Introducing Mr. Basketball Candidate #2: Patrick McCaffery
As part of our preseason content, we’re counting down the top dozen candidates for this year’s Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. The list continues with our No. 2 candidate, Iowa City West forward Patrick McCaffery, who will head just down the street to play at the University of Iowa for his father.
Name: Patrick McCaffery
Height: 6-8
Position: F
School: Iowa City West
2017-18 stats: 517 points (19.9/game), 165 rebounds (6.3), 59 assists (2.3), 34 steals (1.3), 27 blocks (1.0), 52.1 FG%, 26.2 3P%, 73.9 FT%
Career stats: 998 points (12.8/game), 337 rebounds (4.3), 139 assists (1.8), 99 blocks (1.3), 54.9 FG%, 27.4 3P%, 72.0 FT%
About McCaffery: A long, athletic, rangy combo forward with one of the most versatile skill sets in the state, McCaffery has been ranked among the top 100 players in his class nationally since he was an eighth grader, and that still holds true. The Iowa signee is a high-level defender with the ability to lock up smaller guards on the perimeter, protect the rim and score from all three levels on the offensive end of the floor. He’ll be an impact player for his dad at Iowa.
Why he can win Mr. Basketball: He’s the only player on this countdown who has won a state title, and he’s already played for three titles in his high school career. He could have a shot at playing for a title for a fourth time. He’s an Iowa signee. Those are major bullet points on a resume.
Odds he wins Mr. Basketball: 25%. As we’ve mentioned with Tyreke Locure and Jake Hilmer, and will mention with our No. 1 selection, this is a four-way award as we head into the season. If Patrick can lead West back to Championship Friday, this is probably his award to win.