#HARDWORKSZN KICKOFF: Iowa’s Saturday/Sunday Standouts
Alex Van Kalsbeek Alex Van Kalsbeek, 6’6 C (SD Attack 17u) Not only 6’6, but with a big, strong frame and some extra length. For how big he is, he jumps really…
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Continue ReadingAlex Van Kalsbeek, 6’6 C (SD Attack 17u)
Not only 6’6, but with a big, strong frame and some extra length. For how big he is, he jumps really well, and provided some rim-rattling jams throughout the weekend. Van Kalsbeek averaged 17.8 points on 71.4% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for MOC-Floyd Valley as a junior. And was a key big-man for the 17u champs last weekend in Omaha.
Ryan Blum, 6’4 G/F (Team Factory 16u)
Another Iowa guy who played with a very good out of state team. Blum, a Glenwood junior, is a role player for the 16u champs, Team Factory. And at 6’4 with the ability to do a little bit of everything well, he’s a wing that could have some hugely successful seasons at Glenwood the next two years.
Lucas Hayes
Lucas Hayes, 6’6 C (Iowa Mavericks-Cleveland)
For the second consecutive weekend, this Bettendorf big-man impressed. Some guys his size have trouble with composure around the rim, but Hayes does well to maintain control and with his footwork. He was the leading scorer for the Mavs during a stinging loss in the platinum Sweet 16 to Mentality Minnesota.
Kelby Telander, 6’4 G/F (Iowa Mavericks-Villagrana)
A big wing who scored well at the rim during our viewing of him on Saturday. Telander played sparingly with the Iowa City Liberty varsity as a sophomore last season, but is a key player for this top Iowa Mavs squad. He scored 18 points in our viewing of Mavs-Villagrana.
Ozzie Meiborg, 5’11 G (Iowa Mavericks-Cleveland)
The reason his squad was able to stay within striking distance for most of the second half against Mentality Minnesota in the platinum Sweet 16 is because Meiborg was able to get hot from deep. The Cedar Rapids Jefferson guard canned three second half 3s. He can be a streaky shooter, but the upside is, when he gets hot, he gets really hot.
Nick Coble
Nick Coble, 6’6 PF (Iowa Prep Black 17u)
With the game tied at 44 and just seconds left on the clock, Coble corralled an offensive rebound from a missed free-throw and put in what would become the game-winner against Illinois Tigers. Coble scored a game-high 11 points in that game, and is a workmanlike big man who just gets it done.
Ian Latham, 5’11 PG (Iowa Prep Black 17u)
He’s been a key player for Iowa Prep’s top squad the last two weekends we’ve seen them, and is a solid shooting point guard who’s always in control. Latham buried two 3-balls in the game we saw, the aforementioned thriller against Illinois Tigers.
Ethan O’Donnell, 6’4 G/F (Iowa Mavericks-Villagrana 16u)
A big and versatile wing, O’Donnell was scoring it with ease against Iowa Flight on Saturday afternoon, going for a cool 20 points during a 74-48 beat down. He was scoring from all three levels and canned two 3s in the win. O’Donnell was the second-leading scorer for Liberty as a sophomore, going for 10.2 points per game.
Cooper Medinger
Cooper Medinger, 5’8 PG (Iowa Mavericks-Schlabaugh 16u)
As usual, Medinger was a solid floor general during our viewing of this Iowa Mavericks unit. His hoops IQ is a cut above and he knows how to space the floor and how to direct traffic. Despite his small stature he can make tough shots around the rim, but never takes ill-advised shots.
Mike Steuckradt, 5’8 PG (Iowa Flight 16u)
Iowa Flight played in one of the more entertaining games Saturday, a narrow loss to KC Impact, the reason the Iowa guys were able to stay close was this Ankeny guard’s big second half. The 3s were dropping and he was attacking the hoop aggressively, doing well to get to the free throw line.