High School Preseason: Class 5A – Sleepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While starting our coverage for the high school preseason, we began the other day by releasing our Top 10 Preseason Team Rankings for the 5A class. In the article below I am going to highlight some more teams, out of the same 5A class, that could be considered "sleepers". Teams that, if they display a good connection early on in the season, others will need to be aware of them going into the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City East Black Raiders (17-5) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Returning 5/5 starters; accounting for 53.3 PPG, 20.9 RPG, 13.1 APG</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Every player that had significant minutes last season will return. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>3/5 starters last season were freshman. Impressive freshman but freshman. The experience of last season is going to help them prepare better for this upcoming winter, as to what they should expect and the level they need to play at to be successful. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This team is a dark horse in the 5A class. If they can figure out a good defensive scheme against the elite teams like Johnston, Dowling Catholic, Ect, then they will have a shot at making a big run this post season. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Liberty Lightning (14-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Returning 1/5 starters; accounting for 8.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1 APG</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Graduating 6/12 players that were on their varsity roster last season will mean a lot of room for opportunity.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This season the Lighting will need to turn around their Turnover ration if they expect to compete in meaningful games. Last year they averaged a -2 Assist/Turnover ratio, per game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This program is stacked with young talent and they will thrive on it this year. If the young players can step up early on in the season and this roster can get in a rhythm, then the Lighting are going to be a dangerous team come playoff time. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Rapids - Praire Hawks (10-12) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Returning 5/5 starters; accounting for 30 PPG, 15.6 RPG, 6 APG</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This teams situation is a mixture of the first two teams I have listed above. They will bring back all 5 starters from last year but will rely on their young talent to take them places.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The addition of Kea'Onna Worley is going to be crucial but to what point? I'm not sure. If she comes in right away and dominates teams like she has the past few years at the younger levels, then this team is going to be a problem over the next few seasons in the 5A class.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This AAU season the forward's for this team had monster spring/summer campaigns. If they can replicate what they did on the AAU court, to the high school court, they are sure to be one of the best combo guard/forward duo in the state. ([player_tooltip player_id='502095' first='Emily' last='Larsen'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='502228' first='Brynlie' last='Hadenfeldt']) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Senior leadership will be another major key for this varsity team once they get into big moments throughout their season. They will need a senior leader to be that presence for everyone and they have that in [player_tooltip player_id='314116' first='McKenna' last='Murray']. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong> Bettendorf Bulldogs (11-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Returning 1/5 starters; accounting for 4.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.6 APG</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This is a team that will have to find a new identity. Graduating 4/5 starters can be tough but the young players on this squad are more then ready to set up.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Addition of transfer [player_tooltip player_id='612984' first='Alyvia' last='McCorkle'] from Davenport North high school is the highlight of this programs offseason. McCorkle is a PG with multiple D1 offers while currently only being a player out of the 2026.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Trust the process is always a term of phrase you hear nowadays. My prediction is that this program is going to embody this term over the next handful of seasons. If they can build a foundation this season to work off of moving forward, they are going to be in good shape looking towards the future. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->