With the YMCA Capital City League set to begin June 15, sports editor Aaron Marner and staff writer Connor Ferguson took some time to make their predictions for the summer.

Who will be the MVP?

Aaron: I want to pick Nick Weiler-Babb, but that’s boring. He’s the overwhelming favorite. Instead, I’ll go with Lindell Wigginton. Wigginton might be the most talented player in the league. Reed Timmer, one of Wigginton’s teammates on Des Moines Outreach Lions Club, is also a great perimeter player, but if he misses games like he did a year ago, Wigginton will be the main ball-handler and perimeter scoring threat for his team.

Connor: It’s hard to bet against Nick Weiler-Babb taking home the MVP award this season. With no extremely big Iowa State names like Monte Morris playing, there is no one to steal the limelight for Weiler-Babb. Last season, the Arlington, Texas native took the league by storm, and was 0.1 assists per game away from averaging a triple-double. After all of the growth Weiler-Babb showed in Ames last season, there is no reason to think he won’t be close to a triple-double again.

Which newcomer will stand out the most?

Aaron: What do Arizona, Oregon, Baylor, Florida State and Louisville have in common? They were all top 25 teams last season who offered Lindell Wigginton a scholarship.

Wigginton was a consensus top 50 recruit out of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and the fact that he had offers from so many top schools is a sign of his potential. Wigginton should dominate this kind of playing environment thanks to his size as a guard and his athleticism. Wigginton has dominated far better competition than this.

Connor: Donovan Jackson was the sharpest shooter the Iowa State basketball team had last season as it made its late run to March, but YCCL fans didn’t get to see that last summer. While Iowa State fans have seen Jackson in Big 12 action, they have not seen what he will be able to do with the wide-open looks he will get in the YCCL.

Which team will take home the trophy?

Aaron: My pick, and this will probably prove to be dumb, is Sparta Waste Services. SWS features Cameron Lard and Marial Shayok, two players who have never played a minute in an Iowa State uniform. If Lard is as good as advertised, this team will be strong. Don’t sleep on Des Moines North point guard Tyreke Locure, either.

Locure, who will be a junior at North in the fall, was second in 4A with 25.6 points per game as a sophomore. Locure was also second in 4A in assists, averaging 7.3 per game, and fifth in steals. So while Locure won’t be as old, or as big, as anyone else in the league, he’s certainly got talent — and he’ll be looking to prove that he can play with anyone.

Connor: With the third pick in the draft, Hinterland took Donovan Jackson, who was the best player available at the time. As the draft snaked through, and the 10th pick was waiting to be chosen, Hinterland got a steal. Matt Tiby, who was moved to the Iowa State portion of the draft due to coaches selection, was taken off the board. Tiby averaged 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, and was an overall MVP finalist last season, proving he could be the real deal. Put that pair with Graham Woodward from Drake — a player that isn’t selfish with the basketball, but will score when needed. Then add another big man in Kory Kuenstling, and the 2016 dunk contest champion Keaton Van Soelen. Hinterland has a team that can easily compete for a title.

Who will win the slam dunk and 3-point competitions?

Aaron: Nobody is out-dunking Nick Weiler-Babb this year. As for the 3-point contest, the smart money is probably on Donovan Jackson, who won the Hilton Madness 3-point contest last year and hit 45.4 percent of his 3-point attempts in 2016-17. I’m going to go with a sleeper pick: Jakolby Long.

Long was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc last season in just 40 minutes of playing time, so there’s not really any reason to think he’s a much better shooter than Donovan Jackson. Jackson is the proven shooter. I don’t even know if Long will participate in the 3-point competition, but this is what happens when I decide to be a contrarian.

Connor: Ore Arogundade is one of the top dunkers in the YCCL every year. During his first season, he surprised fans in the dunk contest, making a big run and nearly winning the whole thing. He was eventually edged out by Deonte Burton, though. With both Burton and Jameel McKay out of the league for the Chicago native, Arogundade will get his shot to be the big-name dunker of the summer.

As for the three point contest, Luke TerHark out of Wayne State will definitely contend. TerHark became the first small-school player in league history to lead the YCCL in 3-point percentage last season, shooting 42-87, good for 48%. He made fans eyes open night-after-night, and although not many came to see him, but by the end of the night they were glad they did.

Who will score the most points in a single game?

Aaron: Naz Mitrou-Long and Deonte Burton would have been the easy bets for this category a year ago. My guess is nobody matches Mitrou-Long’s record of 72 from last summer, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see a couple guys go for 50-plus.

If Donovan Jackson heats up, he could make it rain. Lindell Wigginton will be one of the youngest players at YCCL but if he gets rolling, maybe he could have a superstar-level game. My darkhorse pick is Terrence Lewis. Lewis is 6-foot-6, about 200 pounds and will be one of the most athletic players on the floor every game. If his perimeter shooting can keep up with his ability to drive to the rim, Lewis could have a monster game.

Connor: When Reed Timmer gets into a rhythm, no matter what league he is playing in, it is time to give him the ball and let him shoot until he misses. Two seasons ago, Timmer had multiple 50-point games, which even in the YCCL is a rarity. It is easy to see him getting the shots to make it to 50 once again this year.

Will Nick Weiler-Babb (or anyone) average a triple-double?

Aaron: Weiler-Babb is the most versatile player in the league, which is a big reason he was picked first overall. I don’t think anyone else will really be in contention to average a triple-double. My guess is Weiler-Babb falls just a few assists short.

Connor: I’ve been to a majority of YCCL games over the past three seasons, and the only player I’ve seen that has consistently brought triple-doubles like he was Russell Westbrook has been Weiler-Babb. If anyone reaches that mark this year, it will be Weiler-Babb.