Block's Week 5 Standout Performers

After a busy week of basketball, there were players who were clearly the best players on the court no matter the class. These players were big parts in their team winning or were key reasons why their teams are playing they way they are. Here are 12 from week 5:   [player_tooltip player_id="796182" first="Caleb" last="Burks"], Waverly-Shell Rock High School (2021) After a hot start from the Go-Hawks, they have lost 2 of their last 3 games. One was last Monday against Clear Lake. With that being said, [player_tooltip player_id="796182" first="Caleb" last="Burks"] is someone who doesn’t flash with his play but he’s a threat to post a triple-double in every game out. He was really close posting a 12 point, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks and 2 assists. At 6’6 the big man does a lot of his damage inside the 3 point arch, but is efficient with his shots. The way he blocks shots is the most impressive and important part of Burks’ game as he shows good timing and has a long wingspan to reach shots. Really impressed with the senior. [player_tooltip player_id="1056594" first="DaVares" last="Whitaker"], Sioux City East High School (2022) Even though the Black Raiders didn’t play an in-state opponent, they did play one of the better teams in South Dakota in Yankton High School. He was only 1/3 from the 3 point line, but he was a menace on the court in many other different ways. His speed and athleticism provide challenges for defenses and he asks a lot of questions of opposing defenses. His athleticism was on full display when he took a pass in the corner for one dribble and took off finishing over the top of a defender. The only glaring weakness in the PG’s game was the turnovers, as sometimes going too fast did result in giving the ball up. Other than that, the transfer from Arkansas posted a stat line of 23 points on 10/17 shooting, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Whitaker has DI talent. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/141-Etan-Patterson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1066375" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/141-Etan-Patterson-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="956888" first="Ethan" last="Patterson"], Washington High School (2023) A player who I didn’t necessarily expect to show out the way that he did was [player_tooltip player_id="956888" first="Ethan" last="Patterson"]. The Sophomore CG is smooth with the ball in his hands. He can shoot it from the outside with a smooth lefty shooting stroke and is capable to get to the basket off the dribble. The thing I like about Patterson’s game is the way he facilitates offense. He’s a player who you can get the offense going through and run off of it whether that ends with a shot of his own or getting it to a teammate. In two games I watched this week against Albia and Fairfield Patterson averaged 20 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 assists shooting the ball at a 57.7% from the field. Drew Chance, Albia High School (2023) The Sophomore big man stands at only 6’2 as a true post player, but does good work inside and out to 15 feet. He has a nice bag of post moves using quick pivots, up fakes, and good body control to score on the block. He can also hit a jumpshot out to about 15 feet off the catch doing it a few times against the Demons. He was matched up against a taller defender on Tuesday and went right at him to score the ball ending the game with 27 points and 8 rebounds on 12/17 shooting for the game. [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"], Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School (2022) Week 5 was the week for me that has solidified Dix’s place as 2nd in the state in the class of 2022. The CG and his team have played a tough out of state schedule so far this season going down to Kansas and playing Blue Valley North, a top team in Kansas, but this past week played 2 of the top teams in Nebraska in Millard North and Bellevue West who are stacked with DI talent and are good teams in general. Well Dix held his own against these two teams and put his team in a position to win both games. Against Millard North Dix poured in 32 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists on 10/17 shooting and up against Bellevue West he put in 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was doing a lot for his team and doing it against good competition and that cannot be overstated. MM-HM talent on display. [player_tooltip player_id="796147" first="Dane" last="Fuller"], Dike-New Hartford High School (2021) A senior who should be getting more attention in the state is [player_tooltip player_id="796147" first="Dane" last="Fuller"]. He would come out with something to prove on Thursday against West Fork, ending the game with 32 points and 9 rebounds on 52.2% shooting from the field and 37.5% from 3. When the Wolverines were in need of a bucket Fuller was on the spot and ready to hit the big bucket. His jumpshot is pure from anywhere on the court and would translate well at the next level easily. He was just good at getting into the open spots to receive the ball and also did a little off the dribble. Impressive showing from Fuller on Thursday. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Elvis-Nnaji.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1033617" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Elvis-Nnaji-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682270" first="Cole" last="Glasgow"], Dallas Center-Grimes High School (2022) In a matchup that lived up to its hype as #1 DC-G matched up against #2 Pella in an in-conference matchup, Glasgow showed what an elite jumpshot he has in his repertoire. The kind of shot that looks like it’s going in every time it leaves his hand, Glasgow works off the ball a lot as the Mustangs have good PG play, the CG does well with his off-ball movement and get himself open. He would go 3/5 from the 3 point line and 8/18 from the field doing a lot of damage off of catch and shoot shots and one dribble pull-ups. Contested or not, Glasgow rose up with confidence and did well to put his team into a position to win the game. [player_tooltip player_id="682282" first="Karl" last="Miller"], Pella High School (2022) The 6’4 wing man, Miller, countered Glasgow’s shooting with some shooting of his own. Miller was 7/12 from the field and 5/5 from the 3 point line. Miller is tough to guard because of his length and ability to shoot the basketball over the top of smaller defenders and quickness to get open with bigger defenders. He would also add in 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block to his stat line for the win and possession of first place of the Little Hawkeye conference. The Junior is someone who has really got his game going this season and has come out of nowhere to be a name to watch in the 2022 class. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Diondre-Taylor-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1027307" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Diondre-Taylor-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="727901" first="Diondre" last="Taylor"], Des Moines North High School (2021) It’s not everyday you see a high school game where a player ends the game with 40+ points, but on Friday [player_tooltip player_id="727901" first="Diondre" last="Taylor"] found his shot and poured in 47 points for the Polar Bears. A big part of that was his 40% shooting from the 3 point line, making 8 total 3’s in the game. He would also go 15/17 from the free throw line against the Roughriders. Taylor has a knack and the confidence to score consistently for his team. He has range shooting the ball and doesn’t need much space to shoot the rock. If opponents want to try to take away his shooting he has the ability to take defenses off the dribble, and either get to the free throw line, as is exemplified here, or get to the rim. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Tamin-Lipsey-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1030787" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Tamin-Lipsey-4-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"], Ames High School (2022) In a low scoring affair, Lipsey scored 20 of Ames’ 35 total points. The Little Cyclones only had three players score throughout the entirety of the game. It looked at times Lipsey was going to take over the game as he would come down and get a couple consecutive baskets or get to the free throw line, but for whatever the reason the game in general just never got into a good rhythm. Still, Lipsey was the best player on the court as he normally is, and has the ability to hit big shots in timely manners. He’s a tough defender on the ball and just does things in the game that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet. [caption id="attachment_1112860" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/14-Ty-Walker-crop-1866x1225-1610120696.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1112860" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/14-Ty-Walker-crop-1866x1225-1610120696-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Walker[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="796132" first="Ty" last="Walker"], Valley High School (2021) Talk about someone who has come out of the gates hot. In his first four games of the season Walker is averaging 24.8 points on 57.9% FG and 52.8% 3pt shooting. I was able to tune into 1 and a half games of Valley’s this weekend and in the first game against Southeast Polk, he went for 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on the game shooting 8/16 from the field and 6/11 from the 3 point line. In the second game against Ankeny Centennial his stat line was 31 points on 9/13 shooting and 5/8 from the 3 point line. As has been shown Walker is really shooting the ball well from the floor and his ability to do so has made it very difficult for opposing defenses to defend against it. His catch and shoot ability is rising to the top of the CIML if he can continue this hot streak. [player_tooltip player_id="962490" first="Eli" last="Raridon"], Valley High School (2022) The big football standout, Raridon isn’t so bad on the hardwood either. Raridon stands at 6’7, athletic and runs the floor very well for his teammates to pass him the ball and finish at or above the rim. He’s shooting the ball at a 65% clip on the season and there really hasn’t been a team that has been able to slow him down. He gets good post positioning as well in the half-court offense and finishes well with either hand around the rim. The one area that will need some improvement is his free throw shooting as I’m sure he will get there early and often the rest of the season. Raridon’s presence defensively is felt around the rim physically and vertically for opponents.