Waterloo West at Cedar Rapids Xavier Standout Prospects 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR RAPIDS --&nbsp;</strong>One of the top teams in 3A, Cedar Rapids Xavier hosted Waterloo West on Tuesday evening, defeating the conference opponent by a final score of 58-40. Without James Madison commit,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans']</strong>, the Saints were led by&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray']</strong>'s 25 points, and Xavier moved to 3-0 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/12/photo-gallery-waterloo-west-at-cedar-rapids-xavier/">Photo Gallery: Waterloo West at Cedar Rapids Xavier</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2420800"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6942f84e60583"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the more consistent overall players and scorers for the WaHawks, [player_tooltip player_id='2420800' first='Zion' last='Cook-Berns'] was on attack mode all night long. Whether he was defending or playing offense, the junior was either doing what he could to get into passing lanes and force turnovers, or working to get down hill and drive to the basket. With the ability to finish with either hand, Cook-Berns got to the basket and finished with soft touch around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2414151"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6942f84e605fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another early-season favorite prospect for me, [player_tooltip player_id='2414151' first='Zachary' last='Dobbs'] is the lead guard for West. Seeing the floor well and willing to take an open three, the senior point guard doesn't lack confidence. Though the WaHawks weren't able to hold on to their early lead, Dobbs was a main facilitator of getting things going for his team. He drilled the first basket of the game with a shot-clock beating three, and he threw a laser of a pass to [player_tooltip player_id='2724156' first='Jay' last='McCausland'] for an open layup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3240885"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6942f84e60645"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Without Evans, somebody else had to step up. Sure, he doesn't play the same position as the James Madison commit and he's a full foot shorter than Xavier's start forward, but [player_tooltip player_id='3240885' first='Caleb' last='Loffswold'] did exactly what he needed to in order to compliment the Saints' leading scorer, Murray. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The starting point guard for Xavier, Loffswold hit two big threes at the beginning of the third quarter to open up the lead for his team, breaking away from the WaHawks and setting the Saints up for the double-digit victory. Finishing the game 4-of-5 from the floor with an effective field goal percentage of 100%, playing off and on-ball, grabbing four rebounds and three steals, Loffswold looks like a perfect tertiary playmaker to Murray and Evans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2724156"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6942f84e6069c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At some point in the last year, [player_tooltip player_id='2724156' first='Jay' last='McCausland'] has gone through a growth spurt. Previously listed as a 6-foot shooting guard, the junior now plays in the front court for the WaHawks, as he now stands at 6-foot-3, possessing the length and size to change positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The length of his frame is biggest positive development for McCausland, who now looks like he could belong on a college basketball roster. Playing more of a power forward role for West, he looks to project to more of a wing position at the next level, still possessing some of the guard skills and being able to step out and shoot it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1978144"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6942f84e606e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The most complete player on the court Tuesday night by a long shot, [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] stepped up in a big way for the Saints, recognizing that he needed to be the offensive catalyst to keep things moving. With the ability to score at all three levels, play at his own pace and show off some bounce near the rim, Murray has the makings of a score-first guard at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A calm presence on the court that can get you a bucket or get to the free throw line, Murray has all-around game that should allow him to develop into a primary scorer or a secondary scorer at the next level. Like Loffswold is a solid compliment to he and Evans, Murray is an excellent fit with Evans as the secondary playmaker for Xavier. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->