a Council Bluffs Lincoln transfer, has been a major difference maker for this group, giving them a backcourt scorer and playmaker, while Davis-Conti pairs well with him as a shooter. The Dewaele boys are both strong, athletic forwards who compete on the glass, and Atupra has been stout defensively. This group isn't going to back down from anyone.   Players to watch 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381422' first='Curtis' last='Stinson Jr'], Valley 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'], Valley 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759895' first='Trevin' last='Jirak'], Valley 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759897' first='Kyle' last='Cason'], Valley 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], Valley 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'], Valley 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376681' first='Jayden' last='Calabro'], Council Bluffs Jefferson 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1938205' first='Jordan' last='Dewaele'], Council Bluffs Jefferson 2024 Devin Davis-Conti, Council Bluffs Jefferson 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'], Norwalk 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'], Norwalk 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1172912' first='Grant' last='Uecker'], Urbandale 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476942' first='Brevin' last='Phillips'], Urbandale 2025 Cade Westerhoff, Fort Dodge 2025 Drake Warland, Fort Dodge 2025 Charlie Fry, Des Moines Lincoln 2025 Damarius Parker, Des Moines Lincoln   SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION   Valley vs. Norwalk   Despite the greatness of [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'], this is one of the easiest substates to pick in any class. Defending champion Valley rolls back to the state tournament, where they'll be considered one of the favorites to repeat.