Caden DeKoter Caden DeKoter 6'8" | C/PF Clear Creek-Amana | 2028 State IA was one of the most potently effective prospects I saw play at this event. This was mainly due to his freakish size, balance, and fluidity at the center position. He was able to catch lobs from every angle and finish them while being off balance and contested. And this warped opposing defenses’ entire coverage because of his sheer gravity as an around-the-rim threat. His finishes off these lobs were acrobatic and graceful, and this led to increased attention from off-ball defenders that were forced to tag him to minimize his threat as a roller, opening up shooters all over the floor. He was equally as graceful and agile in transition and as a driver. He got up and down the floor very well, and this led to easy buckets for him in the fast break. And he displayed the ability to get low and drive past defenders for finishes at the rim, showcasing enticing quickness as a driver. He offered this elite rim pressure while also being a capable three-point shooter. He hit threes off the catch and off the dribble from deep range, and his jump shot was very fundamentally sound and balanced. This, coupled with his size, made his pull-up attempts extremely difficult for defenders to contest and allowed him to hit outside shots with great efficiency. Caden was equally as impactful on the defensive end. He displayed high-level discipline when it came to keeping his hands up and staying vertical, avoiding fouls and making shots very difficult for opposing scorers. And he blocked shots and shut off the rim consistently.

In some ways, DeKoter reminds me of a young Patrick McCaffery. The frame, the length, the bounce, the way he moves, all reminiscent of Patrick around this age range. He appeared in seven varsity games last season, coming on in mop-up duty but he showed some real flashes of his potential in his JV/sophomore games, dominating on both ends of the floor with his ability to defend multiple positions, keep possessions alive with his work on the glass, and stretch the floor a well as attack slower defenders off the dribble. The Clippers have a lot of offensive firepower returning and should be formidable in 3A, but DeKoter emerging into a two-way threat with his size could take them up another level.

Caden DeKoter Caden DeKoter 6'8" | C/PF Clear Creek-Amana | 2028 State IA provided a versatile impact for his team at the Prep Hoops Iowa Open. For starters, his passing and court vision were very impressive out of the high post. He always had his head up and was great at finding cutters with timely bounce passes in space. His overall offensive feel very much stood out for him at the center position. This translated to his scoring as well, as he was very effective finishing plays around the rim using his size. He was great at converting on the roll, and he displayed elite vertical athleticism, finishing plays with rim-shaking dunks. However, he was even more effective on the defensive end of the court. His length, fluidity, feel, and vertical explosiveness made him an elite rim protector. He racked up many blocks at the rim, and he was great at getting into help position at a moment’s notice with his great off-ball recognition. All of these tools also made him an exceptional one-on-one defender. He locked up his matchup and shut off the rim at the same time. Truly elite two-way impact from this rising big man prospect.

Speaking of intriguing forwards, DeKoter could end up becoming one of the highest risers in the rankings during his junior year for the Clippers. He’s a player who barely saw varsity run, but I saw him play against Waverly-Shell Rock in a JV game and he was dominant. Capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor, he uses his length effectively on both ends of the floor and has the potential to be a dominant defensive weapon.