Five Class 3A Teams Who Could Take a Leap in 2024-25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard (16-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bombers were really good last year, reaching the state tournament and giving eventual champion Assumption a really good game in the quarterfinals. But there is another leap that this group can make, given that they bring back four of their top five scorers. They're led by junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] (17.0 points, 5.6 assists), one of the best two-way guards in the state. He has tremendous feel and talent, and he makes his teammates better. The Bombers are able to surround Gibson's playmaking ability with a number of shooter threats, and they should, pun intended, bomb away from deep with regularity. [player_tooltip player_id='2397342' first='Jackson' last='Brown'] (14.5, 43.8 3P%), [player_tooltip player_id='2398123' first='Mason' last='Gatchel'] (6.0, 37.7 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1759945' first='Miles' last='Mudd'] (5.4, 45.2 3P%) are all big shooting threats, and look for sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2419750' first='Parker' last='Miller'] (4.8) to make a significant jump this season following an impressive freshman year. Gibson (pictured) is one of the best players in the class, and as they showed last year they can play with anyone in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storm Lake (12-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tornadoes haven't qualified for the state tournament since 1994, but with the ridiculous improvement that junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] (19.8, 8.6 rebounds) has made, they'll have a real chance to break through this year and make a serious run. Coon, the newly appointed #1 player in the state's 2026 class, is a truly dominant two-way player who will be one of the state's elite players this year. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor with his 6-8 frame is rivaled by few, and the Tornadoes actually have some solid talent to put around him in classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1765508' first='Cameron' last='Boyd'] (12.6, 5.1 assists), senior [player_tooltip player_id='2811931' first='Charlie' last='Dvergsten'] (8.0), and an athletic, talented 2027 class headlined by the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='2420795' first='Timothy' last='Yanga'] (4.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2419850' first='David' last='William'] (3.2). Coon is the obvious headliner, but this team has some solid talent and should be improved. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wahlert Catholic (10-13)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing in the 4A-heavy MVC, Wahlert's record is rarely going to look sterling, but the Golden Eagles were very competitive throughout the year with a young team and they not only be improved, but could be a serious state tournament contender in what looks like a pretty open 3A field behind Assumption. This is going to be a senior-laden team after being led in scoring by a pair of juniors last season - [player_tooltip player_id='2721792' first='Owen' last='McCleary'] (11.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='1288882' first='Ethan' last='Meyer'] (10.0), while five other junior saw significant playing time. That continued development and the great chemistry that this group will have will be beneficial for them in the 2024-25 season, especially if [player_tooltip player_id='1288887' first='Will' last='Richardson'] (4.8) can make another leap. Richardson may have the most raw potential on the roster, an athletic and long 6-6 forward who can do a little bit of everything. Wahlert is always going to be a tough out, and this year's team has a chance to be one of the better ones since Cordell Pemsl and grew were roaming the halls in Dubuque. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washington (6-15)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Demons were really young last season, and it showed, but there were some bright spots as they posted good wins over Albia and Keokuk. While the record didn't necessarily show it, they improved as the year progressed and with five of their top six scorers returning, they should be more competitive this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1428956' first='Logan' last='McDole'] (12.3, 38.8 3P%) is the team's top returning scorer, while Drew Conrad (11.8) was also a double-figure scorer last year as a sophomore. Projected growth and improvement from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2419825' first='Nic' last='Stone'] (8.0, 38.1 3P%), a versatile three-level scorer on the wing, will be huge for this team's long-term prognosis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Point-Urbana (7-15)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stormin' Pointers are another team that was really young last season and should be much better as a result this year. They bring back eight of their top nine scorers, including talented wing [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (11.2, 3.5 assists), who could end up being one of the best players in the WaMaC as a junior. He's a long, skilled wing who does it all on the floor, creating off the dribble for himself and teammates, defending multiple positions, and scoring from all three levels. This team got off to an 0-10 start last season, then went 7-5 from January 16th through the end of the year, as the young group grew together and gained more comfort playing at the varsity level. With a full summer and fall of working together more and gaining more chemistry, they could be a team that completely flips their record in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->