Waukee is a Heavy Favorite in 4A-8, Can Anyone Test Them?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3515096,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-22-at-9.09.34-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-22-at-9.09.34-PM.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-3515096" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> Outside of Cedar Falls, <strong>Waukee </strong>has been the hottest teams in 4A. The Warriors haven't lost since December 19th, when they dropped back-to-back games. During their 14-game winning streak, they've posted great wins over Pella, Roosevelt, Johnston, Ankeny, Dowling Catholic, and Waukee Northwest, among others. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (12.6) and [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] (12.6) set the table for the group, both skilled ball-handlers who are capable of creating quality looks off the dribble for their teammates or themselves. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] (14.4), headed to Texas A&amp;M to play both football and basketball, can score inside and out and is a plus athlete at 6-7, and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2594655' first='Pete' last='Craig'] (11.9, 1.7 blocks, 8.0 rebounds) is a bit of a Swiss Army knife as a defender. [player_tooltip player_id='2823296' first='Landon' last='Hanson'] (9.3), a Northwest transfer, has been a revelation in his senior year, giving them a long, athletic wing who can defend and score from all three levels. This team is playing excellent basketball and is a heavy, heavy favorite in this substate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: Council Bluffs Lincoln</strong> has lost three of their last four games heading into postseason play, so they're kind of limping into their semifinal matchup against Southeast Polk. The Lynx are led by sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2523932' first='Kalan' last='Steinbeck'] (15.0, 44.9 3P%), who moved across the river from Nebraska and has given them an athletic, long wing who can score from all three levels as well as defend multiple positions. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (14.2, 3.0 assists, 41.1 3P%) has been a great running mate with Steinbeck, giving them more shooting and playmaking in the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2886791' first='Jake' last='Babbitt'] (12.0), [player_tooltip player_id='2917306' first='CJ' last='Mosala'] (9.2, 48.6 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='2617477' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'] (9.1, 47.3 3P%) give them more perimeter scoring, and [player_tooltip player_id='1978104' first='Easton' last='Klement'] (3.1, 5.1 assists) has been really strong as a lead guard setting the table for this group. They can score in bunches, averaging just under 72 points per game, but, as with every year, there are questions about the strength of the MRAC versus what teams in the CIML go through on a nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: </strong>Having gone through the CIML, <strong>Southeast Polk </strong>won't be intimidated by going out to Council Bluffs to take on Lincoln. Sophomore guard Joshua Charlotin (12.3, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists) has been really good for the Rams this season, giving them a strong, athletic guard who can play downhill and create for his teammates. Seniors Ehikhueme Ehikhametalor (11.6, 6.5 rebounds), [player_tooltip player_id='1736401' first='Emmanuel' last='Tete'] (10.3), [player_tooltip player_id='3255112' first='Thomas' last='Childs'] (9.1), and [player_tooltip player_id='1978116' first='Grady' last='Braunschweig-Norris'] (8.8) give them some experience and additional scoring. With five players who can score, they can beat teams in a multitude of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] (Waukee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] (Waukee)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] (Waukee)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2594655' first='Pete' last='Craig'] (Waukee)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523932' first='Kalan' last='Steinbeck'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2366206' first='Jeremiah' last='Slaughter'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886791' first='Jake' last='Babbitt'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2917306' first='CJ' last='Mosala'] (Council Bluffs Lincoln)<br>2028 Joshua Charlotin (Southeast Polk)<br>2026 Ekihueme Ehikhametalor (Southeast Polk)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1736401' first='Emmanuel' last='Tete'] (Southeast Polk)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523891' first='Carter' last='Thielen'] (Lewis Central)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754694' first='Charles' last='Schaben'] (Lewis Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Council Bluffs Lincoln at Waukee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll give CBAL the benefit of the doubt and say they get past Southeast Polk in the semifinals, but <strong>Waukee</strong> has been scorching hot and is on another level from the Lynx in terms of talent. The Warriors cruise into the state tournament, where they'll be as likely as anyone to win the state title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->