Class 2A's Dynamic Duos

[caption id="attachment_1224769" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Tanner-Te-Slaa.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1224769 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Tanner-Te-Slaa-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> Te Slaa[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682290" first="Tanner" last="Te Slaa"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962615" first="Vance" last="Katzfey"] (Boyden-Hull) Te Slaa, a South Dakota State commit, is the best player in 2A, and Katzfey recently moved to Boyden-Hull from Spirit Lake to give the Comets another dynamic three-level scorer. Te Slaa is a 6-5 wing with an outstanding feel for the game and the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game last season with impressive 53-37-81 shooting splits while leading the Comets to a runner-up finish. Katzfey averaged 15.4 points a game last season with Spirit Lake. An athletic 6-2 wing who can get to the bucket and knock down shots, he’ll give the Comets someone who can take some scoring pressure off of Te Slaa.   2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1253020" first="Zach" last="Lutmer"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962637" first="Mason" last="Gerleman"] (Central Lyon) This backcourt is very complementary of each other. Lutmer is a very talented 6-1 lead guard who gets to the bucket routinely and is excellent at distributing and getting others involved as well. He’s a high-level football player as well, and he embraces the physicality on the hardwood. Gerleman is a 6-0 sniper who buried 74 3-pointers last season at a 47.1% clip, and he really benefits from playing alongside Lutmer and his playmaking talents.   2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962628" first="Kolson" last="Kruse"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682271" first="Aaron" last="Graves"] (Southeast Valley) This duo combined to average 31.5 points a game last season. Kruse has established himself as one of the better shooters in the class, knocking down 40.5% of his 3-point attempts last season, while Graves, an Iowa football commit, controls the paint on both ends of the floor. Graves is a big, physical, athletic forward who can step out and knock down some jumpers, but is at his best when he’s dominating the glass, scoring inside, and setting good, hard screens to help free up Kruse for easy looks.   [caption id="attachment_1148917" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Jayden-Mackie-crop-2791x1833-1615514370.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1148917 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Jayden-Mackie-crop-2791x1833-1615514370-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Mackie[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="751418" first="Jayden" last="Mackie"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167691" first="Garrett" last="Hempen"] (Aplington-Parkersburg) The always-balanced Falcons have a dynamic trio of guards if you also include [player_tooltip player_id="1171686" first="Gavin" last="Thomas"], but we’re focusing on Mackie and Hempen here. Mackie was the breakout star of the state tournament in March, showcasing his ability to fill it up from all three levels at a highly efficient clip, while Hempen is a solid shooter who handles the ball well and can play both on-and-off the ball. Mackie has committed to play at Upper Iowa, and is one of the most explosive scoring threats in the state.   [caption id="attachment_1147361" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ty-Van-Essen-crop-2786x1829-1615320637-crop-518x340-1615320649.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1147361 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ty-Van-Essen-crop-2786x1829-1615320637-crop-518x340-1615320649-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Van Essen[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962616" first="Ty" last="Van Essen"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158437" first="Wyatt" last="Gulker"] (Western Christian) The defending champions, and favorites to repeat, are led by this fantastic tandem of threats. Van Essen, a versatile 6-4/6-5 combo forward who posted ridiculous 59-55-79 shooting splits last year while averaging 16.9 points a game is the headliner, but Gulker is a very good player in his own right. He's a nearly 40% 3-point shooter who controls the game on both ends of the floor with his length and pace. The Wolfpack are deep and balanced, but it's these two that really make them go.   2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167698" first="Jacob" last="Hargens"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240102" first="Carter" last="Boettcher"] (Sioux Central) A pair of good ball-handlers and decision-makers, Hargens and Boettcher combined to average 8.5 assists a game last season with a better than 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Boettcher is more of a true lead guard who looks to get others involved first, which is good when he's playing alongside Hargens, a versatile 6-0 wing who can fill it up from all three levels.   2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158431" first="Landyn" last="Van Kekerix"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962672" first="Bryson" last="Van Grootheest"] (Rock Valley) This tandem is an interesting one in that they aren’t very "modern" guards. Both are 6-0, and neither of them shoots it particularly well from behind the arc. Instead, they rely on their physicality, athleticism, quickness, and ability to get to the bucket for their scoring. They combined to average 33.1 points a game (Van Kekerix 16.6, Van Grootheest 16.5), and either is a threat to drop 25-30 points on any given night.   2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158468" first="Ethan" last="Davis"] & 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1171680" first="Brooks" last="Moore"] (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont) Say hello to the twin towers from Eddyville. Davis is a 6-7 true big man with good hands, footwork, and touch around the bucket. He averaged 16.8 points and 10.1 rebounds a game last season, including 4.0 offensive boards a night. He protects the rim and runs the floor as well. Moore, a 6-5 combo forward, is coming off a highly productive freshman season in which he averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and showed the ability to score from all three levels. This tandem should control the glass on a nightly basis, and with their complementary skill sets, they’ll be a really difficult matchup for opposing teams.   [caption id="attachment_1224590" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Eric-Mulder-2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1224590 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Eric-Mulder-2-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> Mulder[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158415" first="Eric" last="Mulder"] & 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158492" first="Levi" last="Schelhaas"] (Pella Christian) There is nearly a foot difference between these two, with the 6-8 Mulder controlling the paint, and the 5-9 Schelhaas handling the lead guard responsibilities for the Eagles. Mulder is an agile big who is a switchable defender and rim protector. He can stretch the floor, and plays really well with Scheelhaas in the pick-and-roll. Scheelhaas led the team in assists last year, with Mulder, a recent IPFW commit, being the beneficiary of a lot of those helpers.   [caption id="attachment_1068658" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Zach-Erwin.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1068658 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Zach-Erwin-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Erwin[/caption] 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682268" first="Zach" last="Erwin"] & 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167714" first="Zane" last="Witt"] (Camanche) Versatility is the name of the game for Erwin, a skilled 6-4 wing who does a little bit of everything for the Storm. He averaged 15.0 points. 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks a game last season, if you needed the statistical evidence. He can defend multiple positions, get to the bucket, and facilitate offensively. Witt is a 6-7 forward who looks primed to have a breakout year for Camanche. He's long, athletic, and switchable on defense. He'll protect the rim at a high level and provide plenty of highlight-reel dunks for the Storm this season.