Iowa Dynasty Fall League: Player Evaluations (Semifinals)
The fourth week of the Iowa Dynasty Fall League took place this past weekend, with five teams made up of players from Iowa City and the surrounding area competing in games at Garner Elementary in North Liberty. Below are evaluations on eight of the standout players from the trio of playoff games.
PG Dae Dae Hickman (5-8, Iowa City High, 2019)
Hickman is a small lead guard, but he makes up for his lack of size with blazing speed, good handles and a dynamic first step. He routinely breaks his defender down and is able to get into the paint, where he has an innate ability to put all sorts of odd spin on the ball to finish around defenders. He’s really developed into a good perimeter shooter, and if the defender plays off of him to prevent penetration, he’ll knock down a jumper in your face. On the defensive end he uses his quick feet to stay in front of the ball handler, and he really gets into the opponent’s jersey when playing on-ball.
G Bryce Barnett (6-1, Iowa City Regina, 2019)
A combo guard with some length, Barnett is a good ball handler and excellent passer with plus-court vision. He does a nice job playing with pace, changing speeds to help get by his defender and into the paint, where he proved to be a capable finisher. He’s a good perimeter shooter, showing the ability to shoot both off the catch and the dribble with similar results, and he gets good rotation on his shot. The son of a coach, he plays under control, values possessions and makes the right play or pass more often than not. It was a strong day for a number of Regina players, and Barnett was no exception.
GF Jocoa Kerschen (6-3, Iowa City Regina, 2018)
One of the best pure shooters in eastern Iowa, Kerschen is nearly automatic when he shoots off the catch. He does a great job moving off the ball, utilizing screens to help free himself, and he’s nearly always in a position to shoot when he catches, with his feet squared to the rim and a quick release. He’s got absurd range, routinely hitting from well beyond the arc, and he’s becoming a capable shooter off the dribble as well. He does a nice job recognizing when the defense is closing out too hard, and he puts the ball on the floor to get to the rim, where he’s a solid finisher. He attacks the glass on both ends of the floor and uses his length on the defensive end.
SG Sam Stein (6-1, Iowa City Regina, 2017)
Another strong performer from Regina, Stein showcased his shooting ability from the perimeter throughout his game. He’s a strong shooter off the catch, but really excels off the dribble, getting the ball into the shooting pocket and released quickly, stopping and elevating in an instant. Like Kerschen, he moves well off the ball to find spaces in the defense. He’s a solid rebounder from his guard position, aggressively going after rebounds out of his area, and he flies around the court defensively. A solid all-around player, he should be a big part of a Regals team that will surprise some people in the RVC this year.
PG Jake Anderson (6-0, Iowa City West, 2018)
Anderson played very well in his game, displaying his mid-range jumper, where he’s particularly lethal off the dribble. He’s got the ability to stop and elevate into his shot quickly, and he’s got a silky stroke. He also showcased a high-level ability to play in the pick-and-roll, coming around the screen tight and turning the corner, headed downhill towards the rim. A high IQ player, he rarely makes mistakes on either end of the floor.
G Zach Seaman (6-0, Iowa City Regina, 2018)
Another Regina standout, Seaman is at his best when he’s going downhill and attacking the rim, something he did frequently when I saw him over the summer with Pump n Run. He’s a solid perimeter shooter, with a slightly unorthodox looking shot, but with extended range. He’s capable of playing either on or off the ball on the offensive end, moving well without it to free himself for open looks, and displaying good awareness on when he should be cutting to the rim. He’s solid on the glass, particularly on the defensive end, and he’s able to push in transition after pulling down defensive rebounds.
PF Andre Brandon (6-5, Iowa City West, 2020)
An intriguing young big man, Brandon really impresses with the way he defends, particularly on the perimeter. He’s a very good pick-and-roll defender, moving his feet well laterally and using his length to defends guards when switched onto them. He doesn’t allow penetration, showcasing his athleticism. He’s a very fluid athlete for a young player with his size. On the offensive end, he’s still a work in progress, but he’s got good hands, runs the floor very well and finishes at the rim. He’s a good, not great, rebounder at this point – I’d like to see him get a bit more aggressive on the glass – but he’s capable of rebounding both in-and-out of his area. There is a good deal of potential here, and any young player who buys in on the defensive end is going to make a difference.
GF Paul McGee (6-3, Iowa City West, 2018)
A long, athletic and bouncy wing, McGee is a fantastic rebounder from his perimeter spot, going after the ball aggressively on both ends of the floor. He’s got a great wingspan, which combined with his lateral quickness and intensity make him a good on-ball defender, and he knows how to play the passing lanes playing off-ball, without taking too many chances. He’s good on the offensive end when he’s playing downhill, either getting out in transition and beating people at the rim, or turning the corner in pick-and-roll situations and getting into the paint for a bucket. He’s a good passer and ball handler, and he’s at his best when he’s making plays for his teammates. He’s not much of a jump shooter at this point, but he does a lot of other things that help teams win games.