Class 1A Leading Returning Scorers

<p><strong>1.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158460" first="Brody" last="Ward"] (Iowa Valley) -- 23.0 points a game</strong></p> <p>Ward and his 23 points a game helped lead the Tigers to a 12-win season last year, the most wins the school has had since the 2007-08 season when they won 13. A crafty guard who can score from all three levels, he accounted for 50.6% of Iowa Valley's free throw attempts last season. He's also a menace on the defensive end, swiping 70 steals last year, and that leads to plenty of easy offense.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Wiley-Sherburne.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1166884" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Wiley-Sherburne-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>2.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962655" first="Wiley" last="Sherburne"] (Janesville) - 22.6</strong></p> <p>An efficient 6-4 scorer, Sherburne does a majority of his damage inside the arc, but he's working to extend his range, knocking down 16 3-pointers last season. He plays with a relentless motor, pounds the glass on both ends of the floor, and has great touch around the rim. He shot 61.5% from the floor last season and has active hands on the defensive end as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter.jpeg"><img class="alignright wp-image-1086716 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>3.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956871" first="Blaise" last="Porter"] (New London) - 22.4</strong></p> <p>Arguably the best player in 1A, Porter is a 6-2 lead guard who holds offers from Bryant and IUPUI. With the ability to score from all three levels at a high clip, he's a matchup nightmare at this level due to his physicality, athleticism, skill, and quickness. In addition to his scoring prowess, he's also among the best passers in the state, and he's a menace on the defensive end with his anticipation and quick hands.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>4.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167690" first="Jaixen" last="Frost"] (Mount Ayr) - 21.5</strong></p> <p>A smooth, 6-2 guard who stuffs the stat sheet, Frost is a big-time scorer with remarkable efficiency. He posted 55-40-90 shooting splits as a sophomore for the Raiders and should have the ball in his hands even more this year following the graduations of the team's other two primary ball-handlers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158480" first="Carter" last="Johnson"] (Stanton) - 20.9</strong></p> <p>Johnson, a 5-11 guard, contributes across the board for the Vikings, dishing out 3.4 assists to go with 6.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals a game. If he can improve his efficiency, particularly from the arc and the charity stripe, he could lead the state in scoring as a senior.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>6.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158450" first="Dallas" last="Kluender"] (Woodbury Central) - 20.5</strong></p> <p>Kluender led 1A in free throw attempts, averaging 8.3 attempts a game. An efficient big man who does a majority of his damage inside the paint, it makes sense that the big-bodied, powerful forward gets to the line frequently. And if he can get his percentage up from 61.5% to around 66-68%, he could add a few more points a game to his impressive average. In addition to his scoring, he's a good passer who sees the floor well from his spot on the block.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Keaten-Bonderson.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1179935" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Keaten-Bonderson-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>7.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956881" first="Keaten" last="Bonderson"] (Gehlen Catholic) - 20.4</strong></p> <p>Bonderson is a 6-0 guard and an excellent athlete who finishes above the rim, and not just in transition. He uses his athleticism to routinely get to the bucket for finishes, can knock down jumpers, and he's an excellent passer as well. He posted 59-41-75 shooting splits as a sophomore, and he should be even better as a junior.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>8.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962690" first="Carter" last="DeRocher"] (Gehlen Catholic) - 20.2</strong></p> <p>Another Gehlen Catholic Jay on this list, DeRocher is an excellent complement alongside Bonderson in the Jays backcourt. The 6-2 wing is an outstanding shooter, knocking down 57 3-pointers last year at a 44.2% clip. Additionally, he has shown the ability to get to the rim and the free-throw line. DeRocher and Bonderson are looking to lead Gehlen Catholic back to the state tournament for the first time since the early 1980s.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>9.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167727" first="Mason" last="Crouse"] (East Mills) - 19.8</strong></p> <p>A volume scorer who does a great job getting to the rim, Crouse ranked among the top 10 in free throw attempts in 1A, shooting 147 freebies last year. His ability to get to the rim, combined with his relentless attacking off the offensive glass, makes him a dangerous scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>10.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962678" first="Kaden" last="Hall"] (English Valleys) - 19.7</strong></p> <p>Hall, a 6-4 forward who is active on both ends, led the Bears to 12 wins last season, the most in the QuikStats/VarsityBound era. A good athlete with excellent hands, he also pulled down 12.5 rebounds and blocked 2.3 shots a game to go with his nearly 20 point average. He's an efficient scorer inside the paint and a solid free-throw shooter, suggesting he may be able to add some range to his game.</p>