Best of the Best: Iowa’s All-Class Top 30 (30-26)
With game action officially starting this week across the state, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to rollout a best of the best list. Sure, each class has its own rankings, but we’re kicking it up a notch and consolidating the…
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Continue ReadingWith game action officially starting this week across the state, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to rollout a best of the best list. Sure, each class has its own rankings, but we’re kicking it up a notch and consolidating the 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 classes to create an all-class look of Iowa’s finest hoopsters. Below is Part I of Iowa’s 30 best.
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30-26
30. Collin Hill, 6’4 SF, South Hamilton (2017)
What an up-and-down few years this South Hamilton standout has experienced. He was ranked as high as No.3 in our initial 2017 rankings two years ago. And then a major setback occurred when he suffered a serious leg injury during his sophomore football season, subsequently missing his basketball season. It was a long road back, but he was ready by the start of his junior campaign. And played well for the Hawks, averaging 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season. His long road to recovery was awarded earlier this fall when he committed to Division II Truman State.
29. Nathan Johnson, 6’6 SF, Waukee (2018)
One of the better athletes in Iowa, Johnson is a guy who is seemingly on a pogo stick when he skies for rebounds. And with a good build and great height he’s been intriguing enough to warrant Division I attention. He pairs an ever-developing skill-set with his size, and was knocking in jumpers with regularity during the offseason. Air Force became the first Division I program to offer the Waukee junior earlier this fall – several more could come in before this time next year.
28. Jackson Joens, 6’5 G/F (2018)
A big wing with a fluid stroke from from deep, Cedar Rapids Xavier might not have not won a state title last season without Joens’ clutch and efficient outside shooting — in the Saints’ final two games of the state tournament he scored 40 points and was 8-10 from deep. The question with him: is he a shooting guard or a small forward? If he wants to pursue shooting guard at the Division I level, his ball-handling should continue to improve. It seems to us that he’s a mid-major type wing. The Martin Brothers product has a big year ahead of him.
27. Elijah Hazekamp, 6’5 SF, Bishop Heelan (2018)
This versatile and gritty wing earned a Division I offer from North Dakota during the summer, and could see several others roll in during the next 12 months. Barnstormers coach K.C. Schmitt described the versatile forward best: “He plays with nonstop energy. And you can basically play him anywhere you want as a coach, because you’re going to find a match-up that he’ll take advantage of.”
26. Luke Vaske, 6′ PG, Norwalk (2018)
We discovered this kid when he was an eighth-grader wrecking-shop against varsity guys at the Norwalk Team Camp. Now he’s a junior, and a wily vet for the Warriors. Last season as a sophomore he averaged 19 points on some pretty decent shooting, pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game while leading his team in assists and steals. We feel it’s a matter of time before some Division I offers come his way.
Just Outside Top 30
John Herrick, 6’7 F, Boone (2018)
Camden Vander Zwaag, 6’3 SG, Johnston (2018)
Aidan Vanderloo, 6′ G, Sioux City East (2019)
Grant Kramer, 6’6 SF, Johnston (2017)
Charley Crowley, 6’7 PF, Valley (2017)
Tajen Ross, 6’2 G, ADM (2018)
Xavier Foster, 6’8 F, Oskaloosa (2020)
Connor Kasperbauer, 6’4 SG, Ankeny Centennial (2017)
Austin Roetman, 6’7 PF, Pocahontas Area (2017)
Cade McKnight, 6’8 PF, Grinnell (2017)
Trent Hilbrands, 6’1 PG, LeMars (2017)
Brady Sartorius, 6′ PG, Mount Pleasant (2017)
Derek Krogmann, 6’6 PF, West Delaware (2019)