Class 1A First Half Scoring Leaders

1.) [player_tooltip player_id="1158511" first="Devin" last="Arkema"] (Twin Cedars, 2022) -- 27.8 points a game The 5-10 scoring guard has been doing a little bit of everything early this season for the Sabers, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals while ranking third in assists. He’s averaging nearly 10 free throw attempts a game, and his ability to penetrate the defense and get to the rim has been the biggest key to his early-season success.   2.) Preston Gillespie (Dunkerton, 2023) -- 27.4 An athletic, slashing 6-3 wing, Gillespie is enjoying a monstrous breakout season for the Raiders, shooting nearly 72% from the floor while averaging over 27 points a game. With his length, athleticism, and skill, he’s able to get to the rim routinely, and he’s also pounding the glass hard on both ends of the floor, leading the Raiders with 8.4 rebounds a game, including 3.3 a night on the offensive end. He’ll find himself in the updated 2023 rankings after his remarkable start to his junior year.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Austin-Hilmer.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1166675" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Austin-Hilmer-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>3.) [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] (North Linn, 2022) - 24.2 The maestro of the class' most potent offensive attack, Hilmer is using his quickness and talent to get to the rim routinely, which is allowing him to shoot over 60% early this season. He has also become a much more efficient perimeter shooter, knocking down nearly 43% of his 3-point attempts so far this season. When you pair that shooting with his quickness, ball-handling, and footwork, you have a dangerous scoring threat from all three levels. He's also dishing out 7.9 assists to go with 5.4 steals a game for the Lynx.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Manny-Hammonds-crop-2786x1829-1615315783-crop-507x333-1615315795.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147291" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Manny-Hammonds-crop-2786x1829-1615315783-crop-507x333-1615315795-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>4.) [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] (Grand View Christian, 2022) - 23.6 The Thunder have been arguably the most impressive 1A team in the pre-holiday break portion of the schedule, routinely blasting larger schools, and Hammonds is a major reason why. A dynamic three-level scorer who is shooting it at a ridiculously impressive 50% clip from behind the arc (on 66 attempts), Hammonds is able to use that shooting ability to open up the rest of his offensive arsenal. He's armed with a lethal mid-range game, and is an impressive finisher around the bucket.   5.) [player_tooltip player_id="962690" first="Carter" last="DeRocher"] (Gehlen Catholic, 2022) - 23.4 A 6-2 wing who is posting some eye-popping efficiency numbers (53-47-91 shooting splits), DeRocher is a deadly scoring threat from all three levels. He can get to the rim, runs the floor in transition, and is a knockdown perimeter shooter who moves well off the ball and has a quick release on the catch.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Rhenden-Wagaman.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1166860" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Rhenden-Wagaman-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>6.) [player_tooltip player_id="962618" first="Rhenden" last="Wagaman"] (Springville, 2022) - 23.1 Wagaman poured in a school-record 41 points in the Orioles final game before the break against East Buchanan, showing his ability to fill it up from all three levels in the process. A 6-4 wing with length, athleticism, and plenty of talent, Wagaman is posting 54-38-89 shooting splits and is a nightly threat to explode with his ability to turn defense into easy offense to get him going, and once he has it rolling, he's tough to slow down.   7.) [player_tooltip player_id="1352936" first="Cole" last="Jorgenson"] (Sidney, 2022) - 23.0 Jorgensen has played in just two of the Cowboys' games so far, but in those two games, he showed himself to be a more efficient scorer than he was last season, raising his shooting percentage by nearly 10 percentage points. If he comes back after the break and is able to maintain that level of improved efficiency, Sidney could be a darkhorse state tournament team in southwest Iowa.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/William-Kiburis-crop-4852x3186-1632260355.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1288254" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/William-Kiburis-crop-4852x3186-1632260355-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>8.) [player_tooltip player_id="1167671" first="William" last="Kiburis"] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 2023) - 22.9 Kiburis is a highly-skilled, highly efficient 6-3/6-4 lead guard with a tremendous feel for the game. He's a nightly threat to put up a triple-double, averaging 22.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, and he uses his excellent change-of-pace to lull defenders to sleep and get to the rim, where he is an outstanding finisher.   9.) [player_tooltip player_id="1167690" first="Jaixen" last="Frost"] (Mount Ayr, 2023) - 22.9 A talented and athletic 6-2 wing, Frost leads the Raiders in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. The scary thing is that he's shooting it nearly 10 percentage points worse than he did last year, so if he can regain some of that efficiency he displayed as a sophomore, he could be in line for a monstrous second half of the season for Mount Ayr.   10.) [player_tooltip player_id="1167727" first="Mason" last="Crouse"] (East Mills, 2023) - 22.7 Crouse, a 6-0 forward, has really improved his perimeter shooting, going from 32.6% from 3 last season to 47.1% so far this year, and has seen his scoring output increase as a result. Increased efficiency. He's increased his shooting attempts by just one per game but has seen his scoring average rise nearly 3 points a night.