2021 Final Rankings: New Additions

<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1170704" first="Mark" last="Lual"] | PF | Parkview Christian</strong></p> <p>Lual burst onto the scene this season scoring 15 points and over 5 rebounds per game. He can handle the ball well enough to take the ball up the floor, and can stretch the floor very well (39% on 4 attempts per game). The lean and athletic wing has no issues throwing down some thunderous dunks too, in the half court or in transition.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149906" first="Brayson" last="Mueller"] | SG | Norris</strong></p> <p>A big-bodied 3-and-D guard who also makes an impact on the glass. He shot 41% from deep as a senior, and 52% from two. He was terrific next to the playmakers Norris could rotate at point guard. He loves to trail the play and bomb it when the defense is backpedaling into position.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149896" first="James" last="Conway"] | PF | Millard West</strong></p> <p>Conway played the 4 and 5 this year, providing stout post defense and ability to guard the perimeter. He works his tail off on the court, and is always hyper-aware. In the Wildcat’s matchup against Bellevue West in the regular season, Conway did a great job of banging with [player_tooltip player_id="1018806" first="William" last="Kyle"] down low, and keeping up stride for stride in transition, which not many bigs succeeded at. He racks up deflections, plays great team defense, and takes care of the ball on offense.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149898" first="Cade" last="Rice"] | CG | Norris</strong></p> <p>Rice could fill in at point guard or at the 2 for Norris, and fit comfortably in either role. He’s shifty, and can fly past you when he gets the angle. He averaged over 4 assists a game coming off the bench, and 7 points mostly off slashing and attacking the rim. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149908" first="Isaac" last="Heimes"] | CG | Norfolk</strong></p> <p>The focus of opposing defenses is on [player_tooltip player_id="890514" first="Kallan" last="Herman"] when facing Norfolk. That left a huge hole for someone to fill in and take advantage of the lopsided defense, and Heimes was the opportunist. When Herman’s options were eliminated and he swung the ball to Heimes, he quickly diagnosed the court and attacked the advantage. If the shot was there, Heimes could knock them down reliably.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149907" first="Cardae" last="Daniels"] | SG | Omaha Benson</strong></p> <p>Daniels proved to be a skilled scorer at all three levels in his final season with the Bunnies. He can hang in the air for an abnormal amount of time, pick out a window to score through, and contort his body accordingly. The energy transfer in his jumper is very smooth from deep all the way into the basket. He can over-dribble at times, and is not much of a playmaker or others, but he knows how to get his own.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1170705" first="Sam" last="Sorensen"] | C | Omaha Burke</strong></p> <p>Offensively speaking, Sorensen is a skilled and instinctual big. He has great feel for his defender’s position and balance, and can exploit it if the defender is off-kilter or flat-footed. The hook shot is there, and he can execute it even when contested thanks to his solid touch. He knows where to be on defense, and has a few tricks to help him stay glued, but outside of his initial positioning he doesn’t offer up much resistance.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149913" first="Preston" last="Pearson"] | CG | Kearney</strong></p> <p>The over-used term "glue guy" comes to mind when I watch Pearson hoop. He cuts, rebounds, defends, and makes smart, quick decisions with the basketball. Not a topflight passer, but he consistently makes the connecting passes that keep an offense flowing and ahead of the defense. His post entry passing was some of the best I saw all year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149914" first="Easton" last="Bruce"] | PG | Kearney</strong></p> <p>Bruce has the right balance of patience and attack that all great scorers have. You won’t see him force many shots or try something he isn’t capable of doing. If the play is there, he quickly takes it. If not, he quickly moves the ball along until something presents itself. He shot 34% from deep on 6.5 attempts per game, and found space in the midrange with his aggressive drives into jumpstops.</p>