Class 1A's Dynamic Duos

[caption id="attachment_1147251" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147251 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Hilmer[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"] (North Linn) Following the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id="801963" first="Austin" last="Miller"], the Lynx had a big hole to fill in the paint on both ends of the floor. Enter [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"], who put together a sensational year last season, helping lead the Lynx to a runner-up finish while averaging 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and shooting 65% from the floor. He’s the beneficiary of a lot of assists from Hilmer, who was second in the state, dishing out 208 helpers last year. Hilmer’s ability to break down the defense, get to the rim and dump it off for easy buckets helps lead to Haughenbury’s eye-popping efficiency.   [caption id="attachment_1166884" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Wiley-Sherburne.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1166884 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Wiley-Sherburne-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Sherburne[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158458" first="Leo" last="Dodd"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962655" first="Wiley" last="Sherburne"] (Janesville) Another guard-big combination that thrives is this one from Janesville. Dodd, a 5-11 lead guard, led the state with 209 assists last year, and a big chunk of those went to Sherburne, an efficient 6-4 forward who shot 61.5% from the floor last season. Dodd isn’t a major scoring threat (averaged just 7.8 points a game last year), but his ability to control the tempo, limit turnovers, and get others involved is huge for the Wildcats. Sherburne is one of the best scorers in the class, with great hands and footwork around the rim, and the ability to knock down face-up jumpers as well. These two complement each other well, with Dodd routinely looking to get easy buckets for Sherburne, who is a matchup problem at this level.   [caption id="attachment_1281435" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Kole-Becker-crop-2770x1819-1631493482.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1281435 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Kole-Becker-crop-2770x1819-1631493482-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Becker[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784986" first="Kole" last="Becker"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962694" first="Tyson" last="Scott"] (Lisbon) With the improvements that the 6-4 Becker has made to his jumper over the last few years, he has emerged as one of the most difficult matchups in 1A. A long, lean wing who is a plus-athlete, he finishes above the rim in the halfcourt or in transition, and he has turned himself into a 40%+ 3-point shooter. Scott is a beast on the glass, pulling down 4.6 offensive boards a game last year, and when you have an offensive weapon as potent as Becker on your squad, grabbing extra possessions is even more valuable.   [caption id="attachment_1147288" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daniel-Tobiloba-crop-2786x1829-1615315737-crop-540x355-1615315753.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147288 size-medium" 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> Tobiloba[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (Grand View Christian) Hammonds is one of the best scoring threats in the class, averaging 19.3 points a game last season and showcasing a beautiful mid-range game. He has a great handle, gets the ball into his shooting pocket quickly, and can really fill it up in a hurry. He’s the offensive dynamo for the Thunder, while Tobiloba is the ultimate eraser in the paint. The 7-0 junior blocked 107 shots last season, which would have ranked him 12th in the state last year if he was his own team. Blessed with remarkable size, length, and athleticism, Toibloba also doesn’t take many chances and stays out of foul trouble. His rim protection allows Hammonds and the other Thunder guards to take some more chances on the perimeter, knowing that they have him in the paint to erase all of their mistakes.   [caption id="attachment_1254750" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Gunner-Meyer1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1254750 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Gunner-Meyer1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Meyer[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962601" first="Gunner" last="Meyer"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956883" first="Mason" last="Harter"] (Wapsie Valley) Meyer, an athletic and long 6-4 wing, was the breakout star of the 2020 state tournament, showcasing eye-popping athleticism and the ability to score from all three levels. He got off to a bit of a slow start last season for the Warriors, but came on strong down the stretch to lead the team in scoring while shooting 39% from deep. Harter, a transfer from Sigourney, showed how valuable he can be in his first year at Wapsie, averaging 11.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks a game. He's a mobile big who protects the rim and scores efficiently around the rim. With the Warriors' top two ball-handlers graduating, it'll be interesting to see how these two play together, as we expect to see Meyer with the ball in his hands more often.   2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167687" first="Brayden" last="Lund"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167692" first="Kyle" last="Sternberg"] (AHSTW) The Vikings actually have a really strong three-headed monster when we include 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="784987" first="Raydden" last="Grobe"], but it’s Lund and Sternberg who are the major matchup problems for this group. Lund is a 6-4 big man who can score inside and out, showing great footwork and touch around the bucket and the ability to stretch the floor, knocking down nearly 44% of his 3-point attempts last year. He controls the glass and protects the paint as well. Sternberg is a skilled 6-4 wing with great length that he uses to impact the game on the defensive end, and he’s also a solid perimeter shooting threat, shooting 36.5% from the arc last season. He’s a skilled playmaker who can get to the rim and get others involved. The 2023 class at AHSTW is loaded, and this duo will be looking to lead the Vikings, our #2 team to open the year, to the school’s first state tournament.   [caption id="attachment_1161576" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3332-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1161576 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3332-rotated-e1631561334243-300x207.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="207" /></a> Menster[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962618" first="Rhenden" last="Wagaman"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962643" first="Luke" last="Menster"] (Springville) This tandem combined to average 31 points a game last season for the Orioles, and that was with a nearly 20-point a game scorer also on the roster in [player_tooltip player_id="964829" first="Alex" last="Koppes"]. With Koppes graduated, look for these two talented perimeter threats to have explosive scoring years. Wagaman is a long, lean wing who impacts the game on the defensive end with his length and does a great job getting to the rim, while Menster is a talented lefty shooter who buried 37% of his 3-point attempts last season while averaging nearly 4 steals a game. He flies all over the floor on the defensive end and uses his quickness to break down the defense in the halfcourt.   [caption id="attachment_1179935" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Keaten-Bonderson.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1179935 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Keaten-Bonderson-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Bonderson[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962690" first="Carter" last="DeRocher"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956881" first="Keaten" last="Bonderson"] (Gehlen Catholic) The highest-scoring tandem on this list, DeRocher (20.2) and Bonderson (20.4) combined to average 40.6 points a game last season for the Jays. Bonderson is a fantastic athlete who finishes above the rim, can break down a defense and get to the bucket, get others involved, and bury teams from behind the arc. DeRocher is a knockdown shooter who thrives playing alongside Bonderson, burying 44.2% of his 3-point attempts last season and using his length to impact the game on the defensive end. This duo puts up points in bunches and will be looking to lead the Jays to their first state tournament since 1983.   [caption id="attachment_1086716" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1086716" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Blaise-Porter-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Porter[/caption] 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956871" first="Blaise" last="Porter"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956872" first="Kade" last="Benjamin"] (New London) Porter, who holds offers from Bryant and IUPUI, is probably the most talented player in 1A. A compact, physical lead guard who is also one of the quickest in the state with the ball in his hands, he scores at a high clip from all three levels, and he also has fantastic court vision. Benjamin, a rapidly developing 6-7 big man, is often times the beneficiary of Porter’s passing skills. This tandem will provide a ton of highlights this season, especially in transition, where they have developed a fantastic rapport, with Porter routinely finding Benjamin for alley-oops. They combined to average 39.6 points a game last season for the Tigers.   2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167693" first="Koleson" last="Evans"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167703" first="Sage" last="Evans"] (West Harrison) The Evans boys (not related) were absolutely dominant last year for the Hawkeyes, combining to average 32.2 points, 24.3 rebounds, and shooting 43.7% from behind the arc. Koleson, a 6-5 wing, knocked down nearly 45% of his 3-point attempts last season, and with his size and skill set, he’s a really difficult matchup at the 1A level. Sage is a 6-2 power forward who has a relentless motor, great hands, and a solid all-around skill set. He led the team in assists and steals last season while also being able to stretch the floor and dominate the glass. Teams really need to focus on keeping this tandem off the glass, as they pulled down 9.7 offensive rebounds a game last year. That type of domination on the glass and gaining valuable extra possessions is incredibly important.