STATE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Class 2A Stars to Watch
Over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing and covering the State Tournament. Here we take a look at 15 standout players to keep an eye on during…
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Continue ReadingOver the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing and covering the State Tournament. Here we take a look at 15 standout players to keep an eye on during the Class 2A State Tournament.
2022 Tanner Te Slaa Tanner Te Slaa 6'5" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2022 State IA (Boyden-Hull)
Te Slaa is a highly efficient scoring wing, with outstanding size and length at 6-4. The sophomore leads the Comets in scoring at 17.2 points a game, with 53-46-82 shooting splits. If the top-seeded Comets are going to make another run to the state championship game, it’ll be Te Slaa’s ability to score from all three levels and create his own shots that will help lead them there.
2020 Keyton Moser Keyton Moser 6'2" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2020 State IA (Boyden-Hull)
An undersized forward at 6-1, Moser is a physical player who leads the Comets in rebounding at 5.5 a game. He also has dished out a team-high 75 assists, and shown an ability to score inside and out. He’s the type of player that the Comets can play through, and trust to make the right decisions on every possession.
2020 Caleb Delzell Caleb Delzell 6'8" | SF Camanche | 2020 State IA (Camanche)
The most important piece for a deep and talented Indians team is the 6-8 Delzell, who does a little bit of everything on the floor. In previous years, he’s been the team’s primary ball handler, and while he hasn’t had to handle it quite as much this season, he’s a capable ball handler and excellent passer. He leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points a game, with 59-41-59 shooting splits. He leads the team in rebounding, is third in assists (67), fourth in steals (34) and leads the team in blocks (39). A versatile, do-everything player with outstanding size, he’ll be a matchup issue for every other team in 2A.
2020 Cameron Soenksen Cameron Soenksen 6'2" | SG Camanche | 2020 State IA (Camanche)
Soenksen missed some games at the beginning of the season recovering from a back injury, and after a bit of a slow start back, he’s come on strong of late. An athletic shooting guard with great bounce, he’s shooting the ball better than he ever has, 42% from 3, and he has in the gym range, and a green light to shoot it. He’s the type of player who can get hot and drop 15-20 on someone in a quarter.
2020 LJ Henderson LJ Henderson 6'2" | SG Camanche | 2020 State IA (Camanche)
Henderson, a 6-2 wing, is a transfer from Clinton who has made a huge impact with the Indians, providing highlight reel players on both ends of the floor. An explosive athlete and finisher, he has a long wingspan and outstanding quickness. He uses that athleticism to get to the rim for finishes, and he sees the floor extremely well, dishing out a team-high 74 assists.
2021 Justin Recker Justin Recker 6'6" | PF Monticello | 2021 State IA (Monticello)
The Panthers are largely a very balanced team, but the 6-5 junior forward is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, while contributing across the board at a high level. He has good length, footwork and touch around the rim, runs the floor really well and is a versatile, switchable defender who can create problems on that end with his athleticism and length. He has shown the ability to occasionally step out and knock down a 3, but he’s at his best when he’s running the floor and finishing in transition, or getting the ball on the block and going to work. He’s averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds, with 75 assists and 33 blocks for the Panthers.
2020 Austin Miller Austin Miller 6'2" | PF North Linn | 2020 State IA (North Linn)
A 6-2 senior forward, Miller is the primary beneficiary of the North Linn pressing style that leads to a lot of easy layups. He’s averaging 22.8 points and 10.5 rebounds on 70.3% shooting, and has shown the ability to stretch the floor a bit this year as well, going 11-20 from 3. He finishes extremely well around the rim, is a good athlete who competes hard on the glass, and impacts the game on both ends of the floor (106 combined steals and blocks).
2022 Austin Hilmer Austin Hilmer 5'10" | PG North Linn | 2022 State IA (North Linn)
The younger brother of Jake Hilmer, one of the state’s all-time greats, Austin has had a fantastic sophomore season, averaging 18.1 points, 8.6 assists and 4.0 steals. He plays at 100 miles an hour and is constantly looking to attack the defense. His 206 assists this season are far and away tops in the state.
2020 Josh Van Gorp Josh Van Gorp 6'9" | C Pella Christian | 2020 State IA (Pella Christian)
The 6-9 Van Gorp is a huge (literally) piece for the Eagles on both ends of the floor, and they’re a much different team when he’s playing. A highly efficient big man, the lefty is shooting 71.0% from the floor and averaging 16.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and has blocked 25 shots on the year. Opponents will come to double him and make him make a decision, so he’ll need to recognize that early and make good decisions with the ball.
2020 Dan Jungling Dan Jungling 5'11" | PG Pella Christian | 2020 State IA (Pella Christian)
The younger brother of former Eagles standout Levi Jungling, Dan has been really solid this year for PC, averaging 12.8 points, dishing out 70 assists and leading the team in 3-point shooting (57-130, 43.8%). He’s a quick twitch guard with the ability to get into the paint or pull up from anywhere past halfcourt.
2020 Jack Tiarks Jack Tiarks 6'4" | PF Treynor | 2020 State IA (Treynor)
A 6-4 power forward with explosive athleticism, Tiarks has been fantastic this season for the Cardinals on both ends of the floor. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding, putting up averages of 16.4 points and 7.0 rebounds on 62.5% shooting. A dynamic finisher at the rim, he’ll surely provide a few highlights next week.
2020 Jack Stogdill Jack Stogdill 6'2" | PG Treynor | 2020 State IA (Treynor)
The top shooter for the Cardinals, Stogdill is a four-year starter for one of 2A’s best programs, and is looking to send Treynor out on top. The 6-2 senior leads the team with 40 made 3-pointers, has dished out a team-high 85 assists and is averaging 14.8 points a game.
2020 Bryce Coppock Bryce Coppock 5'10" | SG West Sioux | 2020 State IA (West Sioux)
Coppock transferred to West Sioux from Newell-Fonda, and is one of the top scorers in recent Iowa high school history. A 6-0 guard who can fill it up in a hurry, he’s averaging 25.1 points a game this season, has swiped 68 steals and dished out 109 assists.
2020 Hunter Dekkers Hunter Dekkers 6'1" | PG West Sioux | 2020 State IA (West Sioux)
The future quarterback at Iowa State has had a highly productive career on the gridiron and the hardwood for the Falcons, and paces one of the state’s most explosive attacks. A big, physical guard who can score from all three levels, his 61 made 3s lead the team. He also leads the team in rebounding (8.4), assists (114) and blocks (26), while averaging 21.9 points a game.
2020 Bryce Achenbach Bryce Achenbach 6'3" | PG Woodward-Granger | 2020 State IA (Woodward-Granger)
A 5-11 senior guard, Achenbach leads the Hawks in scoring at 16.9 points a game, and has dished out a team-high 123 assists (43 turnovers) to go with 57 steals. He’s highly efficient (56.7%) and contributes on the glass, but perhaps his best attribute is that he knows where he excels and doesn’t shy away from it too often. He’s best when he’s getting into the paint and finishing rather than shooting from deep, and he knows it.