Substate Preview: 4A-8
In this article:
The favorite: This substate is going to be a ton of fun with both Ankeny schools slated to meet up in the substate final. With the #1 seed in hand, and probably a slightly easier semifinal game coming with it,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe favorite: This substate is going to be a ton of fun with both Ankeny schools slated to meet up in the substate final. With the #1 seed in hand, and probably a slightly easier semifinal game coming with it, Ankeny is the favorite here. Senior guard Carson Johnson Carson Johnson 5'11" | PG Ankeny | 2024 State IA (23.1, 46.2 3P%) has been one of the most dynamic players in the state this season, scoring in bunches from all three levels on a nightly basis, and doing so at a remarkably efficient clip, posting 51-46-89 shooting splits. But he’s far from alone, as sophomore guard Rio Aguirre Rio Aguirre 6'1" | PG Ankeny | 2026 State IA (14.0, 43.7 3P%) has been excellent, and long-time running mate Lio Aguirre Lio Aguirre 6'3" | SF Ankeny | 2024 State IA (12.1, 6.4 rebounds) has been his usual self, getting to the rim for finishes and getting his teammates involved off the dribble. Cash Schoolen Cash Schoolen 6'3" | SG Ankeny | 2024 State IA (7.8), Cade Pederson Cade Pederson 6'6" | PF Ankeny | 2024 State IA (4.9), and Luke Anderson (3.8) have been solid role players alongside the Hawks’ big three, but this team is going to go as Johnson goes, and that’s usually pretty darn good.
The biggest threat: Centennial has a dynamic lead guard of their own in senior Luke Winkel Luke Winkel 6'1" | PG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA (22.1, 4.9 assists), who has been just as good as Johnson this season. Winkel is posting shooting splits of 49-42-75 and leads the Jaguars in assists, showing the ability to take over games as both a scorer and distributor. Unlike Ankeny, the Jags don’t have any other double-figure scorers, but they do have a dominant paint presence in Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'4" | PF Centennial | 2024 State IA (9.7, 8.9 rebounds, 41.7 3P%), a physical interior presence who controls the glass on both ends of the floor and can stretch the floor. Nick Vaske Nick Vaske 6'3" | SG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA (8.4), Connor Welsch Connor Welsch 6'2" | SF Centennial | 2024 State IA (7.5), and Joey Oakie (5.4) give them some more perimeter scoring as well. Ankeny is the more explosive offensive team, while Centennial is superior on the defensive end of the floor.
The dark horse: Roosevelt earned the #3 seed with strong play throughout the regular season, but the Roughriders recently had to forfeit a number of games due to using an ineligible player. Those forfeits dropped the ‘Riders official record from 15-7 to 6-16, but this is still a team that can’t be taken lightly. The ineligible player was a role player, not one of their top options, and there is still a significant amount of talent on this roster. Freshman wing Charlie King Charlie King 6'4" | CG Roosevelt | 2027 State IA (11.4, 6.4 rebounds, 38.7 3P%) has been one of the most productive freshmen in the state this season, a versatile wing who can score from all three levels. Tyron Wright Tyron Wright 6'6" | PF Roosevelt | 2024 State IA (8.1, 7.8 rebounds) is an athletic forward who controls the glass, while Brayden Page (7.4), Jecari Patton (6.3), Deng Gai Deng Gai 6'2" | SG Roosevelt | 2024 State IA (5.4), Jayden Davidson (5.3), and Remi Taylor Remi Taylor 6'3" | SF Roosevelt | 2025 IA (11.6) are all quick, athletic guards who can create looks for their teammates. This is a team that has beaten Waukee and Linn-Mar (that win doesn’t technically count now), so they won’t be scared of Centennial in the semifinals.
Players to watch
2024
Carson Johnson
Carson
Johnson
5'11" | PG
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
, Ankeny
2026
Rio Aguirre
Rio
Aguirre
6'1" | PG
Ankeny | 2026
State
IA
, Ankeny
2024
Lio Aguirre
Lio
Aguirre
6'3" | SF
Ankeny | 2024
State
IA
, Ankeny
2024
Luke Winkel
Luke
Winkel
6'1" | PG
Ankeny Centennial | 2024
State
IA
, Centennial
2024
Chase Schutty
Chase
Schutty
6'4" | PF
Centennial | 2024
State
IA
, Centennial
2024
Nick Vaske
Nick
Vaske
6'3" | SG
Ankeny Centennial | 2024
State
IA
, Centennial
2025
Remi Taylor
Remi
Taylor
6'3" | SF
Roosevelt | 2025
IA
, Roosevelt
2027
Charlie King
Charlie
King
6'4" | CG
Roosevelt | 2027
State
IA
, Roosevelt
2024
Deng Gai
Deng
Gai
6'2" | SG
Roosevelt | 2024
State
IA
, Roosevelt
2024 Brayden Page, Roosevelt
2024
Trey Hughes
Trey
Hughes
6'2" | SG
Liberty | 2024
State
IA
, Liberty
2024
Gage Kampman
Gage
Kampman
6'7" | PF
Iowa City Liberty | 2024
State
IA
, Liberty
2025
Jahlil Manago
Jahlil
Manago
6'5" | SG
Waterloo West | 2025
State
IA
, Waterloo West
2025
Joseph Hudson
Joseph
Hudson
6'4" | PF
Waterloo West | 2025
State
IA
, Waterloo West
2027
George Blake
George
Blake
6'2" | SF
Indianola | 2027
State
IA
, Indianola
2027
Easton McGraw
Easton
McGraw
6'4" | SF
Indianola | 2027
State
IA
, Indianola
SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION
Ankeny vs. Centennial
The entire town of Ankeny should be out for this one. Carson Johnson Carson Johnson 5'11" | PG Ankeny | 2024 State IA vs. Luke Winkel Luke Winkel 6'1" | PG Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA with a trip to the state tournament on the line? Sign me up. These teams split during the regular season, with each winning on their home court, and each by double digits. The Ankeny win came just a few weeks ago, while Centennial’s win was back in December. I think that means we give more credence to Ankeny’s win and we’ll take the Hawks in a great one.