2023 Rankings Update: The Newcomer Point Guards (Part II)
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Drake Kapayou Drake Kapayou 6'0" | PG Marshalltown | 2023 State IA | Marshalltown | All-Iowa Attack (55) Playing alongside Armonniey Thomas Armonniey Thomas 6'2" | PG Marshalltown | 2022 State IA , Kapayou doesn’t have the ball in his…
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Continue ReadingDrake Kapayou Drake Kapayou 6'0" | PG Marshalltown | 2023 State IA | Marshalltown | All-Iowa Attack (55)
Playing alongside Armonniey Thomas Armonniey Thomas 6'2" | PG Marshalltown | 2022 State IA , Kapayou doesn’t have the ball in his hands a ton right now, but he’s a knockdown shooter who moves well off the ball. He buried just under 46% of his 3-point attempts as a sophomore, showing a quick release and clean stroke off the catch. He dished out 2.5 assists a game and had a nearly 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, showing he can distribute when needed as well.
Travaughn Luyobya Travaughn Luyobya 5'10" | PG Clear Lake | 2023 State IA | Clear Lake | Martin Brothers (56)
The 5-10 Luyobya was the starting point guard for a 3A state qualifying team. He’s not much of a scoring threat, but he thrives on getting others involved, dishing out 5.6 assists a game as a sophomore for the Lions. He’s a quick guard with good handles who uses that quickness to break down the defense and get into the paint, where he does an excellent job finding open teammates for layups or kick-out 3s. He’s also a pesky on-ball defender with good hands.
Casey Gardner Casey Gardner 5'8" | PG Dunkerton | 2023 State IA | Dunkerton (62)
A 5-9 lead guard, Gardner was one of the most productive passers in the state as a sophomore, dishing out 7.4 assists a game. He handles the ball extremely well and sees the floor at a high level. He’s programmed to get others involved, and he does so at a really high level. In addition to his passing, he’s also a solid contributor on the defensive end, particularly with the way he plays passing lanes and can turn defense into easy offense.
Brayden Drea Brayden Drea 5'10" | PG Indianola | 2023 State IA | Ankeny | Beyond Ball (63)
A 5-10 lead guard with a good feel for the game and solid handles, Drea showed the ability to fill it up from behind the arc and get others involved. He sees the floor well and is willing to make the extra pass, passing up a good shot of his own for a great shot for a teammate.
Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA | Kennedy | Iowa Prep (65)
A smart lead guard, Dolphin finds ways to contribute across the board. He’s a good shooter, keeps the ball moving on the offensive end, and is a strong defender, both as a team defender and on the ball.
Brayden Dinkla Brayden Dinkla 6'0" | PG Winterset | 2023 State IA | Winterset | Beyond Ball (67)
The 5-10 guard isn’t much of a scoring threat yet, but he’s a solid ball-handler and playmaker for his teammates. He dished out 3.3 assists a game against just 1.4 turnovers and swiped nearly two steals a game as well on the defensive end. He’s quick with the ball in his hands and as he matures physically, he should turn into a capable scorer and finisher around the bucket.
Jake Ingle Jake Ingle 5'7" | PG Newton | 2023 State IA | Newton | Martin Brothers (70)
Ingle is tiny (listed at 5-7), but he’s a talented shooter who does a great job utilizing solid footwork to help create more space to get his shot off. He led the Cardinals with 3.9 assists a game, showing his ability to get others involved and see the floor as well.
Ashtin Van’t Hul Ashtin Van’t Hul 6'0" | PG Western Christian | 2023 State IA | Western Christian (71)
A smart lead guard who makes the right plays on both ends of the floor, Van’t Hul was a key piece during the state tournament for the Wolfpack, helping lead them to the 2A title. Nothing he does is going to blow you away, but he does everything well and is a winning player.
Ty McKinney Ty McKinney 6'0" | PG Webster City | 2023 State IA | Webster City (73)
McKinney is a smart lead guard who gets others involved at a high level but also showed the ability to score off the ball, using off-ball basket cuts to get himself easy looks. He’s a solid team defender who rotates well and isn’t afraid to step in and take a charge.
Alex Bean Alex Bean 6'1" | PG Mid-Prairie | 2023 State IA | Mid-Prairie (77)
Bean is a 6-1 guard who showed he can play both on and off the ball as a sophomore. He’s a good shooter in rhythm with a smooth stroke and extended range.