Block’s Week 6 Standout Performers

<p>Another busy week of Iowa High School basketball means another long list of standout performers in week 6. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Eric Mulder, Pella Christian High School (2022)</strong></p> <p>In a game where the Eagles were widely bigger than the opposing Knoxville Panthers, especially without Senior [player_tooltip player_id="964804" first="Spencer" last="Hixson"] missing, Mulder imposed his will inside around the basket. He would end up with a double-double on 25 points and 15 rebounds. The 6’8 Junior showed good patience down low when receiving the pass in traffic and was composed when surrounded. His rebounding radius is obviously pretty big when it comes to both offensive and defensive rebounds, as he would corral 7 offensive rebounds for his team. Mulder is someone who should attract attention with his combo of size and finishing ability around the rim.</p> [caption id="attachment_1073025" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kieren-Nichols.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1073025" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kieren-Nichols-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Nichols[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796123" first="Kieren" last="Nichols"], Knoxville High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>Down their second leading scorer, Nichols really stepped up in the scoring department. He would finish the game shooting 19 total shots, making 14 for a 73.7% shooting from the floor. Nichols poured in 31 points for his team and at times looked like there wasn’t a defense that the Eagles could play that was going to refrain him from Nichols. He was getting to the basket with ease and finishing among the trees. The only part of his game that wasn’t fully there was his shooting only going 2/6 from 3, but nonetheless his productivity kept the Panthers in the game and competing. One of the top unsigned seniors in the 2021 class.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Drew-Kingery-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1026914" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Drew-Kingery-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="956873" first="Drew" last="Kingery"], Indianola High School (2023)</strong></p> <p>The lone sophomore on this list for the week, Kingery was arguably unstoppable in the two Indians games I watched this week. In the first game against Newton Kingery would finish with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 assists on 66.7% shooting from the field. The Cardinals didn’t have a defender that could keep up with Kingery’s first step and the same goes for the Wolverines on Saturday. He would finish the game against Sioux City West with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. What I’ve liked from Kingery this season is when his perimeter shot is not falling he has been very effective attacking the basket and finishing through contact. A top prospect in a loaded in-state 2023 class.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796117" first="Ryan" last="Blum"], Glenwood High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>The Wayne State commit has been in a really good rhythm lately and it was on full display Friday night in a matchup against conference opponent Harlan. If there was any doubt about the level of Blum’s shooting ability, he has been answering those. On Friday, Blum was 5/10 from deep, mostly contested shots, and ended up with 22 points on 50% shooting from the 3pt line. He would also add in 7 rebounds and dish out 2 assists for his team. It is obvious Blum is the offensive initiator and, rightfully so, defenses key in on him. Blum has been a known commodity for the Rams for 4 years now and the other members in the Hawkeye Ten will not be sad to see him take his talents to the collegiate level. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Manny-Austin.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007664" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Manny-Austin-300x231.png" alt="" width="300" height="231" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="727866" first="Manny" last="Austin"], Des Moines Hoover High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="727866" first="Manny" last="Austin"] is off to a hot start after the Christmas break, helping lead the Huskies to a 3-0 record as they started their season late because of COVID-19 concerns. Austin forms a really good trio with fellow Sophomore teammates [player_tooltip player_id="956876" first="Chase" last="Henderson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="956869" first="Elijah" last="Vos"], and Austin is proving he can be one of the better scorers in the state regardless of class. Against DSM North Austin poured in 26 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists on 50% shooting overall from the field and a blistering 80% from the 3pt line. Though I wasn’t able to watch yet, he would then turn around and score 31 points on 64.7% shooting from the field against Marshalltown on Saturday to go along with 8 rebounds. Austin is one of, if not arguably, the best remaining class of 2021 player in the state.</p> <p><strong>Tharon Locure, Des Moines North High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>The Big 2 for the Polar Bears was in full action on Tuesday against metro rival Des Moines Hoover. Though North wouldn’t pull out the victory, Tharon Locure had a coming out party for his senior season. Locure is a very crafty PG who can make shots from the outside but will also blow by defenders if they want to come out guard beyond the 3pt line. He has a nice finishing package when he gets into the lane and helps create space for his teammates when he’s shooting the ball the way he did on Tuesday. He would finish the game with a season high 27 points, 6 rebounds and team high 4 steals against the Huskies.</p> <p><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></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="727901" first="Diondre" last="Taylor"], Des Moines North High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>The other part of the duo for the Polar Bears is someone a lot of people are talking about in the metro, [player_tooltip player_id="727901" first="Diondre" last="Taylor"]. Another quick guard who can shoot it no matter the distance and no matter the defense. Earning many of his points that he gets shooting contested jumpers or nice floater finishes inside, Taylor was showing his elite scoring ability on Tuesday with a 23 point output against Hoover. Locure and Taylor together add to the mid-season uncommitted list in the class of 2021 who deserve a look.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"], Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>To add to the list of seniors on this list from the week, [player_tooltip player_id="796111" first="Caleb" last="Schlaak"] comes onto the list after his 23 points and 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks, 0 turnovers against Waterloo East. The Cougars have struggled to through the season so far, but Schlaak has been what you would expect the senior to be. The Truman State commit doesn’t use his jumpshot a lot but is capable, where he mainly gets his points is within 15 feet using his 6’7 length to score over the top of the defense and has some crafty finishes in his repertoire. He obviously brings goood defense for his team as well around the hoop where he’s able to swat opponent’s shots away.</p> [caption id="attachment_1004907" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Trey-Shearer-new.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1004907" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Trey-Shearer-new-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="796108" first="Trey" last="Shearer"][/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="796108" first="Trey" last="Shearer"], Montezuma High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>What a week it was for Shearer as he joined the 2,000 point club, but didn’t stop there and led a great effort by the Braves to top a formerly undefeated Keota team. The Keota game was a display of almost utter dominance on behalf of the Braves and Shearer led the way with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. He also provided good on-ball defense as did the rest of his team to hold the Eagles to 43 points. Shearer utilized many different offensive weapons in the win going 2/4 from the 3 point line, using the 15 foot pull-up jumpshot, and using quickness to get into the lane and dumping it down for a team high 7 assists. The prolific scorer heading to Truman State like the aforementioned Schlaak will form a part of the incoming class that is built with majority Iowans.</p> [caption id="attachment_1065771" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/dreckman.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1065771" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/dreckman-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="964800" first="Alec" last="Dreckman"][/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="964800" first="Alec" last="Dreckman"], LeMars High School (2021)</strong></p> <p>Dreckman holds something nobody else does from this past week, as he had a true buzzer beater down 1 to put his team up and ultimately win the game against a good Sioux City East team. He ended the game with 16 points shooting the ball from 3 at a high rate (66.7%). When the ball left his hand it looked like it was going in. In addition to the game winner, Dreckman’s shot capped off a rally from the Bulldogs coming back from down double digits. The LeMars team is a tough matchup, and they are led by their strong guard play, and the 6’0 guard, who is committed to Morningside, showed what he can do in the crunch time on Saturday.</p> [caption id="attachment_590967" align="alignnone" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2018/10/Steven-Kramer-2022-Johnston.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-590967" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2018/10/Steven-Kramer-2022-Johnston-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"] - Johnston (2022)[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="784982" first="Steven" last="Kramer"], Johnston High School (2022)</strong></p> <p>The 6’5 Junior guard/wing came out on Saturday aggressive and showing the scoring ability he showed he could have this summer and fall. He did a lot of his work inside the paint, carving out lanes to the basket by weaving through traffic and finishing around the hoop. He also was good in transition and showed his athleticism on some finishes. He’s a good ball handler who can get his own shot, but is unselfish in the way he can also move the ball if nothing is there. Kramer has P5 potential with his athleticism and smooth game, and if he continues to score he could put himself on that map. </p>