Grading the Cap City League Rosters

With the draft complete and tip-off set for June 15 at Valley Southwoods, it’s time to grade out the YMCA Capital City League rosters in the preseason power rankings. Can reigning champions Jason Swanson and crew bring home a title for new sponsor Doerrfeld Promotions, or will one of the league’s cast of veteran coaches unseat the champs?

6. Hannah Homes: C-

Seeing how this team works together will be interesting, as the most dynamic scorer on the team is probably Drake’s Ore Arogundade. Taking Michael Jacobson with Shayok and Lard on the board wasn’t a huge reach as quality bigs are at a premium in the CCL, but Jakolby Long over Terrence Lewis and Matt Tiby will either be the league’s best dark horse pick in a while or put them in a scoring squeeze.

5. Sparta Waste Services: C+

With the 6 and 7 snake draft double pick, Hilton Magic Legends GM Tony Colosimo ended up with a pair of Cyclones that could’ve gone almost anywhere in the first round. Cameron Lard’s general offensive skill is undderrated, and Marial Shayok is an established P5 player. However, Colosimo shocked the world taking CJ Rivers with the first pick in the Drake round, leaving some high level scorers on the board that would’ve eased the pain of getting the last pick of the Bulldogs. SWCC guard Malachi Canada is one of the league’s best defensive instigators, but the rest of the Sparta bench lacks a lot of Cap City experience, making the depth a question mark.

4. JayTees Apparel: B

We’ve seen it happen for years in the Cap City League. Landing the #1 pick is both a blessing and a curse; while it assures you the, in theory, best player in the league, it also typically lands an ISU walk-on and a couple middle of the pack Drake picks. Hell, Deonte Burton’s team almost went winless last year with that same formula. While that first/last pick trade off will still trouble this team, TJ Thomas, who was a huge part of last year’s championship team, is no consolation prize with the 6th Drake pick. The problem is there were three or four Cyclones that could’ve all been the first pick, so will Weiler-Babb be enough to carry the team? Either way, former local high school stars Terrance Bush (North) and Turner Scott (Valley) headline one of the best benches in the league.

3. Hinterland: B+

Picking up Donovan Jackson with the third pick was a no brainer, but scooping up Matt Tiby with the 10th selection will go down as the steal of this draft. Tiby, who was an all-conference forward at UW-Milwaukee, just returned from his first season of overseas basketball where he averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds for Atomeromu SE Paks in Hungary. Tiby carried a Lions Club team last year that featured Jakoby Long and Merrill Holden (who weren’t able to make many games) to the championship game. The unproven fresh faces on the bench will put a heavy load on Jackson and Tiby though.

2. Des Moines Outreach Lions Club: A+

League commissioner Derek Hannah and whatever team he is coaching are the Popovich/Spurs of the Cap City League, and he put together yet another contender this year. Lindell Wigginton will be a fan favorite, but getting Beverly 11th as the snake draft wound back and Reed Timmer, Drake’s best scorer, as he slid to 5th is a home run. Flushing out the depth with a couple former league Small College Player of the Years in Galat Toang (Grace) and Luke Terhark (Wayne State) make this lineup a clear team to watch.

1. Doerrfeld Promotions: A+

While Doerrfeld and Lions Club are neck and neck for a grade, coach Jason Swanson’s team gets the nod as preseason leader of the pack for returning key pieces of his championship team last year. While Tiby may have been the steal of the draft, picking up Iowa State newcomer Terrance Lewis with the 9th pick is a close second. Solomon Young was a man among boys last summer in the few games he could play, and has only improved his offensive game since then.

Deantae McMurray of Drake and Jordan Stotts, who played the past season with Moncton Miracles of the NBL (the same NBL where Royce White won MVP), were starters during last year’s title run and will return to the same team. Former North star Teyontae Jenkins (who filled in at PG while Monte Morris attended the Nike Skills Academy) will also rejoin the reigning champs, and is joined by Valley’s Quinton Curry who had a strong showing last summer as well.

The complete rosters can be seen here