Iowa City West is the pick as the top boys basketball team in Iowa this season. Also watch out for Bettendorf, Dubuque, Sioux City North and Hoover.
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Content for this story provided by Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette (@jeje66)1. Iowa City WestHead coach: Steve Bergman
2012-13 finish: 26-0
The Trojans have won 52 games in a row. The lone returning starter is 6-foot-2 senior guard
Wyatt Lohaus, a first-team all-state player last season who has signed with Northern Iowa. But there is a lot of talent elsewhere in 6-6 senior center
Chike Ukah, 6-6 junior swingman
David Dileo and impressive freshmen
Devonte Lane (6-1 guard) and
Connor McCaffery (6-4 guard), son of Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery.
2. BettendorfHead coach: Curtis Clark
2012-13 finish: 25-1
The top four scorers return for a team that won its first 25 games last season before losing to West in the Class 4A state championship game. The Bulldogs have top-notch guards in seniors Cole Clearman and Dylan Sortillo. Nicholas Baer and Kendall Jacks are standouts on the interior. All are seniors. Clearman has signed with Division II Missouri Western, Jacks with D-II Wayne State (Neb.).
3. DubuqueHead coach: Wendell Eimers
2012-13 finish: 24-2
The Rams placed third in Class 4A. Their leading returning scorer is 6-7 senior wing player
Kyle Haber (15 points per game), who has committed to Brown University. Six-foot-9 senior center
Seth Bonifas is a Division II Missouri Western commitment, who at one point had a D-I offer from Iowa.
4. Sioux City NorthHead coach: John Vanderloo
2012-13 finish: 21-3
The Stars advanced to the Class 4A state tournament, and graduated one player who scored one point on that team. Six-foot-4 junior
Daniel Tillo averaged 22.5 points and joins
Carlos Elizalde (12 ppg) and
Deontre Dean (11.5 ppg.) as returning double-figure scorers. The competition North regularly plays is substantially less than elsewhere, but this team still should be plenty good.
5. Hoover (Des Moines)Head coach: Courtney Henderson
2012-13 finish: 18-4
The Huskies were a surprising 18-4 last season, losing in the Class 4A substate final. Six of the top seven scorers return, including leading scorers
Chris King (13.5 ppg) and
Malachi Canada (13.1 ppg.). Hoover isn’t a tall team, by any means, but wins with strong, aggressive man-to-man defense. It shouldn’t be an exception this winter.
