Breakout Players in the Class of 2023: Class 1A & 2A

Kooper Ebel (2023) | 6’2" G | Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn - Ebel was an assist and steal machine last season. The 6’2" guard averaged 4.2 assists per game, and 2.2 a game, to go with 11.1 points a game. Ebel sees the floor very well; plays solid defense; gets a bunch of steals, and is very athletic. The Hawks will look towards Ebel and classmate [player_tooltip player_id="1167717" first="Lance" last="Berends"] to lead the team this season. [player_tooltip player_id="956883" first="Mason" last="Harter"] (2023) | 6’6" F | Wapsie Valley - Harter almost averaged a double-double last season, averaging 11.6 points per game, to go along with 9.5 rebounds a game. At 6’6", Harter is a great rebounder on both the offensive and defensive glass, and he is a great rim protector (averaging over a block a game). Harter does all of his scoring down low and is very good at it, shooting 58% from the field. With Wapsi Valley graduating three starters, Harter and [player_tooltip player_id="962601" first="Gunner" last="Meyer"] will lead the Warriors this season. [player_tooltip player_id="956889" first="Max" last="Burt"] (2023) | 6’0" G | Newman Catholic - Burt was the fourth leading scorer on a young Newman Catholic team last season. The six-foot guard did it all for the Knights last season, averaging 8.8 points a game, 6.3 assists per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and even 2.4 steals a game. On offense, Burt can score from inside and out, shooting 56.8% from the field and 55.4% from three. Burt brings a lot of energy to the court and plays hard on both sides of the ball. The Knights bring back four starters, but with Burt’s shooting ability and ability to find open teammates, look for him to have a solid junior campaign. [player_tooltip player_id="1167707" first="Beckett" last="DeJean"] (2023) | 6’2" G | OABCIG - Alongside his older brother Cooper, [player_tooltip player_id="1167707" first="Beckett" last="DeJean"] was the Falcons second-leading scorer with 13.4 points a game. With his brother and two other starters graduating, DeJean should be the leader of this Falcons team. To go with his 13.4 points a game, DeJean averaged 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. DeJean’s stats from last season show how good of an all-around player he is. He can finish at the hoop, doing most of his scoring inside the three-point line. [player_tooltip player_id="1167714" first="Zane" last="Witt"] (2023) | 6’7" F | Camanche - In a season where Camanche made it to Des Moines, Witt was a huge piece of the r<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/133-Zane-Witt.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1290541 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/133-Zane-Witt-300x200.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="300" height="200" /></a>un. Led by a couple of seniors, Witt started 16 games for the Indians and average 5.3 points a game. On the defensive end, Witt uses his 6’7" frame very well to get up and get a lot of rebounds as well as protect the rim. With the Indians graduating two of their top scorers, and [player_tooltip player_id="682268" first="Zach" last="Erwin"] out with an injury, look for Witt to step up and play a huge role for Camanche this year.   [player_tooltip player_id="956879" first="Tate" last="Petersen"] (2023) | 5’11" G | Monticello - Last season, Petersen was the second-leading scorer (10.5 ppg) for the Panthers. Petersen had a very good sophomore year for the Panthers and followed it up with a very impressive summer with the Barnstormers. Petersen is very crafty and very skilled at the point guard position. He has super good handles; the ability to knock down shots; and is quick enough to get to the hoop. Petersen gained a ton of confidence this summer, and with Monticello graduating four starters, Petersen should have a huge year for the Panthers.

Kooper Ebel (2023) | 6’2" G | Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn - Ebel was an assist and steal machine last season. The 6’2" guard averaged 4.2 assists per game, and 2.2 a game, to go with 11.1 points a game. Ebel sees the floor very well; plays solid defense; gets a bunch of steals, and is very athletic. The Hawks will look towards Ebel and classmate Lance Berends Lance Berends 6'4" | PF HMS | 2023 State IA to lead the team this season.

Mason Harter Mason Harter 6'6" | PF Wapsie Valley | 2023 State IA (2023) | 6’6" F | Wapsie Valley - Harter almost averaged a double-double last season, averaging 11.6 points per game, to go along with 9.5 rebounds a game. At 6’6", Harter is a great rebounder on both the offensive and defensive glass, and he is a great rim protector (averaging over a block a game). Harter does all of his scoring down low and is very good at it, shooting 58% from the field. With Wapsi Valley graduating three starters, Harter and Gunner Meyer Gunner Meyer 6'5" | SF Wapsie Valley | 2022 State IA will lead the Warriors this season.

Max Burt Max Burt 6'0" | PG Newman Catholic | 2023 State IA (2023) | 6’0" G | Newman Catholic - Burt was the fourth leading scorer on a young Newman Catholic team last season. The six-foot guard did it all for the Knights last season, averaging 8.8 points a game, 6.3 assists per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and even 2.4 steals a game. On offense, Burt can score from inside and out, shooting 56.8% from the field and 55.4% from three. Burt brings a lot of energy to the court and plays hard on both sides of the ball. The Knights bring back four starters, but with Burt’s shooting ability and ability to find open teammates, look for him to have a solid junior campaign.

Beckett DeJean Beckett DeJean 6'2" | PG OABCIG | 2023 State IA (2023) | 6’2" G | OABCIG - Alongside his older brother Cooper, Beckett DeJean Beckett DeJean 6'2" | PG OABCIG | 2023 State IA was the Falcons second-leading scorer with 13.4 points a game. With his brother and two other starters graduating, DeJean should be the leader of this Falcons team. To go with his 13.4 points a game, DeJean averaged 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. DeJean’s stats from last season show how good of an all-around player he is. He can finish at the hoop, doing most of his scoring inside the three-point line.

Zane Witt Zane Witt 6'6" | PF Camanche | 2023 State IA (2023) | 6’7" F | Camanche - In a season where Camanche made it to Des Moines, Witt was a huge piece of the run. Led by a couple of seniors, Witt started 16 games for the Indians and average 5.3 points a game. On the defensive end, Witt uses his 6’7" frame very well to get up and get a lot of rebounds as well as protect the rim. With the Indians graduating two of their top scorers, and Zach Erwin Zach Erwin 6'6" | SF Camanche | 2022 State IA out with an injury, look for Witt to step up and play a huge role for Camanche this year.

Tate Petersen Tate Petersen 6'1" | PG Monticello | 2023 State IA (2023) | 5’11" G | Monticello - Last season, Petersen was the second-leading scorer (10.5 ppg) for the Panthers. Petersen had a very good sophomore year for the Panthers and followed it up with a very impressive summer with the Barnstormers. Petersen is very crafty and very skilled at the point guard position. He has super good handles; the ability to knock down shots; and is quick enough to get to the hoop. Petersen gained a ton of confidence this summer, and with Monticello graduating four starters, Petersen should have a huge year for the Panthers.