Iowa’s Top 250 Expo: Standout 2021/2022s (Part I)
It’s one of the best things about the Top 250 Expo each year, seeing all the fresh young talent that’s coming through the ranks of Iowa high school hoops. There’s never of shortage of young and hungry guys at this event, eager to showcase their skills; this year’s event was no different. Below, we’ll highlight some of the brightest young talent we saw last Saturday at Kingdom Courts.
Jack Groeteke, 6’6 SG (Dowling Catholic) — 2021
At first glance, we thought this Dowling Catholic sophomore was a slender post, but it didn’t take long to realize he’s a tall and long wing, and a sharpshooter at that. That size and the ability to shoot it make him a very intriguing prospect in Iowa’s 2021 class.
Dominic Caggiano, 6’3 F (Southeast Polk) — 2021
Caggiano had one of the better freshman seasons of anyone in the state last season, and it’s his strength and length that make him a cut above the rest. He excels at scoring around the rim, and does well at exploiting smaller guards while doing so.
Jaron Crews, 6′ G (Ankeny) — 2021
This Ankeny Hawks sophomore continues to develop his skill-set, and his ball handling and shooting already have good foundations. He’s a guy that has the innate ball-handling and shooting ability in him, and it appears he’ll only continue to improve and polish those parts of his game.
Michael Duax, 6’5 G (Hempstead) — 2021
Iowa’s 6th-ranked 2021, Duax has the look of a high-level player. At 6’5 and with his ability to get to the rack, there’s no question that he was turning heads each and every time he played.
Landon Eiland, 6’4 G/F (North Scott) — 2021
A tall and long wing, Eiland is a guy that’s certainly confident in his ability from beyond the arc, but it was his baseline reverse lay-in that was most impressive during our viewings of him on Saturday.
Malik Allen, 5’9 PG (Des Moines North) — 2021
There might be nobody in Iowa’s Class of 2021 better at getting past their guy than Malik Allen. He’s so quick and athletic, and his handle is very tight. There’s a lot to be excited about with this small but proficient Des Moines North point guard.
Cole Glasgow, 6’1 G (Dallas Center-Grimes) — 2022
This kid has a butter jumper, and he’s in line to can a slew of triples for Dallas Center-Grimes over the next four seasons. He’s got the size and build to compete right now at the varsity level, and the jumper to pair.
Reid Grant, 6’2 G (Johnston) — 2021
Grant was a guy that excelled all summer at getting to the rim and scoring in bunches, and he was doing the same on Saturday at Kingdom Courts. Iowa’s 5th-ranked 2021, we expect him to have a breakout season with Johnston this season.
Austin Hilmer, 5’10 G (North Linn) — 2021
His older brother Jake is the state’s all-time leader in assists, and news flash: Austin is definitely cut from the same mold. His head is always up looking for the next guy he can feed for a bucket. Expect there to be two Hilmer’s dropping dimes for the Lynx this winter.
Steven Kramer, 6’2 (Johnston) — 2022
One of the more impressive moments of the day was when this Johnston freshman fearlessly attacked the rim and scored over Expo MVP Agueck Deng. Deng was blocking anything and everything that ca,me his way, but not that one. Kramer is one in a slew of promising young Johnston prospects.