Iowa Stock Risers: 2017

<p><strong>Trey Tucker</strong> (5&#39;9 PG, Greene County)</p> <p>We knew Tucker was one of 2017s best point guards from the moment we saw him with the Iowa Wolves early last spring, and he proved himself to be just that with Greene County this season. A fluid jumper and elite passing ability make this sophomore special. He averaged 22.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.7 steals and 4.3 rebounds this season.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Jay Small </strong>(6&#39;1 SG, Hinton)</p> <p>South Dakota and Iowa State have already taken notice, and it’s time for the rest of the state to get on board. Small is a 6-foot-1 shooting guard who averaged 22.1 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and 5.2 rebounds per game this season with the Blackhawks. He’ll play with nationally renowned Omaha Elite this offseason.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Joe Smoldt</strong> (5&#39;10 PG, Gladbrook-Reinbeck)</p> <p>Smoldt’s elite performance at the state tournament last month has his stock skyrocketing. The 1A tournament MVP, Smoldt proved to have elite handles and can hit shots from anywhere, in particular a unique pull-up mid-range specialty. He says no college coaches have reached out to him, that was during the state tournament -- we expect that’s changed by now.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Levi Jungling</strong> (5&#39;9 PG, Pella Christian)</p> <p>Think Iowa’s own miniature Steve Nash. Jungling has such precise control of his handles that he’s able to navigate defenses effortlessly to probe and set up looks for teammates. He averaged 16.7 points, 4 assists and 2.3 steals for the Eagles this season and was particularly instrumental in conducting a quarterfinal upset of Western Christian at the state tournament -- arguably the biggest upset of the tournament.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Garrett Franken</strong> (6&#39;6 SF, Atlantic)</p> <p>Another guy, like Small, who plays with a nationally renowned grassroots program. Franken will once again play with St. Louis-based Gateway Basketball Club this offseason, and that should certainly help get the 6-foot-6 forward some Division I attention. When we last spoke he mentioned Drake as an interested D1 -- also Dordt and Briar Cliff had been in contact with him.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Matt Dentlinger</strong> (6&#39;6 F, Carroll Kuemper)</p> <p>The 6-foot-6 forward played very sparingly as a freshman, averaging just 1.4 point per game. This season he was the best player for the Knights while averaging 14.7 points, 7 rebounds and most impressively 3.4 blocks per game. He also can hit the long ball -- connecting on 41 percent of his 3-point attempts.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Austin Phyfe</strong> (6&#39;9 C, Waverly-Shell Rock)</p> <p>Maybe the most D1 ready player on this list, Phyfe looks the part thanks to sheer size alone. What’s most impressive was his defensive work at the state tournament against 2016 Iowa commit Cordell Pemsl. Phyle stymied the future Big Ten big-man time and time again in the paint. He’s getting looks from Drake and Northern Iowa.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Jailen Billings</strong> (5&#39;9 PG, Sioux City North)</p> <p>The speedy 5-foot-9 point guard will be the main attraction next season for the Stars, but proved his worth this season as a sophomore on a senior-laden team. He averaged 9.7 points, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game as the only non-senior starter and says he’s being looked at by D1s Northern Iowa and South Dakota.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Devontae Lane</strong> (5&#39;11 PG, Iowa City West)</p> <p>One of the more touted prospects in the sophomore class, Lane saw minutes last season as a freshman on a 4A state championship team and was a key cog for the third-place Trojans this season. He’s a burly and athletic point guard who recently told us he’s receiving interest from D1s Iowa State, Wisconsin, Creighton, Nebraska, Stanford and Drake.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Trey Washington</strong> (5&#39;11 PG, Dallas Center-Grimes)</p> <p>The ultra-athletic point guard for the Mustangs is small but explosive. He’s capable of getting up and playing at the rim, I saw him dunk last offseason on the grassroots circuit and then again off the tip in a 3A substate final win over Perry. He’s still a bit raw, as evidenced by his 4.2 turnovers per game, but that should lessen as he matures. Washington averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season.</p>