Substate Preview: 4A-3

<!-- wp:image {"id":2348302,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/4A-3.png?w=610" alt="" class="wp-image-2348302" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: </strong>After making 10 straight state tournament appearances from 2011-20, <strong>Iowa City West</strong> has gone three years without a trip to Des Moines and the Trojans are itching to get back. They're 18-2 at the time of this writing, with the two losses coming to Linn-Mar in December and top-ranked Kennedy earlier this month. With the MVC being a bit down, it's hard to gauge just how good this team actually is, but there has been a commitment on the defensive end after the holiday break that looks more like a vintage West team. In 13 games since the break, they've allowed 49.6 points a game, a number that would rank within the top 10 in 4A if it came over the full season. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (16.5, 6.7 rebounds) is the headliner, a nationally ranked prospect who, at 6-8, has the ability to protect the rim, create off the dribble, and space the floor with a pure stroke from deep. The Trojans are able to put more shooting around him in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='1376672' first='Jacob' last='Koch'] (12.8, 39.6 3P%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1256297' first='TaeVeon' last='Stevens'] (8.6, 44.3 3P%), a pair of knockdown shooters. [player_tooltip player_id='1171670' first='Kareem' last='Earl'] (9.5, 55.6 FG%) has battled injuries throughout his high school career but is a 6-5/6-6 wing who can score from all three levels, and [player_tooltip player_id='1765527' first='Julian' last='Manson'] (8.8, 52.1 FG%) is an athletic combo forward who can create off the dribble and facilitate the offense. This team is pretty athletic, defends well, and has one of the best players in the state leading them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat:</strong> Since a blowout loss at the hands of Ankeny on January 6, <strong>Bettendorf</strong> has been one of the hottest teams in 4A. They've won 10 of their last 11 games, with the lone loss coming by six against rival Pleasant Valley. During that stretch, only two of the wins have come by single digits, and they have really committed on the defensive end, holding eight of the 11 opponents to 49 points or less. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171682' first='Caden' last='Wilkins'] (17.8) is a go-to wing who can score in bunches as well as create looks for his teammates, and the emergence of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1951786' first='Ben' last='Kerkhoff'] (10.0, 42.4 3P%) has been huge for the Bulldogs, giving them some floor stretching and more spacing for Wilkins, Tre'Von Coney (8.5, 4.7 assists), and [player_tooltip player_id='1476936' first='Asher' last='Wade'] (7.9, 65.7 FG%) to operate. In Wilkins, Bettendorf has a dominant player, and they're able to put a well-balanced team around him. They're playing great basketball and will be a really tough out in this substate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Davenport West</strong> is one of the most dangerous #3 seeds in 4A, a 15-6 team that has shown they can beat high-level teams, posting wins over Assumption, Pleasant Valley, and sweeping North Scott. The Falcons are led by a pair of seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1945654' first='Idris' last='Thomas'] (19.4, 54.2 FG%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1751175' first='Davante' last='Bradford'] (13.6, 4.8 assists) who are both enjoying breakout years. Thomas is an athletic 6-6 combo forward who is really good in the mid-range and is able to get to the rim, while Bradford is a physical 6-3 point guard who sues his size, strength, and vision to control the game with the ball in his hands. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2230499' first='Elijah' last='Reid-Scott'] (9.8) gives them some more playmaking and shot creation in the backcourt, and this is a team that has done a pretty solid job protecting the rock this season, averaging just over 10 turnovers a game. They'll have to go through Bettendorf if they want to reach the substate final, and they were swept by the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'], Iowa City West<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376672' first='Jacob' last='Koch'], Iowa City West<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171670' first='Kareem' last='Earl'], Iowa City West<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765527' first='Julian' last='Manson'], Iowa City West<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171682' first='Caden' last='Wilkins'], Bettendorf<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951786' first='Ben' last='Kerkhoff'], Bettendorf<br>2024 Tre'Von Coney, Bettendorf<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1945654' first='Idris' last='Thomas'], Davenport West<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751175' first='Davante' last='Bradford'], Davenport West<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2230499' first='Elijah' last='Reid-Scott'], Davenport West<br>2024 Chris Moss, Davenport North<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759932' first='Reed' last='Strohmeyer'], Hempstead<br>2024 Tim Robinson, Burlington<br>2024 Shaye Stringer, Burlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa City West vs. Bettendorf</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bettendorf has been one of the hottest teams in the state over the last two months, and while the Bulldogs will certainly be a formidable foe here, it's about time for <strong>Iowa City West </strong>to make a trip back to Des Moines. Behind a strong defensive effort against Wilkins, and just enough from McCaffery, Koch, and Earl, the Trojans punch their ticket to the state tournament in a tight, low-scoring game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->