2024 Winterset Shootout: 2026 Player Evaluations (Class 4A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1736401' first='Emmanuel' last='Tete'] (Southeast Polk)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tete was really good against ACGC, getting to the rim pretty much whenever he wanted to off the dribble. He's quick with the ball in his hands and has an explosive first step that he uses to blow by the defense. He changes directions well without losing any speed and he displayed good patience and body control around the rim when finishing. He's a quick defender with good hands and feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='2519960' first='Cayden' last='Clark'] (Centennial)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark is a good, active defender with quick hands and a knack for jumping passing lanes and turning defense into quick, easy offense. He looks to attack the rim off the dribble, either getting all the way there for finishes, or getting the defense to collapse and finding an open shooter. He can shoot it a bit off the dribble, but is at his best when he's looking to play downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CG [player_tooltip player_id='2136936' first='Chance' last='Burkett'] (Waukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burkett put together a strong weekend, especially with his play against Pella on Friday night. A quick guard who can play on or off the ball, he showed the ability to score from all three levels as well as create plays for his teammates. He's a good athlete who moves his feet on the defensive end and he has quick hands that he uses to help come away with big steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (Waukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a little bit of an up-and-down weekend for Roach in one of his first opportunities to play with his new teammates at Waukee, but there is no denying that he's going to fit right into the system for the Warriors. His ball-handling and playmaking off the bounce will take pressure off of their other guards, and he's able to get to the bucket for finishes. He didn't shoot it well for a majority of the weekend, but caught fire in the fourth quarter of their game against Norwalk, knocking down three straight 3-pointers, showcasing that aspect of his game as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CG [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] (Waukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White missed action on Friday dealing with cramps, but returned on Saturday and played well. He's a tough, athletic guard who loves to play downhill, putting the ball on the deck and attacking the rim hard, where he can finish through contact. He handles it really well, gets his teammates involved with his ability to get the defense to collapse and then find open shooters, and he's a viable threat from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PF [player_tooltip player_id='2519965' first='Owen' last='Liechti'] (Centennial)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-6 big man with soft hands, Liechti showed good vision and passing instincts passing out of the high post, playing the role of facilitator well. He sets good, hard, legal screens and rolls hard to the rim, where he showed good body control and soft touch around the bucket. He's a good team defender who rotates well, coming up with a few big helpside blocks, and he even showed the ability to go coast-to-coast after pulling down a defensive rebound. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SF Brody Logan (Dallas Center-Grimes)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-1/6-2 wing with some decent size and length, Logan played well against Aplington-Parkersburg, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers while also displaying good off-ball movement, cutting to the rim for finishes. He's a good shooter off the catch with a quick release, and he should be a solid role player for the Mustangs as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>C [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (Ames)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dau was absolutely dominant in the Little Cyclones' win over Pella Christian, impacting the game on both ends of the floor with his overwhelming size and length. His massive wingspan smothers opposing players in the paint defensively, blocking or altering shots all the time, and he has really improved on the offensive end, showcasing improved footwork and touch around the rim. He looks to dunk everything when he's in the painted area, and he showed some impressive vision and passing instincts out of the high post. His two-way ability and size/wingspan combination make him a very intriguing prospect in the 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SF [player_tooltip player_id='2519967' first='Finley' last='Newman'] (Roosevelt)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newman is a 6-3/6-4 wing who can really shoot it, especially off the catch. Playing alongside the downhill-playing talent of the Roughriders backcourt, Newman is a perfect complement with his ability to take advantage of defenders who slide in and help on the dribble penetrating guards. He has a quick release off the catch and does a nice job of floating to the corner or the opposite wing, where he gets his feet set and is ready to fire on the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->