CIML Video Scouting: 2024 Forwards
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Thanks to the fantastic video quality of the YouTube streams that CISNtv puts out, 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,…
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Continue ReadingThanks to the fantastic video quality of the YouTube streams that CISNtv puts out, 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 2024 forwards from the aforementioned teams.
Reece Robinson Reece Robinson 6'7" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2024 State OH (Centennial)
A 6-7 forward who is oozing with potential, Robinson does a good job keeping the ball high on his post touches and using his size, footwork, and touch to finish around the rim. He has good, soft hands, and has a lot of potential on the defensive end as a switchable piece with length. He has good instincts and does a solid job of staying straight up when contesting shots around the rim, using his pure size to make it difficult for opposing players to score. He’ll need to continue to add strength to his frame and add a bit of range on the offensive end, but he has size, is a good athlete who runs the floor, and has some versatility that will make him a valued prospect. He had 10 points on 4-4 shooting (2-2 FT) off the bench for the Jaguars in their loss to Northwest.
Chase Schutty (Centennial)
Schutty doesn’t have as much raw talent and potential as his teammate Robinson does, but he’s definitely no slouch on his own right. A broad-shouldered, 6-5 big man, he’s also a switchable defender who uses his strength to hold his own on the defensive end. He rebounds the ball well and has good footwork on the block. He showed good court vision and awareness, recognizing a double-team early and whipping a crisp pass to the opposite wing for an open 3. He had 5 points and 5 rebounds for the Jags.
Jacob Simpson Jacob Simpson 6'5" | SF Johnston | 2024 IA (Johnston)
Simpson is a kid that we didn’t know much about heading into our viewing of Johnston against Southeast Polk, but we came away impressed with his play on both ends of the floor, as he finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, and 3 steals. Despite giving up a ton of weight to Kadyn Proctor, he did an excellent job battling him for position in the paint on both ends of the floor, and showed that he can be an efficient finisher with either hand around the rim. He also showed the ability to stretch the floor, knocking down a 3-pointer with a smooth release. He’s a solid role player for this year’s Dragons, and will be one of the team’s best players for the next two years.
Ja’Vion Bell Ja’Vion Bell 6'4" | PF Roosevelt | 2024 State IA (Lincoln)
Bell is an athletic, long forward who runs the floor extremely well and is a solid finisher around the rim. He showed some improved ball-handling, pulling down a defensive rebound and going coast-to-coast for a finish, and he also showed improved confidence and form on his jumper, knocking down a 3 in their loss to Ankeny. He uses his length well on the defensive end to contest shots in the paint, and as he continues to add some strength to his frame, he’ll be tough to deal with on both ends of the floor. He finished with 9 points (4-10 FG, 1-1 3P), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.