Class 4A: Emerging Juniors For 2021

As the season begins to take shape, this holiday break is the perfect time to start looking ahead - both to the rest of this basketball campaign and the future. We want to offer up thoughts and highlight those players from each class and each grade level some publicity to try and help them gain the attention of a college coach or two. As always, if there is someone you feel we missed and deserves recognition, reach out through any means available. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128996" first="Ava" last="Hawthorne"], Gilbert (2022)</strong> In just nine games before the break, [player_tooltip player_id="128996" first="Ava" last="Hawthorne"] filled up the stat sheets on a nightly basis. The Gilbert standout leads all Class 4A juniors with 143 points scored and 45 steals. Hawthorne also has 49 rebounds, 32 assists and even two blocked hots. She is shooting 51 percent from the field and has continued to develop a strong outside game, knocking down 17 three-pointers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="107012" first="Jada" last="Williams"], Mason City (2022)</strong> The latest in a long line of talented guards to come out of Mason City is Jade Williams. The junior sits at 134 points, 67 rebounds, 35 assists, 10 steals and five blocks so far through the early portion of 2020-2021. Williams is effective inside, outside and getting to the free throw line. She has made 10 three-pointers and is shooting almost 65 percent at the stripe. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128997" first="Taylor" last="Veach"], Central DeWitt (2022)</strong> Built in the mode of a power-guard, Central DeWitt’s [player_tooltip player_id="128997" first="Taylor" last="Veach"] continues to produce. The junior has scored 117 points on 42 percent shooting this year, adding in 34 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals and a handful of blocked shots. Veach is very capable of getting to the free throw line where she is shooting 71 percent. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129004" first="Lucy" last="Schaffer"], North Polk (2022)</strong> With graduation losses and other defections, North Polk has leaned more on the play of [player_tooltip player_id="129004" first="Lucy" last="Schaffer"]. And she has delivered. Schaffer has scored 110 points with 36 rebounds, 16 steals and 13 assists for the Comets, who reached the state championship game a season ago. She is shooting 37 percent from the field and 73 percent at the charity stripe. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="129048" first="Malarie" last="Ross"], Fort Madison (2022)</strong> An elite scorer with quick hands, [player_tooltip player_id="129048" first="Malarie" last="Ross"] has produced 134 points and 27 steals in just six games. The Fort Madison junior is shooting 46 percent from the field, nearly 80 percent at the free throw line and 38 percent from deep. Ross also has collected 19 rebounds with seven assists.