Breaking Down the Updated 2017 Rankings

T.J. Rushing

October 27, 2015 @ 12:45 PM

<h2>New to top-10</h2>Bailey Basala, North Scott, 6’5 SG He was a prime prospect in Illinois, and now he's a top-5 guy in Iowa. Jal Bijiek, Des Moines North, 6’7 SF He did not play last year while attending Promise Academy in Ames, now he's a D1 prospect and ranked 8th in 2017. Drew Maschoff, Ankeny, 6’2 G After perhaps the best offseason of anyone in the junior class, Maschoff goes from unranked to 10th after a dazzling summer with Ankeny and Kingdom Hoops Elite. <h2>Notable Leaps</h2>Douglas Wilson, Hoover, 6’6 PF The bouncy power forward leaps from 70 up to 11, bettering himself by 59 spots. Jay Small, Hinton, 6’1 G After a very strong summer starring on one of the Midwest's best teams, the sharpshooting guard jumps 59 spots -- from 66 to 7. Trey Washington, Grimes, 6’ PG Maybe the fastest, and certainly one of the springiest guys in the class, Washington jumps 52 spots, from 71 to 19. Connor Kasperbauer, Ankeny Centennial, 6’4 SG One of the best surprises from last summer, Kasperbauer one of two juniors who played in Iowa last season to go from unranked into top 20 (Maschoff). Matt Dentlinger, Kuemper, 6’6 PF The shot-blocking, 3-point-making Kuemper phenom had an outstanding sophomore season, propelling him from unranked to 24th. Abe Kinrade, Maquoketa, 6’6 SF His experience with the Barnstormers certainly helped nudge his skills and confidence in the right direction. The rangy wing goes from unranked to 25th. Ben Latusak, Dike-New Hartford, 6’5 C Strong as an ox and passionate on the floor, Latusak may be undersized for a center, but he's a bull in the paint. He jumps from unranked to 30th. <h2>Premium Programs -- Whoês Repping the Top-20 </h2>- Iowa Barnstormers reign supreme, the elite program represents over one-third of the top-20, with seven - that includes four of the state's top-5. - Kingdom Hoops is the state’s up-and-coming program, it boasts five in the top-20, and three of them are newcomers to the top-20. - All-Iowa Attack has a very respectable three guys checking into the top-20, Collin Hill, Trey Washington, and Connor Kasperbauer. - Martin Brothers and Tryon Gym each have one representative in the top-20. - Three of Iowa’s top-20 played with out-of-state teams last offseason; Hinton’s Jay Small (Omaha Elite), Atlantic’s Garrett Franken (Gateway Basketball Club), and LeMars’ Trenton Hilbrands (South Dakota Attack). <h2>Class Conscious</h2>Which class has the most players represented in the top-50? 4A (18) -- With fewer schools to draw from than any other class, it is only a mild surprise that 4A isn't the most represented in the state. Iowa’s big schools do have a stranglehold on the top-10 though, with six coming from the class. 3A (20) -- Iowa’s second largest class of schools takes the crown for most representatives in the top-50. More surprising may be the seven representatives it placed into the top-20. 2A (8) -- There’s plenty of talent in Iowa’s second smallest class of teams, evidenced by the three players represented in the top-20. And seven represented in the top-30. 1A (4) -- Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Joe Smoldt, AGWSR’s Nathan Karsjens, Fremont Mills’ Sam Phillips, and Midland, Wyoming’s Alex Martens represent Iowa’s smallest class in the top-50.