CIML Video Scouting: 2022 Forwards

<p><em>Thanks to the fantastic video quality of the YouTube streams that CISNtv puts out (and a few solid streams from schools), we were able to get caught up on several CIML teams during the holiday break. We checked out Ames, Ankeny, Centennial, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshalltown, Northwest, Roosevelt, Southeast Polk, Valley, and Waukee, and we’ll be posting some scouting reports on players from each of these teams over the next few weeks to help fill the basketball void. In this article, we’re taking a look at 2022 forwards from the aforementioned teams.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962490" first="Eli" last="Raridon"] (Valley)</strong></p> <p>Given that he has signed to play tight end at Notre Dame, it comes as no surprise that Raridon is an eye-popping athlete with excellent hands and a big, physical frame. We watched the Tigers’ game against Waukee in which Raridon went off for 28 points on 12-18 shooting, and honestly, those numbers may be underselling how dominant he was. He has quick feet and excellent footwork when he touches it on the block, with good touch and an array of post moves that he can go to. He has the strength to power through contact and finish at the rim, and he’s a terror in transition who looks to dunk everything. A mobile big who runs the floor and is a switchable defender, he also handles the ball fairly well for a big man and he has excellent instincts on the defensive end. He recently tore his ACL, but if he had been able to stay healthy, Valley may have become my pick to win it all in Class 4A - he’s that type of dominant presence on both ends of the floor.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1158260" first="Ruot" last="Bijiek"] (Valley)</strong></p> <p>With Raridon sidelined for the rest of the year, a lot will be asked of Bijiek, and the good thing for Valley is that he’s talented enough to carry them. He’s still rail-thin, but he has excellent length and is a bouncy athlete who runs the floor well and does a great job using his length to impact the game on the defensive end by getting into passing lanes and contesting shots. He pounded the offensive glass hard in the game that we watched, finishing with 9 rebounds (5 offensive) to go with 23 points. He didn’t make any 3-pointers in our viewing, but he has a smooth release on his shot and we know that he’s a capable perimeter shooting threat, at least good enough that the defense needs to respect it. He has good touch around the rim, is a switchable defender, and has the type of size and length that coaches will covet.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="682286" first="Corey" last="Phillips"] (Ames)</strong></p> <p>A nimble 6-5 big man with a big, physical frame and quick feet, Phillips has been a strong contributor for Ames since he was a freshman, and he’s playing at a high level as a senior. He does an excellent job defending ball screens, hedging hard, and scrambling back to his man quickly. He has excellent hands (also a potential Division I tight end) and great footwork on the block with excellent touch around the rim. He uses his physicality to finish through contact and does a great job of establishing early post position and using his strength to seal his man and score. He’s also capable of stretching the floor as a shooter. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1352972" first="Braden" last="Simonsen"] (Ankeny)</strong></p> <p>An undersized 6-4 forward, Simonsen is an efficient scorer on the block with excellent footwork and good touch. He had 12 points on 3-4 shooting (6-6 FT) in the Hawks win over Lincoln. He plays hard and battles on the glass on both ends of the floor, pulling down 6 rebounds, including a pair on the offensive end. He also does a good job keeping the ball moving and recognizing when pressure is coming, showing strong court vision with 3 assists. I love the way he defends ball screens, hedging hard and doubling the ball-handler and forcing them into a turnover. </p>