4A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: North Scott

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at teams that could compete for the state championship in their respective classes in the 2026-27 season, starting with 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/4a-way-too-early-title-contenders-johnston/">4A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Johnston</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/4a-way-too-early-title-contenders-des-moines-roosevelt/">4A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Des Moines Roosevelt</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning the state's second-leading scorer from this season ain't half bad for a team looking to reach the state tournament. Led by 2027 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2309944' first='Josiah' last='Harrington'] North Scott feels like a team that could contend with, and potentially beat, anyone in the state next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrington, an Iowa State commit, is one of the more well-rounded basketball players in the state, while also having a significant amount of untapped potential. A hybrid-sized forward that can already do a variety of things on the basketball court, Harrington can drive and put it on anyone's head, can jab step his defender back just enough to create space and fire a shot from the perimeter. Harrington's 6-foot-7 frame, quickness and athletic prowess should allow him to guard 1-through-4, with the ability to poke away steals and swat shots thanks to his length and size. With the ability to nearly do it all on the basketball court, Harrington will be on Mr. Basketball watch going into the 2026-27 season, while also having a chance to lead the Lancers to a state title. He put up 24.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 50.3% from the field and 73.9% from the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another key piece in the starting line up for North Scott, [player_tooltip player_id='2523928' first='Vasaun' last='Wilmington'] will look to be one of the top point guards in the class next season, seeking his first Division I offer, as well. A shifty guard with the ball on a string, Wilmington has the athleticism and twitchiness that prospects need to have success at the next level. Wilmington is an efficient scorer from the field, too, complimenting what Harrington does as a scorer. Wilmington put up 16.2 points, four rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals, while shooting 45.5% from the field, 39.8% from three and 73.1% from the stripe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing less than half of North Scott's games this year, getting [player_tooltip player_id='2107245' first='Zane' last='Rus'] back for a full season will certainly help out the Lancers' title chances next year. A wing that finished as North Scott's third-leading scorer per game at 10.1 points per contest, Rus shoots the rock at a 41.7% clip from deep, the best percentage on the roster for the squad. Adding another bigger body to the lineup doesn't hurt, either, as Rus stands at 6-foot-6, second-talest to Harrington. Able to help out on the glass and use his length as a defender, Rus is a net-positive in the rotation when available.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seeing a player like [player_tooltip player_id='2419854' first='Drew' last='Fischer'] for the first time this last winter, it was difficult not to leave impressed. In a game where Harrington went off with 42 points, and the rest of the supporting cast had trouble getting going in a 66-61 loss to Linn-Mar, Fischer was the lone other Lancer to finish in double-figures, adding ten points, along with four rebounds. A scorer off the dribble that can get to the basket when he's determined to, Fischer can help take some of the scoring onus off of Harrington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All-in-all, the Lancers don't lose a single rotational piece from last year's squad, that came up just shy of the state tournament, falling 59-54 to Cedar Rapids in the substate championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->