Class 1A Leading Returning Shot Blockers

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daniel-Tobiloba-crop-2786x1829-1615315737-crop-540x355-1615315753.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147288" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daniel-Tobiloba-crop-2786x1829-1615315737-crop-540x355-1615315753-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>1.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (Grand View Christian) - 107 blocks</strong></p> <p>How dominant was Tobiloba as a rim protector last year? His 107 blocks would’ve tied him for 12th in the state...if he were his own team! The 7-0 junior-to-be is hyper-athletic and possesses incredible size and length. Unlike some previous GVC big men, he also tends to stay out of foul trouble as well, showing good timing and the knowledge that his pure size is going to make life difficult for opposing players. He rarely takes chances to block shots.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kade-Benjamin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1254941" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kade-Benjamin-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>2.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956872" first="Kade" last="Benjamin"] (New London) - 74</strong></p> <p>A rapidly developing 6-6/6-7 big man, Benjamin pairs with guard [player_tooltip player_id="956871" first="Blaise" last="Porter"] to give the Tigers arguably the best one-two punch in the class. A mobile big who finishes above the rim, has an improving jumper, and great hands, he impacts the game on both ends of the floor with his versatility and mobility.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>3.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962683" first="Ben" last="DeMeulenaere"] (Belle Plaine) - 57</strong></p> <p>The 6-4 forward also found himself on the leading returning rebounders list. He's got great hands and timing and is an incredibly efficient scorer inside the paint. A high motor player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor, he'll cap off a really strong career with what should be an excellent senior year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147247" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>4.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"] (Lake Mills) - 55</strong></p> <p>A mobile and versatile player on both ends of the floor, Helming helped lead the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season last year, averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. He can score from all three levels, defend multiple positions, and he uses his length to do a great job contesting (and blocking) shots.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171698" first="Abram" last="Edwards"] (Winfield-Mt. Union) - 55</strong></p> <p>The 6-5 son of former Iowa State player Klay Edwards, Abram is one of the top players in Iowa's 2024 class with his size, athleticism, and skill set. A versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything, he led the Wolves in rebounding and assists last year while also blocking nearly 3 shots a game.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>6.) 2024 Klayton Van Dyke (Lynnville-Sully) - 53</strong></p> <p>An intriguing young big man who is coming off a very productive freshman season (7.3 points, 8.8 rebounds a game), Van Dyke is a key piece for what should be one of the most improved teams in 1A this year. The 6-5 big is an efficient finisher around the rim and he crashes the offensive glass hard.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>7.) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240107" first="Carson" last="Scroggins"] (Baxter) - 51</strong></p> <p>A physical 6-3 forward, Scroggins is an intimidating presence in the paint who protects the rim well. He uses his length and physicality to dominate the painted area.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>8.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235044" first="Sawyer" last="Nelson"] (Danville) - 51</strong></p> <p>A 6-5 big, Nelson isn’t much of an offensive threat (the Bears are usually pretty guard-heavy in scoring), but he knows his job (rebounding and rim protection), and he does both things at a high level. He averaged 7.7 rebounds (3.1 offensive) in addition to his shot blocking.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>9.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962678" first="Kaden" last="Hall"] (English Valleys) - 50</strong></p> <p>A mobile 6-4 big man who stuffs the stat sheet for the Bears, Hall led the team in scoring (19.7 points a game) and rebounding (12.5) in addition to his dominance as a rim protector. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Trey-Kriener-crop-2786x1829-1615315506-crop-498x327-1615315520.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147267" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Trey-Kriener-crop-2786x1829-1615315506-crop-498x327-1615315520-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>10.) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158422" first="Trey" last="Kriener"] (South Winneshiek) - 45</strong></p> <p>The 6-7 forward’s rim protection was one of the key reasons that the Warriors punched the school’s first-ever state tournament ticket last winter. A mobile, switchable big who can also stretch the floor on the offensive end, Kriener is the type of modern big man that small schools should be coveting.</p>