CB Lincoln Team Camp: Take 5
Cliff McCray
In what was our second viewing of the 6-foot-2 Sioux City West guard, it was again very clear that he was a cut above the rest. His size for a point guard is a nice bonus, and it’s his quickness and explosive first step that truly separates him. We watched him breeze by opponents and glide to the rim, where he finishes at or near it. His leaping ability is in development (we saw him barley get a dunk down on a fast-break in Minnesota this spring), but it looks like he’s a potential D1 point guard, and his current No.20 rankling in 2019 is likely too low.
2021
One of the best parts about covering these events is that there’s always new, unexpected developments that occur. The primary and expected objective is to evaluate the talent in the gym, but that always turns into much , much more. It so happens that Thursday in Council Bluffs we were able to get a nice looks at three of the very best 2021s Iowa has to offer. Hoover’s Manny Austin dropped 19 points against one of Nebraska’s best teams, Creighton Prep. Dowling has a 6’7 forward who will play with MOKAN Elite this summer, Ryan Riggs. And Council Bluffs Lincoln has a talented guard who will see plenty of action as a frosh, Jadin Johnson.
Glenwood
It had been more than two years since we saw Glenwood play at the state tournament in Des Moines, when Nate Mohr and Andrew Blum were just freshman, and Christian Stanislav was an eighth-grader watching from afar. Well those guys are all grown up now, Mohr is heading into his senior year with a full head of steam, Blum will be too, when he’s healed from injury. Stanislav is one of the 2019’s best (and most under-recruited) prospects. And if that wasn’t enough, the Rams have added a top 2020, Zach Carr, who transferred into Glenwood from Valley last winter. He’ll be a sophomore this season, and eligible for the first game. What we’re trying to say, is Glenwood could win 3A title.
Iowa West Fieldhouse
This new facility in Council Bluffs has only been around a short time, but it’s easily my favorite venue to cover an event. Mostly because the courts are lined with counters and there’s outlets, equipped with USB and all — spread out about every two feet. In the new age of journalism being plugged-in is key, the worry of losing power is always looming, this place eliminates all worry. From a hoops standpoint, it has eight courts, two rows of four, and they’re all easily accessible. This place rules.
Hoover
Certainly one of Iowa’s top 10 hoops programs (and that’s being conservative), Hoover is a team that is always in contention for conference titles, top-10 rankings and state tournament berths — and I’m thinking next year will be no exception. From an outsiders perspective, it would seem like the Huskies might be down a bit this coming season, because 6’6 post, and one of Iowa’s elite 2017s, Douglas Wilson, graduated. But with one of the state’s strongest coaches, Courtney Henderson, at the helm, and some new talent being paired with returning leaders Devontae Thedford and Kenny Quinn, it could be that this Hoover squad surprises some doubters next season. Des Moines North will likely be the favorites in the Metro Conference heading into the season, but these Huskies have a legitimate shot of their own to win it.