Player Spotlight: Class of 2023 Iowa Barnstormers & Kingdom Hoops
Though it’s almost August, it seems like Summer has just begun. The reason being- grassroots basketball is only about a month into the summer season. For most prospects, summer is a season where they either start getting interest, or see…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThough it’s almost August, it seems like Summer has just begun. The reason being- grassroots basketball is only about a month into the summer season. For most prospects, summer is a season where they either start getting interest, or see their interest grow two-fold. The last three weeks of watching tournaments, I have been particularly watching the 15U division and prospects that could be on the verge of, or have already started, receiving interest from programs.This class could potentially be one of the best prep classes from Iowa in a long time when all is said and done, but I’ll be focusing on ones that I’ve seen live.
Blaise Porter Blaise Porter 6'1" | PG New London | 2023 State #298 Nation IA – 6’0, Point Guard – New London High School & Iowa Barnstormers 15U
The class of 2023 in the state of Iowa is looking pretty loaded early on, and Porter is looking like, arguably, the best one right now. Standing at 6’0 and holding a DI offer from Bryant already, he holds good size for his position, and there’s always room to grow a couple more inches. Obviously, there will be filling out to do in each of these prospects frame, but Porter has good strength for his age. Blaise’s best attribute is the way he plays the point guard position. By that, I mean he is patient when coming off of ball screens and waits for the right play to open up. He is a willing passer and looks to get his teammates an open shot. Shooting 37% from the 3pt line last school season, Porter demonstrates a good shooting motion and efficiency that, I believe, will continue to improve over the next three seasons. His ability to shoot off the screens and spot up allows him to use his athleticism to get by his defenders. The ability to go off the bounce is what really makes Porter’s game stand out at this age. One thing I’d like to see Blaise improve going forward over the course of his high school career is cutting down on turnovers. He doesn’t force the play and will take what the defense gives him, but, at times, he does get sped up and can turn the ball over. Playing at New London, Porter will continue to get chances, especially coming off of a season where he averaged 17.3 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game, to show why he’s the best in this class in the state.
Dallas Baer – 6’7, Point Forward – Cedar Falls High School & Iowa Barnstormers 15U
Baer also holds an offer from Bryant going into his sophomore year at Cedar Falls. He hasn’t played for the Cedar Falls varsity team yet, but Baer shows great potential when playing with the Barnstormers. Still growing into his body, at 6’7 he has a good frame and starting point to grow and add some bulk in order to play the position at the next level. He is most definitely a stretch forward, because he can stretch the defense out to the 3pt line where he shoots the ball efficiently from. Though sometimes he can tend to spend too much time on the perimeter, he has attributes that can be utilized. He has a nice in-and-out move that he likes to pair with a crossover that can get defenders off balance, and he can handle the ball to a degree of being able to setup the offense. Baer possesses a nice right handed hook shot and adds a spin move in the post that allows him to score. Being strong when going up for a rebound, strength in the post offensively and defensively, and adding onto his dribble drive package will take his game to another level over the course of the next three years.
Kade Benjamin Kade Benjamin 6'6" | PF New London | 2023 State IA – 6’6, Power Forward/Small Forward – New London & Iowa Barnstormers 15U
Benjamin’s game is representative of a big man’s right now. With time, I believe he can grow the perimeter part with some added dribble drive moves and a more efficient 3pt shot. For New London’s varsity team last year, Benjamin averaged 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a freshman. Kade relentlessly crashes the offensive boards and goes up strong around the rim. Right now, he lives within 10-15 ft of the rim, but has shown flashes with a repeatable shot to stretch the defense out more. His first step is quick and he can get passed his defender off the bounce. Benjamin uses his length and athleticism to block shots and poke balls loose on defense and it allows him to finish at or above the rim. If Kade can continue to expand his game beyond 15 ft offensively and grow into a small forward position, or as a smaller stretch power forward player, I believe he could end up at the DI level.
Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA – 6’1, Combo Guard – Marion & Iowa Barnstormers 15U
Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA is a really good 3pt shooter for his team. He shot 44.2% from the 3pt line last school year for Marion and he continues that during the summer ball season. His quick release is something that helps him on the perimeter and is pretty advanced only going into his sophomore season. He does a good job of getting into the passing vision of his teammates in order to get his shot off. The next attribute that Laube brings to the table is his bulldog mentality. He’s a good defender who competes on both ends of the floor and uses active hands when digging into the post. He can draw you out with his 3pt shot and take a one or two dribble pull-up or use his effective floater to counter. Brayson will need to work more on his bounce against quicker guards and his ability to finish at the hoop, which would make him a well rounded guard. Only time will tell what level Laube will project to, but he’s off to a good start.
Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA – 6’6, Wing/Combo Guard – Waukee High School & Kingdom Hoops 15U
Sandfort has been the focal point for his Kingdom Hoops team throughout this early summer season. If that doesn’t catch your eye, being the third leading scorer on a top 4A school should. Sandfort put up 9.3 points per game to go along with 4 assists and shooting 45.8% from the 3pt line. Coming into the summer, it’s easy to notice the shooting numbers Pryce put up during the school season and categorize him as a shooter, but he’s found other ways to produce points for his team during the summer season. Sandfort’s favorite move off the dribble is the spin move and he uses it effectively as he gets deep and towards the hoop. Another way Pryce can effect the game offensively is by being a willing passer. He is actively looking to pass to an open teammate, but can also get a bucket himself. Those are all attributes that he can counter with off of his shooting ability. He’s a good shooter off the catch and has a developing shot off the dribble. On the defensive side, he uses his length and active hands in the passing lanes to create steals. Kingdom Hoops has been running a 2-2-1 full court press this summer and Sandfort has been an effective part turning opponents over. A couple of things I want to see Sandfort develop is: (1) his strength in order to rebound better and (2) finishing at the rim through contact, which will also come with added strength. He will be able to play and defend the 1-4 positions and that in itself should attract DI schools throughout the next three years.
Elijah Vos Elijah Vos 6'4" | SF Hoover | 2023 State IA – 6’4, Wing – DSM Hoover High School & Kingdom Hoops 15U
Elijah Vos Elijah Vos 6'4" | SF Hoover | 2023 State IA might be one of the best 15 ft shooters in the 15U division. Along with that shot, he has a really smooth fade away to go along with a nice step back jumper off the dribble. He contains a shot that is difficult to block with his release point, and is advanced in his pull-up game. His offensive game doesn’t stop there, as he has a strong right hand, where he uses a nice hesitation dribble to get himself by his defender. He’s an efficient catch and shoot player from the 3pt line and shot it at a 34% clip for Hoover. That number is going to grow over the next three years of Vos’ high school career. On the defensive end of the court he uses his length to go straight up when challenging shots and has succeeded in blocking shots at just under 1 per game at the high school level, though I’d guess that number is touch higher during the summer season. The main thing that stood out to me while watching Kingdom was how verbal Vos is while on the court. From a spectator standpoint, he almost seems like an extension of the coach on the court for his team. If Vos can continue to develop his body and athleticism over the next three years he will finish in the top 5 of this class.
Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA – 5’10, Point Guard – Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School & Kingdom Hoops 15U
Though he only stands at 5’10, he plays bigger than that. Reed is always looking to get out and get into transition and push the pace of the game. When he comes off the ball screens, he wants to get downhill and come at you while attacking the basket off the bounce. That being said, he is a willing passer when going towards the basket. That is something I want to see more of, along with his shooting ability from the 3pt line. He was the leading shooter on his high school team, shooting it at a 34.2% clip, but I’d like to see that number reach a couple clicks higher going into his sophomore season. He is a really quick guard who can break you down off the dribble, and on the catch has a strong rip through that gets defenders off balance in order to create lanes for him to get to the basket. Reed is a smaller guard, but he makes up for it in many different ways. His aggressive style is mostly a good attribute, but he can get caught out over reaching on defense at times. That is something that will come with experience and time. I will be watching Kenzie over the next three years closely as he continues to put the pieces of his game together.