Iowa Dynasty Fall League: Player Evaluations (Championship Weekend)
The final week of the Iowa Dynasty Fall League took place on Sunday. Here we talk about six players that we haven’t discussed yet, but who stood out throughout the course of the fall.
PF Zach Hirst (6-4, Davenport North, 2019)
Hirst has been solid throughout the fall league, but may have been at his best in the final week. A lanky, 6-4 post, he runs the floor very well, has good hands and great touch around the rim. He’s able to score at angles that don’t look like they should be possible, but he finds a way to get it done. He’s a good mid-range shooter, hitting consistently from 15 feet and in. He rebounds well on both ends of the floor and plays with great energy.
SF Jayson Barnes (6-3, Iowa City West, 2018)
A well-built wing, Barnes showed his ability to shoot from the arc throughout the course of the league. He’s got a fluid stroke with a consistent release, and he was particularly dangerous off the catch. He rebounds at a high level from his perimeter spot and can defend a few different positions. A smart player, he rarely turns it over, makes the right play and doesn’t force anything.
PG Blaze Bouzek (6-0, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2019)
A pure scorer, Bouzek is capable of lighting it up from the arc. He does a great job creating space off the dribble, using stepbacks, crossovers and hesitation moves to free himself, and he’s got a very quick release off the bounce. He’s got range well beyond the high school line and he’s capable of putting up a bunch of points on you in a hurry. He’s a creative finisher around the rim, but is definitely at his best when he’s taking his jumper.
SG Kyler Bell (5-10, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2018)
One of the best athletes in the league, Bell has a fantastic first step that he uses to get by his defender when they’re closing out. He’s extremely quick with the ball in his hands, a strong finisher at the rim and a good three-point shooter, especially when he knocks down his first one. A solid all-around scoring guard, he’s also a solid defender on-ball and he rebounds well on both ends of the floor.
SG Jacob Klein (5-8, Iowa City West, 2019)
Klein has improved tremendously in the last year. He’s still very small, but he’s a very confident shooter from the arc and a good ball handler. He had a buzzer beating three in the first half of the championship game that he hit after creating space for himself with a few nasty crossovers, then launching a stepback three that was nothing but net. He gets into the ball handler on the defensive end, doing a nice job moving his feet, and he plays with a non-stop motor. He’s routinely making hustle plays, diving on the floor for loose balls, chasing balls out of bounds, etc. to gain his team an extra possession.
F Ry Threlkeld Wiegand (6-3, Iowa City High, 2019)
Another sophomore that has improved dramatically in the past year, Threlkeld Wiegand is a long lefty who can shoot it from the arc consistently, but where he has improved the most is in his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Last year in the Dynasty League, he rarely dribbled. This year, he looks to attack almost every time he catches it, and he’s proven to be a solid finisher at the rim.