The ROCK Spring Classic: 2019 Player Evaluations (15U)
As part of our continued coverage of last weekend’s second annual “The ROCK Spring Classic” in Madison, WI, below are player evaluations from some of the standouts from the Class of 2019. 5-10 G Kenny Quinn, Iowa Barnstormers (Des Moines Hoover)…
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Continue ReadingAs part of our continued coverage of last weekend’s second annual “The ROCK Spring Classic” in Madison, WI, below are player evaluations from some of the standouts from the Class of 2019.
5-10 G Kenny Quinn, Iowa Barnstormers (Des Moines Hoover)
A prototypical Hoover guard, Quinn was a nice addition to the Barnstormers 15U team. He’s a strong, physical guard with the ability to play either guard spot on the offensive end, and he’s a dynamic defender who can defend multiple positions on that end. He’s built like a house, with an extremely strong lower body, and he moves his feet well. On the offensive end, he’s still a work in progress, but shows a willingness to post up other guards, and he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, where he uses his strength to finish through contact. His jumper still needs to develop, but he showed some signs of being able to shoot from the arc.
5-10 PG Jackson Molstead, Iowa Barnstormers (Charles City)
Molstead is one of two primary ball handlers on the Barnstormers roster (Jake Hilmer), and he’s a very good one. He’s a small guard, but has good handles, is able to get into the lane with a quick first step and showed off a steadily improving jumper with extended range. He played very well on the defensive end, showing good side-to-side movement and quick hands. A steady all-around player who rarely makes mistakes on either end of the floor and is capable of doing anything on the court.
5-8 SG Jack Kelley, Iowa Mavericks Purple (Don Bosco)
In a few viewings of the Mavericks Purple team, Kelley was one of the standouts with his superb mid-range game. A diminutive guard, he’s got the ability to stop on a dime and elevate into his jumper, and he also showcased extended range. He’s got a solid handle and gets good elevation and rotation on his shot. He’ll need to get stronger and add some penetrating dimensions to his game to take his offensive skills to the next level, but he’s a nice looking young off-guard.
6-3 F Trey Hutcheson, Iowa Barnstormers (Linn-Mar)
The Linn-Mar product may have been the Barnstormers most consistent player throughout the weekend, showing a fantastic ability to finish at the rim through contact. He’s got a strong upper body, and a frame that he can still add more weight to. He’s very good on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, with good length and leaping ability. He didn’t hit any jumpers that I can recall, but he has the look of a solid shooter from the arc, stepping out and getting good elevation and rotation on his jumper out to the high school line. The cousin of former Lions standout Nate Hutcheson, he figures to be a major contributor for Linn-Mar for the next three seasons, with a lot of ability and potential. He may have been the biggest stock riser of any player I saw this past weekend.
6-7 F Jackson Frericks, Iowa Barnstormers (Cedar Falls)
The first thing that jumped out to me when seeing the Barnstormers for the first time was Frericks’ length. Coach Greg Stephen told me that Frericks used to be a high-level swimmer, and with his build, it makes sense. He’s tall, long and athletic, running the floor very well. He’s still very raw as a basketball player, having only taken up the game fairly recently, but the size and athleticism alone are enough to make him a highly intriguing prospect. He’s able to finish around the rim, although his touch and strength still need work. He also stepped out to the arc and nailed a three, showing pretty good form with a nice, high release. He proved to be a solid defender in the paint with his length. There are a lot of things that need development here, but the canvas is intriguing.
5-11 SG Luke Velky, Iowa Mavericks Purple (Waverly-Shell Rock)
The younger brother of former W-SR standout Jake (now at Truman State), Luke isn’t quite as skilled as Jake was at this stage of their careers, but that’s not to say he’s not a good player. He showed outstanding court vision during multiple viewings over the weekend, making passes that many players can’t see. He proved to be a solid playmaker with the ball in his hands, capable of both scoring and distributing to his teammates. He’s a solid shooter from the arc, especially when shooting in rhythm, and he was routinely able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. The younger Velky is a nice looking young guard prospect who should be a major contributor for the Go-Hawks for the next three seasons.
6-2 G Noah Hart, Iowa Barnstormers (Waukee)
Another well-built guard from the Barnstormers, Hart is solid on both ends of the floor. He’s got good length, moves his feet well laterally on the defensive end and has quick hands. He’s solid playing both on-and-off the ball on that end of the floor. On the offensive end he showcased a respectable mid-range game, but was at his best when putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim, where his length comes in handy. He’s also aggressive on the glass on both ends of the floor.
5-10 PG Jake Hilmer, Iowa Barnstormers (North Linn)
The dazzling point guard is absolutely electric with the ball in his hands, displaying blazing speed and outstanding court vision. In the Barnstormers pool play win over Wisconsin Swish he put on a passing clinic, seeing plays develop well ahead of the other players on the court. He’s got a good handle and the ability to get to the rim, where he’s capable of finishing around or through contact. He’s also proven to be a capable shooter from the arc. On the defensive end, he’s got a good understanding of positioning off the ball, and moves his feet fairly well while playing on the ball. He’s not an elite defender by any means, but he’s definitely solid on that end of the floor.
6-2 G Nathan Michels, Iowa Mavericks Purple (Benton Community)
The Benton wing was solid throughout the weekend for the Mavericks, using his length to crash the glass on both ends of the floor. He was highly effective on the offensive glass, routinely pulling down boards in traffic and finishing off the chances with lay-ins. He also showed the ability to step out to the arc and hit from the perimeter on occasion. He needs to add strength and continue to work on his ball handling, but he’s got a nice frame to build on and a solid set of skills. I like his mentality on the glass, as not all wing players are as willing to stick their noses in the paint and rebound with the big boys.
6-8 GF Patrick McCaffery, Iowa Barnstormers (Iowa City West)
The top ranked player in the 2019 class showed why he is worthy of that ranking with his performance over the weekend. His combination of length, athleticism and skill is truly unique. Already listed at 6-8, he’s got great ball skills, can really shoot it from the perimeter, especially when shooting in rhythm, and gets off the floor with ease, routinely throwing down dunks in transition or in halfcourt settings. His length and athletic ability allow him to be great on the glass, and his size allows him to defend multiple positions. He clearly needs to continue adding strength and must continue to tighten up his ball handling, but there is no doubt that he’s a one-of-a-kind prospect in the Iowa 2019 class.
6-6 PF Derek Krogmann, Iowa Barnstormers (West Delaware)
Arguably my personal favorite in this class, Krogmann had a solid weekend on the interior for the Barnstormers. The lefty has a fairly refined offensive skill set, showing great touch and very good footwork on the block. He runs the floor extremely well, routinely beating his man down the floor and establishing good position. The biggest development in his game since the last time I saw him was on the defensive end, where he blocked a number of shots, showing improved instincts and timing, using his length to help him defensively.
6-4 PF Noah Carter, Iowa Barnstormers (Dubuque Senior)
One of the standouts from the state tournament, Carter was very good over the weekend. He’s got an incredible ability to finish around the rim at seemingly impossible angles, showing an understanding of how to use the glass, in addition to his outstanding touch. His footwork is advanced for a young big man, and he’s got great hands. He’s got the ability to stretch the floor out to the high school arc, showing good form and confidence in his jumper. He’s still just scratching the surface on his ability, which is already at a high level.
6-4 PF Mosai Newsom, Iowa Mavericks Purple (Waverly-Shell Rock)
A raw young big man, Newsom runs the floor very well and was a dominant presence at times in the paint on the defensive end, blocking a number of shots showing good instincts and length. He’s solid on the glass and with his size, he’s an imposing figure in the paint. He still needs to work on improving his touch around the rim, but that’s something that should come. With his size and raw athletic abilities, he should be a player to keep an eye on moving forward.