<p>I was out at the Hardwood Classic Session II this past weekend looking at players from the state of Iowa. I want to focus on the 17U division and the rising seniors who are starting to generate more interest as the shortened summer season goes on, and those who impressed me this last weekend. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796119" first="Dylan" last="Johnson"] - 6’6, PF - Western Dubuque HS & Martin Brothers 17U</strong></p>
<p>Martin Brothers 17U team is loaded with talent, and one player who has started to pick up steam on the recruiting trail since the summer season has started is [player_tooltip player_id="796119" first="Dylan" last="Johnson"]. He plays his school ball at Western Dubuque High School and is a focal point to their success as he averaged 15.8 points per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds per game and 2.4 assists per game. When playing for the Martin Brothers, Johnson plays a different role as he comes off the bench and is expected to defend, rebound, and hit open shots. He did just that this weekend in Kansas City, as he has a really good, repeatable shooting form that allows him to step out to the 3pt line and shoot it efficiently, amassing a 35% percent from the arch last school season. Johnson has the ability to post players up with his 6’6 frame and has a good face-up game when in the low post starting with his right handed hook shot. He rebounds well and can block shots on the defensive end. His most recent offers have come from Upper Iowa University (DII) and Morningside (NAIA) but I have a feeling more are coming from the DII level. I believe he projects well at that level as a three level scoring, stretch PF. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796118" first="Landon" last="Eiland"] - 6’4, Wing - North Scott HS & Iowa Barnstormers-Gold 17U</strong></p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="796118" first="Landon" last="Eiland"] has been one of the biggest risers since the shortened summer has started a few short weeks ago. Eiland has picked up an offer from DII Truman State, and former Iowa basketball player and now coach Jeff Horner. Eiland plays for North Scott and was overshadowed by two seniors this past season, and I believe that has brought out the best in Eiland starting this summer. With North Scott Landon averaged 8.1 points per game to go along with 2.5 rebounds per game. Eiland can score at all 3 levels and is a good defender. His best attribute is his shooting, as the Barnstormers are comprised with another deadly shooter in [player_tooltip player_id="796127" first="Landon" last="Wolf"], Eiland is good off the catch behind the arch and when defenses come out to defend the shot he has the ability to get by you and finish at or above the rim with a good pump fake. In transition, Landon runs the lanes and when he gets the ball he wants to attack the basket and look to dish to a teammate or finish the play. Though I’m not totally decided on where he is going to project, position-wise, at the next level I would project him to the wing right now with his size and skill set. He is a willing defender and is able to guard any position 1-4. I will be watching this development going forward to see what kind of looks Eiland receives at the next level as I could see his list growing even bigger as the summer goes on into winter season, hopefully.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="727899" first="Wyatt" last="Heston"] - 6’7, PF - Waukee HS & Kingdom Hoops 17U</strong></p>
<p>Kingdom Hoops were one possession against the eventual champions and one of the best teams in the Midwest in D1 Minnesota from playing in the championship this last weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="727899" first="Wyatt" last="Heston"] was a big part of the success of his team. I don’t have exact statistics on his 3pt percentage, but I would assume it amasses 50% on the weekend, an impressive clip for the 6’7 forward. Kingdom having potentially three DI players collapses the defense and opens up Heston and his other teammates. Wyatt possess good size for a power forward, though he will need to add some mass on his frame for the next level, which allows him to rebound the ball on the offensive side of the ball. Playing for Waukee this past high school season Heston averaged 7.7 points per game, 2 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game to go along with shooting the 3 ball at a 50% clip. I would expect those numbers to rise this coming year playing in a talented lineup, the defense will be forced to cover, and it will leave Heston open. The best attribute I saw from Wyatt this weekend was the way he hit big shots. In a close contest with D1 Minnesota in pool play, he stepped up the most when his team needed him to hit a shot. Nicknamed "Big Shot Wyatt" by his teammates and coaches, he lived up to that name this weekend to give his team a shot. I would project Heston as a stretch PF at the next level, and I think he projects the best to the NAIA, DII level at the moment. If he can expand his dribble drive and post game he could easily elevate his game to the next level. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="964835" first="Chase" last="Bartlett"] - 6’3, Wing - Southeast Polk HS & Kingdom Hoops 17U</strong></p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="964835" first="Chase" last="Bartlett"] is a key cog for Southeast Polk High School during the school season and he really helped his team out this past weekend in Kansas City. Playing for Kingdom Hoops, Bartlett is a player who shoots it from the 3pt line efficiently but is also capable of drawing a defense and either dishing to a teammate or finishing at the rim. Though not as athletic as Eiland, Bartlett is a very similar player for his respective team and is very good off the catch. This past school season Bartlett averaged 10 points and 2.3 assists per contest and shot the ball at a clip of 39.5% from the three point arch. He is active on the defensive end and averaged 1.5 steals per game for the Rams last season. Bartlett was another player for Kingdom Hoops who shot the ball at a higher than 50% rate this past weekend and helped his team have success. Chase also ran the floor well for his team this past weekend. Whether that be running the lanes in transition, pushing the ball with a pass ahead or spotting up for an open 3pt shot. I could see Chase landing anywhere from NAIA to high DII schools depending on his development and the way he grows over the course of the summer. If he can show he can defend quick guards and rebound the ball for the guard position I would be willing to project him at the higher end of that spectrum. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="530046" first="Tyler" last="Andrews"] - 6’6, Wing - Kimball Union Academy (New Hampshire) & D1 Minnesota 17U</strong></p>
<p>This is an article on rising seniors from Iowa, but one that goes under the radar because of who he plays with is [player_tooltip player_id="530046" first="Tyler" last="Andrews"]. Playing for one of, if not, the best team in the midwest with high level players at all positions, Andrews can go under the radar. Originally from Cedar Rapids, IA, hence why he’s in my list, who plans to play for Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire this upcoming season for a prep school year that would reclassify him to the class of 2021. Andrews is an athletic wing, who can make shots from the outside, and has good dribble drive moves when he puts it on the deck that allow him to get to his spots, whether that be at the hoop or using a pull-up jumper. He comes off the bench for D1 Minnesota, and though he struggled a little from the field this past weekend he used his length and athleticism to help his team out on the defensive end and rebounding the ball. While he averaged nearly 14 points per game to go along with 2.2 assists and 5 rebounds per game at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, that led to all levels of interest before deciding to attend Kimball Union Academy. Andrews will be a good one to watch going forward, assuming he is able to get to the east coast and play a full season with his prep school, he should attract many different programs and coaches at many different levels. I could see him being a contributor at the DII level or Low-major DI level depending on his performances going forward the rest of the summer into the winter season. </p>
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