Apple Valley graduated Duke point guard Tyus Jones a year ago, and somehow they have looked just as good, and in some areas better than they were a year ago.  Crazy right?  They destroyed the competition in off-season events like the MBA Showcase and Pacesetter Sweet 16, and they’ve started the season 3-0 with convincing wins over Minnetonka, Chaska, and Chanhassen. 

Three of their players have high major offers (2016 center Brock Bertram, 2017 scorer Gary Trent Jr, and 2018 lead guard Tre Jones) and five of their players could be division one bound. 

Waukee plays its first game of the season tonight against Linn-Mar and then plays Apple Valley Saturday.  They are led by Nebraska signed senior wing Michael Jacobson and Iowa State football signed talent Anthony Nelson. 

Michael Jacobson/Anthony Nelson/Jacob Rau, Waukee vs Brock Bertram/Cameron Kirksey/Steve Christensen, Apple Valley

The chance that Waukee has is up front as Jacobson and Nelson are their best players.  Kirksey and Christiansen have the length to defend the Iowa players but they aren’t quite as long while Bertran is much bigger than just about everybody he plays.  For Waukee to win, they need to get the better of this match-up.
 

Why Apple Valley will win:   Guard play, Gary Trent Jr.  I heard a comparison that really fits the other day and here it is, Gary Trent Jr is like Joe Coleman in how he is athletic, strong, and aggressive, but Trent is also much more skilled than Joe ever was.  Gary is playing like an MVP candidate, Tre is doing a great job handling the offense, and Jordan Bolton is attacking seems and putting up numbers 

Why Waukee will win:  Jacobsen and Nelson are active, strong high major division one athletes that have a great combination of strength and agility.  With their experience and talent advantages up front they could push Waukee to the victory.