Waukee Northwest a Big Favorite in 4A-3; Can Anyone Shock Them?

<!-- wp:image {"id":3514881,"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-6.12.06-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Screen-Shot-2026-02-22-at-6.12.06-PM.png?w=609" alt="" class="wp-image-3514881" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite:</strong> With a pair of Big Ten signees in their starting five, <strong>Waukee Northwest </strong>is the most talented team in the state. The Wolves have dropped four games this season, but also have some really impressive wins - Waukee by 22, Dowling Catholic by 20, Johnston by 23, Urbandale by 22, Roosevelt by 34. When they're on, they're nearly impossible to beat. Nebraska commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978099' first='Colin' last='Rice'] (20.7, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) is the team's leading scorer, a 6-7 wing who scores in bunches at a highly efficient clip, posting 52-40-79 shooting splits. Future Illinois forward [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'] (14.0, 10.0 rebounds, 3.4 blocks) is arguably the best rim protector in the state and is the type of passer that you can play through. [player_tooltip player_id='1756989' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'] (9.8, 5.7 assists, 43.1 3P%), headed to Iowa to play football, is a freak athlete on the perimeter who has really improved in his senior year as a playmaker and shooting threat. [player_tooltip player_id='2419793' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] (9.7, 35.8 3P%) is another Division I athlete on the gridiron and is one of the most potent shooters in the state when he gets rolling, and rounding out the starting five is sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2478747' first='Nash' last='Kooken'] (9.5, 42.1 3P%), another dead-eye shooter who already holds Division I offers from Oregon and Arizona State. There are some questions for the Wolves regarding their depth, but their starting five as as good as it gets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>Fresh off an upset win over Dowling Catholic to close the regular season, <strong>Ankeny</strong> enters postseason play riding high and feeling confident that they can play with anyone. The Hawks are led by the dynamic one-two punch of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1977422' first='Rio' last='Aguirre'] (17.9, 4.2 assists, 43.1 3P%) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2381210' first='Jasani' last='Campbell'] (15.9, 50.7 FG%), a pair of really talented guards who can create their own looks or looks for others at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id='2731746' first='Drew' last='Sorensen'] (7.5) is the only other player averaging more than four points per game, so they lean heavily on Aguirre and Campbell, but that's a pretty strong tandem to be leaning on. The X-factor for this group could be senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2484494' first='Max' last='Allison'] (4.0, 2.1 blocks), a 7-footer who is thin but can run the floor and protect the paint. He'll have his hands full in the substate final with [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'], but his presence can alter things in the paint at times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horse: Iowa City West</strong> is playing their best ball of the season over the last few weeks, entering the postseason having won eight of their last 11 games. The Trojans got senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1978137' first='Greg' last='Ford'] (12.8, 6.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists) back from injury right around that time, and it's not a coincidence that they've taken off since then. An athletic, long wing who can create his own looks or get his teammates involved, he has played really well down the stretch. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1978119' first='Ethan' last='Headings'] (13.3, 52.6 FG%) is the team's leading scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='1765525' first='Jack' last='Jensen-Fitzpatrick'] (8.7, 36.5 3P%), son of Iowa women's coach Jan Jensen, is their best perimeter shooting threat. He can be a bit streaky, but when he gets hot, he's capable of knocking down several in a hurry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to Watch<br></span>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978099' first='Colin' last='Rice'] (Waukee Northwest)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1643192' first='Landon' last='Davis'] (Waukee Northwest)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1756989' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'] (Waukee Northwest)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419793' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] (Waukee Northwest)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2478747' first='Nash' last='Kooken'] (Waukee Northwest)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1977422' first='Rio' last='Aguirre'] (Ankeny)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2381210' first='Jasani' last='Campbell'] (Ankeny)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978119' first='Ethan' last='Headings'] (Iowa City West)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978137' first='Greg' last='Ford'] (Iowa City West)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765525' first='Jack' last='Jensen-Fitzpatrick'] (Iowa City West)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419808' first='George' last='Blake'] (Indianola)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419810' first='Easton' last='McGraw'] (Indianola)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2118611' first='Jerimiah' last='Washpun'] (Liberty)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772349' first='Chase' last='Goodheart'] (Liberty)<br>2027 Jayden Adaway (Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny at Waukee Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest swept the season series, winning 64-45 on January 9, and 58-49 on February 10. The Wolves have really locked down Ankeny's offense in those two games, with their length and size bothering the Hawks, and expect much of the same in this substate final. <strong>Waukee Northwest </strong>with too much size, too much length, too much talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->