UPDATED 2018 Rankings: Biggest Risers Part I
With their junior seasons coming to a close, the guys in Iowa’s 2018 class have now had three whole years of high school ball to establish themselves as some of Iowa’s best prospects. And though there will — undoubtedly —…
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Continue ReadingWith their junior seasons coming to a close, the guys in Iowa’s 2018 class have now had three whole years of high school ball to establish themselves as some of Iowa’s best prospects. And though there will — undoubtedly — be several more players emerge over the next year as top prospects, it’s these guys below who used their junior seasons to prove, or in most cases confirm, they were among the best players in the state.
Sam Ingoli (Dowling Catholic) — from 4 to 3
After Valley power forward Blake Brinkmeyer’s big summer, when he picked up offers from North Dakota and Northern Iowa, we dropped Sam Ingoli a spot behind him. But Ingoli — though he doesn’t sport an offer as flashy as UNI — came out this winter and earned that No.3 spot right back. He was absolutely sensational for the Maroons this winter, and was one of the most efficient players in all of Iowa. The 6-foot-4 point guard seemingly had no bad games this season, and when he wasn’t good, he was great. Ingoli finished his junior season with averages of 14.2 points on 58 percent shooting (44 3FG%), and team-highs 3.1 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game. We expect a monster spring for Ingoli with the Iowa Barnstormers 17U.
Nathan Johnson (Waukee) — from 11 to 7
This extremely bouncy wing picked up his first Division I offer from Air Force last summer, and could see plenty more roll in this spring as a member of the Iowa Barnstormers’ 17U squad. He blossomed into a star this season with a Waukee team that was one of 4A’s most talented, and finished his junior season with averages of 12.6 points on 51 percent shooting (40 3FG%) and 5.1 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-6 and with elite athletic ability and an ever-increasing skill-set (see shooting percentages), he certainly looks the part of a Division I basketball player. This spring and summer will be very telling for Johnson. Can he pick up some mid-high major offers?
Van Rees (Sioux City East) — from 17 to 12
Just as the season started we spoke with Rees, and he mentioned he had interest coming in from Division I programs such as South Dakota, North Dakota State and Drake — but no offers yet for the 6-foot-6 combo-forward. However, he pieced together a monster regular season with one of 4A’s best squads — 21 points (57 FG%), and 12.6 points per game — and will play his 17U ball with Martin Brothers, so that interest could materialize into offers soon.
Cade Moritz (Roosevelt) — from 33 to 16
After transferring from Norwalk to Roosevelt, Moritz instantly became a focal point of the Roughriders’ offense. We learned recently that the 6-foot-8 post has some serious bounce, and can get up and jam with ease as well as block shots with regularity. In 12 games with Roosevelt, Moritz averaged 9.6 points on 56 percent shooting, blocked 1.8 shots and hauled in 10 rebounds per game. Like Ingoli, Johnson, and as you will learn soon, Houghton, Moritz will play with the Iowa Barnstormers 17U this season.
Troy Houghton (Council Bluffs Lincoln) — from 50 to 20
We were told by Council Bluffs Lincoln coach Jason Isaacson before the season started that Troy Houghton — a transfer from Omaha — could be one of 2018’s best. And he’s been rocketing up the charts ever since. Isaacson was right, Houghton has received praise from our guy Tony Roe, and the lengthy 6-foot-3 wing is having himself an outstanding junior season on paper too. He’s averaging a team-best 12.8 points per game on 52 percent shooting, and that’s on one of 4A’s best squads. Houghton is one of those stat-stuffing guys, and in addition to leading the team in scoring he averaging 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1,9 blocks and 5.7 rebounds per game. And yes, he will also be running with the Iowa Barnstormers 17U squad this spring.