Conference Preview: CIML-Metro
For the next few weeks, we will be touching on each conference in the state. These will include last year’s standings, this year’s projected standings, team breakdown, preseason player of the year, and first and second teams. These articles will…
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Continue ReadingFor the next few weeks, we will be touching on each conference in the state. These will include last year’s standings, this year’s projected standings, team breakdown, preseason player of the year, and first and second teams. These articles will be the next 43 in the series of 70 season previews which will take us right into my preseason polls. Tomorrow, I will have the Corner conference preview.
2018-19 Standings
Des Moines East (9-1)
Ottumwa (8-2)
Des Moines Roosevelt (8-3)
Des Moines Hoover (3-8)
Des Moines Lincoln (3-8)
Des Moines North (2-8)
Projected 2019-20 Standings
Des Moines Roosevelt
Des Moines North
Ottumwa
Des Moines Hoover
Des Moines Lincoln
Des Moines East
Des Moines East won the conference last year fairly easily on the back of their nine seniors. This year they will only have three returning players from a team a year ago so the fall will be sharp. Des Moines Roosevelt is the frontrunner due to their guard play. While they are going to be young, they have a very solid 2023 group coming in and they gain the transfer of Trinity Cheatom from Des Moines Lincoln while retaining Amaya Davison. They have one of the best guard groups in the entire state and that should lead them to big things this year and beyond. Des Moines North and Ottumwa are going to be solid this year as well and should give Roosevelt a run for their money.
Team Breakdowns
Des Moines Roosevelt: Roosevelt was really solid this past year but an influx of talent to this squad might push them over the top. Look for them to be lead by their high motor and quick guards. Sophomores Trinity Cheatom and Amaya Davison are going to lead the team this year and they’ll have a number of freshmen come in and impact right away. This was a post player driven team last year so look for them to change schemes this upcoming year.
Des Moines North: Des Moines North brings back a wealth of experience from last year including their leading scorer, Laphina Campbell, a sophomore. Campbell scored 9.3 points a game last season and is looking to push that total up this season. Juniors Ihari Oromo and Kapri King will both have bigger roles this year as will senior Jazalyn Brown, who scored 24 points in just three games played. They’ll be the top contender to remove Roosevelt from that top spot.
Ottumwa: Ottumwa will be a very respectable team this season. They do lose their leading and third scorers from a year ago but return a vast amount of talent across the board. Seniors Grace and Alli Bookin-Nosbisch are going to really push this team forward as they combined for 17 points a game last year. The senior trio of Kaylee Bix, Kacy Nickerson, and Katie Nelson will provide leadership and an additional spark to this team.
Des Moines Hoover: Hoover returns their leading scorer in Daija Bates, a senior, who scored 7.2 points a game last season. They also have an enormous amount of kids who are returning with varsity experience. Ameria Turner and Julia Shonka are two juniors who are going to see a much bigger role this season. Those two will need to step up to help lead Des Moines Hoover this season. There are numerous options for this team as far as depth.
Des Moines Lincoln: Lincoln will really miss the departure of Amaya Davison to Roosevelt. With her back, this was a team that would have been fighting for a spot at the top. Now, you’re going to see seniors Bella Sanders, Mia Cooper, and Jadah Smithson really step up for them to have a successful year. They have some talent, but they are really going to have to find some depth for them to contend and win games this season.
Des Moines East: East is in a spot that unfortunately happens to a lot of teams after having a ton of talent come through. They lose a ton of talent as nine seniors graduate but do return their third leading scorer from a year ago, senior Aaliyah Williams. Williams will be the no doubt leader on this team and with get contributors from other returnees senior Rachel Puok and sophomore Lyric Sellers. The two remaining starting spots will be filled by newcomers.
All-CIML-Metro First Team
Laphina Campbell (North, 5’2 PG, 2022)
Campbell is going to lead Des Moines North this upcoming season. She’s a quick and fiesty guard who can push the ball up the floor really quickly. Campbell scores the ball really well despite being just 5’2. She’s going to be relied on much more this upcoming season and will have the ball in her hands even more.
Grace Bookin-Nosbisch (Ottumwa, 5’10 PF, 2020)
Bookin-Nosbisch is going to really see an uptick in usage this upcoming year because she is going to be counted on so much more. She is a very strong player on the inside and she has the ability to stretch it out at times. She is going to be the player that leads Ottumwa this year. Look for her to have a break out season.
Aaliyah Williams (East, 5’7 SF, 2020)
Williams is a really strong wing with a really solid base. She is a very solid player with the ability to score that ball at all three levels. Look for her to have her way scoring the ball whenever she wants. She made big strides this summer with her game and is going to be a major problem this upcoming season.
Amaya Davison (Roosevelt, 5’5 PG, 2022)
Davison is among some of the best young guards in the state right now, a lot of them hailing from the Des Moines area. She’s a quick guard who pushes it up the floor fast and looks to score in transition. She’s going to be a really solid player this year for Roosevelt and will be a big reason they have a successful season.
Daija Bates (Hoover, 5’5 PG, 2020)
Bates is going to be a key player for Hoover this upcoming year. She is going to be looked to even more to score the ball and I think she’ll likely top the 300 field goal attempt mark. If her percentages improve from a year ago you could really see her take off this year. I think Bates is going to be a player who comes in and proves a lot of people wrong.
All-CIML-Metro Second Team
Jazalyn Brown (North, 5’6 SG, 2020)
Brown only played in three games last year and still had an impact scoring 8.0 points a game in those contests. Her comeback this year is going to be much needed and could help get North over the hump. Brown is a shooter who loves to pull the trigger and her confidence would mesh well with this group.
Kaylee Bix (Ottumwa, 5’4 PG, 2020)
Bix is a key player for Ottumwa. She scored the ball at a good clip last season but this year is going to take a step forward scoring the ball. She has proven to be able to do it at a consistent rate and combined with her scoring ability could be one of the top players in the conference this season.
Bella Sanders (Lincoln, 5’8 SF, 2020)
Sanders shot 27% from behind the arc last season and if that improves this upcoming season, even by just 5%, she is going to really be a huge threat. Sanders was a key player for Lincoln last year and will be the main player for them tihis season. Look for Sanders to really make an impact this season.
Rachel Puok (East, 5’8 SF, 2020)
Puok is going to be a leader on a team that lost a lot of talent from a year ago. She is going to be a big component on a team that is fighting to find a new identity. Puok is going to really make a name for herself. She has a flurry of small college interest and a good senior year might spur even more.
Kapri King (North, 5’1 PG, 2021)
King might be one of the shortest players in the conference but that doesn’t mean much. She’s a jitterbug always looking to make plays and score the ball. She can pass the ball really well and initiates the offense well which makes her a fun teammate to play with. Look for King to really set the tone this year.
Preseason Player of the Year
Trinity Cheatom (Roosevelt, 5’5 PG, 2022)
As you saw, the All-CIML-Metro teams are filled with young guards. Cheatom is one of the best with her scoring and passing ability. Her game will be really opened up this year as Roosevelt will likely run with guards more this year. She’s one of the best young players not only in the conference, but the state. She’s always a treat to watch and this year will be no different.
Five Questions For The Year
Can Roosevelt ride their guards to a conference championship?
Will Des Moines East be better than I think?
Will a 2023 emerge quickly as the top player in the conference?
Who is going to be a dominant post this year with two high major graduations?
Who do you think will win the conference? Let me know on Twitter!