STATE TOURNAMENT: Elite All-Tournament (2nd Team)
Issa Samake, Grand View Christian (2019)
Stats: 11.0 points (50 FG%), 9.7 rebounds, 5.0 blocks, 2.0 assists
The blocks are what separated Samake from the rest of the 1A field stars, his five per game were the most of any player, regardless of class, last week. He’s 6’7 and has a 7’4 wing-span, so blocks are, not surprisingly, his specialty. Samake was 1A champion Grand View Christian’s leader with 9.7 rebounds per game, just narrowly missing out on a double-double average. His best game was during a semifinal win over over Montezuma; 19 points, 11 rebounds, nine blocks. You can catch him swatting shots with the Drake Bulldogs for the next four seasons.
Xavier Foster, Oskaloosa (2020)
Stats: 13.0 points (48.4 FG%), 10.7 rebounds, 4.3 blocks
His offensive production throughout the week was secondary to his prowess on the defensive end, where his 4.3 blocks per game were by far tops in the 3A field. It was in the semifinals against Winterset when Foster came up huge, after missing a shot with under a minute left, Foster raced down the floor and stuffed Easton Darling’s what would have been go-ahead lay-in. Oskaloosa went on to win that game, 48-43. The Indians then went on to win the 3A state title over Norwalk, 48-44. Foster was named to the media’s all-tourney team for the second straight year.
Ty Anderson, North Scott (2020)
Stats: 16.7 points (69.2 FG%, 87 FT%), 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Last summer during his 16U offsseason with the Iowa Barnstormers, Anderson was offered by Northern Iowa, it was his first D1 offer and he promptly committed to the program. The Panthers knew what they were doing when they went after the versatile forward so early. He was among the 4A field’s leaders in scoring, blocks and rebounds last week. And what was most impressive was the efficiency at which he scored, a sizzling 69.2 percent over the span of three games. At 6’7 and with the ability to hit a smooth jumper and do serious damage in the paint, Anderson, a junior, will surely be one of Iowa’s most dangerous players next season.
Drew Enke, Clear Lake (2019)
Stats: 18.3 points (43.8 FG%, 42.1 3FG%), 5.7 rebounds
A rangy 6’3 wing, Enke was sensational in the quarterfinals against West Delaware. Whenever the Hawks would make a run at Clear Lake in that game, Enke was there to thwart them. He finished that game with 22 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. A defensively sound guard who can score from all three levels on the offensive end, Enke was certainly one of the more impressive all-around 2019 prospect in the tourney last week.
Trey Shearer, Montezuma (2021)
Stats: 20.3 points (41.1 FG%, 52.2 3FG%), 2.3 assists
The youngest guy on this list, Shearer capped his tremendous sophomore season with a very strong showing on the big stage at Wells Fargo Arena. In his first-ever state tourney game, he was utterly impressive, going for 25 points and not missing a 3 (5-5) during a 78-65 win over Bishop Garrigan in the quarterfinals. Shearer, a 5’10 point guard, also dished out a team-best six assists and two steals in that win. Montezuma finished the tourney as the fourth place team, but Shearer was still named to the media’s 2A all-tourney team.