Class 4A: Top 10 Returning Assists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2164515' first='Jaxson' last='Bean'] (Kennedy) -- 124 assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bean had his breakout year as a junior for the Cougars, with the 6-0 guard averaging a team-high 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Like his older brother Joe, he's an intelligent guard who uses his physicality to his advantage. He can invert the offense and take his defender down onto the block to initiate, giving the Cougars a different look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2381208' first='Drake' last='Gersema'] (Marshalltown) -- 107</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gersema stuffed the stat sheet as a junior, averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Following the graduations of the Bobcats top two scorers from last year's team, he'll be asked to do even more as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2478747' first='Nash' last='Kooken'] (Waukee Northwest) -- 96</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kooken holds a few Division I offers and the Wolves will be his team during his senior year following the graduations of Landon Davis and Colin Rice, a pair of Big Ten players. He's a quick, intelligent guard who can not only create plays for his teammates, but he can also really, really shoot it from behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420796' first='Cole' last='Shannon'] (Clinton) -- 95</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton didn't have much team success last season, but Shannon had a ton of individual success, averaging 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He's a quick, athletic guard who puts constant pressure on opposing teams with his ability to create off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>t5.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420802' first='Audric' last='Pelzer'] (Norwalk) -- 90</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coach's son does a great job setting the table for his teammates, and he does so while also protecting the ball extremely well. He posted a 2.43 assist-to-turnover ratio as a junior while serving as the Warriors' top playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>t5.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419754' first='Quantae' last='Alexander'] (Prairie) -- 90</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexander is a long, athletic lead guard with a size advantage against many opposing guards that he faces on a nightly basis. That size edge allows him to see over his defender and put his talented scoring teammates in positions to succeed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906539' first='Jameer' last='Falls'] (Mason City) -- 89</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Falls was the lone Riverhawk to average more than 2.1 assists per game last season, showing just how much of the offense he is asked to initiate for Mason City. He's a quick guard who can get into the teeth of the defense and create solid looks for himself and his teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523891' first='Carter' last='Thielen'] (Lewis Central) -- 86</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-4 wing who can fill it up from anywhere on the floor, Thielen averaged 17.5 points per game as a sophomore to lead the Titans. His ability to score from anywhere helps open up his playmaking arsenal as well, as defenses need to pay a ton of attention to him. He has good vision, handles it well, and is a gifted, willing passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2523925' first='Trae' last='Fields'] (Cedar Rapids Washington) -- 84</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fields is one of the most fun offensive players in the state to watch, capable of scoring from anywhere as well as delivering some jaw-dropping dimes that few players in the state are capable of even thinking of trying. He has elite vision, handles, and creativity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2419846' first='Nicare' last='Cavil'] (Johnston) -- 82</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A gifted scorer and playmaker who showcased himself as one of the state's best two-way guards last season, Cavil averaged 16.1 points and 2.0 steals per game while also dishing out 3.2 helpers a night. He'll once again be the focal point for the Dragons as a senior, on a team that may just be the best in Class 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->