Border Battle Team Camp: Iowa Standouts (Part II)
Council Bluffs — Teams from Iowa, Nebraska and one from Missouri converged on Iowa West Field House Thursday for a morning and early afternoon filled with what were deemed border battles. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the Iowa guys…
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Continue ReadingCouncil Bluffs — Teams from Iowa, Nebraska and one from Missouri converged on Iowa West Field House Thursday for a morning and early afternoon filled with what were deemed border battles. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the Iowa guys that stood out.
Josh Dix
Josh Dix, 6’4 G (Council Bluffs Lincoln)
The rising sophomore was already on our radar after shooting a blistering 52% from deep last season for the Lynx. But he’s more than just an elite shooter. Dix was handling the ball well and creating his own looks during a win against Dowling, he scored a game-high 18 points in that one. Dix is certainly one of the state’s top 2022 prospects.
Michael Keough, 5’9 PG (Dowling)
Keough’s performance against Omaha’s Creighton Prep was perhaps the most eye-opening of the day. A guy who averaged less than a point per game last season as a junior was dominant against the Blue Jays in a 43-29 Dowling win. He’s small, but very skilled and clever, that, along with his high hoops IQ will render him a major factor next winter for the Maroons.
Omaha Biliew
Omaha Biliew, 6’7 SF (Dowling)
The first game we saw Biliew play last Thursday, he struggled. The highly touted incoming freshman was clearly still getting adjusted to the speed of the varsity game. He was much better in the second viewing of him against Creighton Prep, a game in which he started the Dowling scoring with an emphatic two-hand baseline slam. Bliew should be able to control glass and score effectively at the rim next season as a freshman.
Cole Collison, 6’4 F (Kuemper)
One of Kuemper Catholic’s leading returning scorers from a season ago, Collison was very effective for the Knights albeit in a loss to Milan (MO). He displayed a good post game, and even stepped out to hit a 3-ball as part of his 11 points that game.
Jonah Strawhacker, 6’3 F (Ames)
For the second time this month, this rising senior forward was very impressive for the Little Cyclones. Last week at the Drake Team Camp he was a co-leading scorer for Ames against Norwalk when he put in 14 points. In Council Bluffs he was the best player for Ames against Nebraska’s Bellevue West. Strawhacker is an extremely effective scorer around the rim, and uses solid footwork and simple fundamentals to score his buckets.
Keyshaun Brooks, 6’1 PG (Ames)
Ames’ star point guard Tamin Lipsey tore his ACL the game before we saw the Little Cyclones play, with him being out 6-9 months, that opens the door for another talented prospect to make major impact. Brooks is a bit raw still, but the rising junior has a quick first step and can get into the lane whenever he wants. Look for him to make a major contribution with the Little Cyclones next winter.
Matt Evans, 6’3 F (Council Bluffs Lincoln)
This is a guy who really doesn’t fit into any position category. He’s undersized for a post, and doesn’t handle or shoot like a guard, but what he does to is a lot of little things that add up to a major impact. Evans is a gritty, glue guy, a rising senior leader that will be a huge asset to the Lynx, though it might not always show up in the stat line.