Five Class 4A Teams Who Could Take a Leap in 2024-25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ames (17-7 last year)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ames was pretty darn good last year, winning 17 games, but they fell short of their goal by losing in the substate semifinals against Johnston and will be looking to make their way back to Des Moines this winter. The Little Cyclones were elite defensively again, leading 4A in scoring defense by allowing just 42.0 points per game, and they'll be fantastic on that end of the floor again this season. They lost leading scorer Jack Wynter, who averaged north of 15 points per game, but bring back the next seven scorers from that 17-win team, led by the backcourt trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (11.5, 3.6 assists), [player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'] (8.8, 37.5 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (6.6, 40.6 3P%). Those three complement each other well, but the two X-factors for just how good this group can be will be junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] and senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1951821' first='Manny' last='Lueth']. Dau is an elite rim protector who is the eraser of the defense, and Lueth had a really good spring and summer showcasing himself as a three-level scorer and he's able to carry that into the high school season, watch out. Adding more consistent scoring from the wing would be huge for this group and could turn them into a legitimate state title contender in a more open than expected 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Des Moines North (15-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Julian Seay has done a nice job rebuilding the North program, turning them into a 15-win team last year, and they looked like they were primed to make another leap this winter before losing [player_tooltip player_id='1874789' first='Wisdom' last='Fode'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2519987' first='Sadeek' last='Noah'] to prep school transfers. That said, they still bring back a good amount of talent, and they're going to be really quick and athletic, looking to force turnovers left and right to help spur the offensive attack. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398133' first='Da'corion' last='White'] (13.0, 2.3 steals) is the top returnee, joined by classmates [player_tooltip player_id='2511630' first='Naszir' last='Lamar'] (7.6, 2.7 steals) and Tarian McNeley (7.2), while youngsters [player_tooltip player_id='1951820' first='Aaron' last='Poe'], [player_tooltip player_id='2420807' first='JJ' last='Seay'] Jr, Jayvion Hanson, and TAngello Bush could step into bigger roles this season. Seay does a nice job with this group and they should be a team that looks to create chaos on both ends of the floor again this year. They can be a contender in the Alliance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prairie (11-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks had an up-and-down year in Todd Kuntz's first season with the school, and after a full offseason of playing in his system, they should be even better in year two. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2397337' first='Jace' last='McDermott'] (11.8, 37.7 3P%) is the top returning scorer, a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball and can really fill it up from distance. [player_tooltip player_id='1951800' first='Devin' last='Ikeda'] is a mobile big man who runs the floor and can protect the paint as well, but the real reason for optimism for Prairie comes in the form of their youth. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2419791' first='Austin' last='Joens'], [player_tooltip player_id='2419840' first='Cayden' last='Larson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] are the headliners of a really strong 2027 group at Prairie, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2023719' first='Will' last='Wehr'] figures to step into a much larger role this season as a combo guard who can play with or without the ball. This group is going to look to push the tempo and play fast, and they shouldn't have any issues putting the ball in the bucket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West (6-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wahawks bring back their top four scorers and have a pair of talented sophomores who figure to step into bigger roles this season, which should be some reason for optimism heading into the 2024-25 season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1381413' first='Jahlil' last='Manago'] (19.2, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is the headliner of the group. He's an athletic guard who loves to attack the rim, and he's fantastic on the glass from his perimeter spot. His ability to put pressure on the rim helps open things up for the rest of the players on the roster as well, and he can be a really good on-ball defender when he's locked in. [player_tooltip player_id='1440839' first='Joseph' last='Hudson'] (11.0) provides some athleticism in the paint, and the young backcourt trio of junior [player_tooltip player_id='1765505' first='Parker' last='Berns'] (9.1) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2420800' first='Zion' last='Cook-Berns'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125122' first='Derrick' last='Akines'] could be the future of the program. If West can shoot it a little more consistently from 3-point range (31.0% last season), they could be a team that pushes for 12-14 wins and with their talent in the backcourt and athleticism, they'll be the type of team you don't want to see in your substate come February. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Muscatine (5-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Muskies had 10 losses come by single digits last year, including six by two possessions or less. They were a really young team last season, losing just one player from the roster to graduation, and there are some rumors that help could be on the way (back) in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='1759902' first='Kayvion' last='Hodges'], who started his career at Muscatine, transferred to Assumption last season where he helped the Knights win a 3A state title, and is rumored to be back with the Muskies this season. If that is true, he gives them a hyper-athletic wing defender and rebounder who can also play a bit of a point-forward role on the offensive end, getting his teammates involved and putting pressure on the rim. Even if Hodges isn't back with the team, there is a good amount of talent coming back in the form of seniors Ian Church (11.8) and Cade Daufeldt (8.2), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2419783' first='Sam' last='Church'] (10.7), and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1517427' first='Talan' last='Becker'] (9.3), [player_tooltip player_id='1574870' first='Spencer' last='Biah'] (6.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='1868399' first='Nate' last='Lukkarinen'] (2.5). This is a group that was extremely young and pretty inexperienced, so with some additional experience they may be able to turn several of those narrow losses into wins this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->