Class 1A Stars to Watch (Part III)

Porter

Tony Roe December 8, 2020 @ 01:13 PM

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1086716" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="956871" first="Blaise" last="Porter"] (New London, 2023) Porter has a chance to be a special, special player for the Tigers. He averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.4 steals last year as a freshman, and picked up a Division I offer from Bryant over the summer. He’s lightning quick and incredibly smart with the ball in his hands. With the ability to get to the bucket at will, paired with a nice mid-range game and a developing 3-point stroke, he’s nearly impossible to slow down.   [player_tooltip player_id="956872" first="Kade" last="Benjamin"] (New London, 2023) The other part of New London’s super talented sophomore duo, Benjamin, a 6-6 stretch-four, has a nice jumper from 15 feet and in, can protect the rim and he runs the floor well. As he continues to add more range to his game and become a more fluid side-to-side athlete, watch out. He averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks last year as a freshman.   [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (Grand View Christian, 2023) Tobiloba is a 7-0 sophomore who runs the floor well and is an outstanding rim protector and rebounder. He reminds me a lot of former Grand View Christian, current Drake, forward Issa Samake. Limited offensively, but he makes a major impact on both ends of the floor with his size, athleticism and length.   [player_tooltip player_id="956881" first="Keaten" last="Bonderson"] (Gehlen Catholic, 2023) Bonderson led all freshmen in scoring last season, averaging 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals a game for the Jays. He's small, but effective, with the ability to score from all three levels.   [player_tooltip player_id="956883" first="Mason" last="Harter"] (Wapsie Valley, 2023) Harter, a 6-5 forward, was one of the most productive freshmen in the state last year, averaging 14.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game at Sigourney. He has moved to Wapsie Valley, where he'll be a key piece for the defending 1A champions in the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id="956889" first="Max" last="Burt"] (Newman Catholic, 2023) Burt dished out 6.0 assists with 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game as a freshman lead guard for the Knights. Like his teammate Taylor, he has already committed to play baseball at Iowa.   [player_tooltip player_id="956891" first="Douglas" last="Taylor"] (Newman Catholic, 2023) Taylor was also very productive as a freshman for the Knights, averaging 13.9 points and 3.6 rebounds. An athletic wing who can get to the bucket or post up smaller defenders, he has committed to play college baseball at Iowa.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/31-Manny-Hammonds.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1066227" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/31-Manny-Hammonds-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] (Grand View Christian, 2022) Hammonds is a talented scoring guard who can get hot from 3, but is at his best when he’s using his ball handling and quick first step to beat his defender to the rim. With the graduations of Andrew Long and [player_tooltip player_id="955691" first="Gage" last="Fry"], who combined to average nearly 33 points a game last year, a lot of shots have opened up for the Thunder, and Hammonds figures to be the primary beneficiary of that.