Five Iowa Class 4A Surprise Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at some of the top players in 4A who have taken big jumps from last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2617548"],"_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-696e8fd7e7c14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The top scorer for Des Moines North, [player_tooltip player_id='2617548' first='T'Angello' last='Bush'] is averaging 22.8 points per game (PPG) during his junior campaign after averaging just 7.2 PPG as a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">North has had a rough start to the 2025-26 season, posting a record of just 4-6 so far, but it's no fault of Bush. Currently ranked fifth in 4A in scoring, Bush also leads his team in rebounding with 6.9 per contest despite standing at just 6-foot-1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bush could even improve his scoring numbers, as he's shooting just 69.7% from the free throw line, and he only shoots three per game. If he can ramp up the attempts and make them more consistently, Bush could easily average closer to 25 per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419846"],"_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-696e8fd7e7cbe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mentioned as one of my new favorite prospects in the state after his showing at the <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/five-standouts-from-iowa-city-liberty-vs-johnston/">Conference Crossover</a> in Cedar Rapids at the start of the new year, [player_tooltip player_id='2419846' first='Nicare' last='Cavil'] is one of the top guards in the Des Moines Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After averaging 7.2 points and starting just two games last winter, Cavil has elevated his game to being the top scorer for Johnston and a top 20 scorer in 4A. Averaging 18.5 points and 2.5 steals for the Dragons, Cavil is one of the more composed, consistent guards in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3255094"],"_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-696e8fd7e7d38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The only player here from western Iowa, [player_tooltip player_id='3255094' first='Eduardo' last='Frazier'] has improved significantly in his efficiency, making him much more impactful for Sioux City West. Returning for his senior campaign after scoring 8.7 PPG on 33.8% shooting from the field and 19% from three, Frazier has more than doubled his scoring output by taking better shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far this season, the shooting guard is averaging 18.3 PPG on 54.3% shooting from the field and 30.8% from three. Adding 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game, Frazier does more than just score for the Wolverines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2754678"],"_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-696e8fd7e7daf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Back on the Bettendorf roster after a year at North Scott, [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'] has stepped in a big way after a year long hiatus with the Lancers. Serving as the third-leading scrorer for North Scott as a sophomore, Gordon was a key part of the rotation, averaging 8.4 PPG.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To start his junior campaign with the Bulldogs, Gordon is averaging 20.4 PPG as a top 15 scorer in 4A. Just two weeks ago, he hit a game-winning triple to take down Muscatine and made it on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JonahKrell/status/2008761290970243563","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JonahKrell/status/2008761290970243563 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419755"],"_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-696e8fd7e7e28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Conference Crossover standout, [player_tooltip player_id='2419755' first='Tillman' last='Papcun'] has set nets ablaze this season for Norwalk. After not starting a single game in 2024-25 and averaging just 3.5 points, Papcun put some major work in over the offseason and is now a top ten scorer in 4A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now averaging 21.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Warriors while shooting a ridiculous 30-of-66 (45.5%) from three this season, Papcun is at the top of every scouting report for opponents. Norwalk is red-hot right now, too. After starting the season 0-2, the Warriors are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->