Breakout Players in the Class of 2023: Class 3A & 4A

[player_tooltip player_id="1167719" first="Riley" last="Edwards"] (2023) | 6’3" G | Southeast Polk - Edwards will be the only returning starter for Southeast Polk this season. After a season last year where he was third on the team in scoring (9.4 ppg), Edwards is in line to lead the Rams this year. At 6’3" playing guard, Edwards is very good from mid-range and from three. For a guard, he is good on the defensive glass. After a summer of playing with Beyond Ball, look for Edwards to have a solid junior season. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dallas-Bear.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1177345" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dallas-Bear-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="956870" first="Dallas" last="Bear"] (2023) | 6’8" G/F | Cedar Falls - Last season Bear did not start a single game, but the Tigers graduated four of five starters. The third-ranked player in the class of 2023, Bear had a huge summer with the Barnstormers and is getting some looks to play D1 basketball. Long and athletic, Bear is very good at getting to the hoop and finishing. Don’t back off of him though, he has a smooth jumper and is able to knock down shots. Bear uses his 6’8" frame on defense as well, getting a hand on passes, and blocking shots. Alongside [player_tooltip player_id="682265" first="Trey" last="Campbell"], look for Bear to have a huge junior season. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/77-Colby-Dolphin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290474" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/77-Colby-Dolphin-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1167718" first="Colby" last="Dolphin"] (2023) | 5’10" G | Cedar Rapids Kennedy - Kennedy graduates three of five starters, setting it up well for Dolphin and classmate [player_tooltip player_id="956877" first="Kenzie" last="Reed"] to have solid seasons. At 5’10", Dolphin is a solid finisher around the hoop. He can also step out and hit shots from beyond the arc, shooting just over 40% from three. On the defensive end, Dolphin is very good at getting steals. Dolphin is a very headsy guard, with great court vision, and solid quickness. [player_tooltip player_id="1167694" first="Asa" last="Newsom"] (2023) | 6’3" F | Waverly-Shell Rock - Newsom, a 3-star linebacker recruit, averaged 8.4 points a game, 4.0 rebounds a game, and 2.0 assists per game. Newsom uses his 6’3" frame and his physicality to his advantage. Attempting no threes, Newsom is a very solid scorer down low; moving his feet well for his size. Newsom is a very good defender, able to guard all five spots. After playing a few tournaments this summer with the Barnstormers before football began, this winter he is poised for a breakout season. [player_tooltip player_id="1240086" first="Aidan" last="McDermott"] (2023) | 6’2" F | Cedar Rapids Xavier - McDermott and classmate [player_tooltip player_id="1167689" first="Aidan" last="Yamilkoski"] return for the Saints, while three of the other top five scorers graduated. McDermott led the team in rebounds last year averaging 5.9 a game. At 6’2", McDermott is very good at getting good position on the glass. McDermott averaged 6.6 points a game last season, doing most of his scoring from mid-range and down low.

Riley Edwards Riley Edwards 6'3" | SG Southeast Polk | 2023 State IA (2023) | 6’3" G | Southeast Polk - Edwards will be the only returning starter for Southeast Polk this season. After a season last year where he was third on the team in scoring (9.4 ppg), Edwards is in line to lead the Rams this year. At 6’3" playing guard, Edwards is very good from mid-range and from three. For a guard, he is good on the defensive glass. After a summer of playing with Beyond Ball, look for Edwards to have a solid junior season.

Dallas Bear Dallas Bear 6'8" | SF Cedar Falls | 2023 State #276 Nation IA (2023) | 6’8" G/F | Cedar Falls - Last season Bear did not start a single game, but the Tigers graduated four of five starters. The third-ranked player in the class of 2023, Bear had a huge summer with the Barnstormers and is getting some looks to play D1 basketball. Long and athletic, Bear is very good at getting to the hoop and finishing. Don’t back off of him though, he has a smooth jumper and is able to knock down shots. Bear uses his 6’8" frame on defense as well, getting a hand on passes, and blocking shots. Alongside Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | PG Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , look for Bear to have a huge junior season.

Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (2023) | 5’10" G | Cedar Rapids Kennedy - Kennedy graduates three of five starters, setting it up well for Dolphin and classmate Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA to have solid seasons. At 5’10", Dolphin is a solid finisher around the hoop. He can also step out and hit shots from beyond the arc, shooting just over 40% from three. On the defensive end, Dolphin is very good at getting steals. Dolphin is a very headsy guard, with great court vision, and solid quickness.

Asa Newsom Asa Newsom 6'3" | SF Waverly-Shell Rock | 2023 IA (2023) | 6’3" F | Waverly-Shell Rock - Newsom, a 3-star linebacker recruit, averaged 8.4 points a game, 4.0 rebounds a game, and 2.0 assists per game. Newsom uses his 6’3" frame and his physicality to his advantage. Attempting no threes, Newsom is a very solid scorer down low; moving his feet well for his size. Newsom is a very good defender, able to guard all five spots. After playing a few tournaments this summer with the Barnstormers before football began, this winter he is poised for a breakout season.

Aidan McDermott Aidan McDermott 6'2" | SF Xavier | 2023 IA (2023) | 6’2" F | Cedar Rapids Xavier - McDermott and classmate Aidan Yamilkoski Aidan Yamilkoski 6'4" | SG Xavier | 2023 State IA return for the Saints, while three of the other top five scorers graduated. McDermott led the team in rebounds last year averaging 5.9 a game. At 6’2", McDermott is very good at getting good position on the glass. McDermott averaged 6.6 points a game last season, doing most of his scoring from mid-range and down low.