State Tournament Preview: Class 1A Stars to Watch

<p><strong><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>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="962674" first="Manny" last="Hammonds"] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <p>Hammonds is the most dynamic scorer in the 1A field, averaging 23.9 points a game and armed with a silky smooth mid-range game. He has improved as a 3-point shooter this season and paces a Thunder offense that has been rolling all year. He's an excellent ball-handler with a quick first step that he uses to blow by defenders when they close out too hard, respecting the jumper. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/30-Josh-Baucum.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290413" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/30-Josh-Baucum-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1141465" first="Josh" last="Baucum"] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <p>The other half of a really talented Thunder backcourt, Baucum is an explosive athlete with a powerful first step that he uses to get to the rim and to finish with authority inside the paint. He's also a pest on the defensive end of the floor, showing good instincts on that end. He averages 19.0 points a game and is shooting 52.8% from the floor. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daniel-Tobiloba-crop-2786x1829-1615315737-crop-540x355-1615315753.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147288" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daniel-Tobiloba-crop-2786x1829-1615315737-crop-540x355-1615315753-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="956875" first="Daniel" last="Tobiloba"] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <p>A 7-0 junior, Tobiloba is limited offensively, but his value lies in his size, length, and athleticism. He's the ultimate eraser at the back-end of the Thunder defense, allowing their guards to put heavy pressure on opposing ball-handlers, knowing they have someone behind them that nobody can finish over at this level. He's averaging just 8.3 points a game, but pulling down 14.5 rebounds and blocking 4.6 shots, while altering a dozen others a night. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2023 Jensen Wedeking (Bellevue)</strong></p> <p>Wedeking is a 6-3 combo forward who has been on an absolute tear lately, averaging 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals a game in the Comets' four postseason wins while shooting 54.7% from the floor and 50.0% from 3. He's averaging nearly double his season average during postseason play, showing that he can step up in the big games, and if Bellevue is going to pull off another upset and knock off Grand View Christian, he'll need to be outstanding. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147247" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Wyatt-Helming-crop-2786x1829-1615315103-crop-446x293-1615315117-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158420" first="Wyatt" last="Helming"] (Lake Mills)</strong></p> <p>A 6-7 combo forward who provides a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor, Helming can defend multiple positions and is a strong rim protector (3.2 blocks a game). He can also score at an efficient clip with a solid mid-range game, good footwork and touch on the floor, and the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He leads the Bulldogs in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (9.6).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158456" first="Bennett" last="Berger"] (Lake Mills)</strong></p> <p>Berger, a 6-2 point guard, has been one of the most efficient lead guards in the state this season, averaging 6.7 assists against just 1.1 turnovers a game while shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 43% from the arc. His ability to limit turnovers, stretch the floor, and run the offense is a huge reason why Lake Mills has been so dominant.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/152-Sawyer-Nelson.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290563" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/152-Sawyer-Nelson-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1235044" first="Sawyer" last="Nelson"] (Danville)</strong></p> <p>Nelson is long, lanky, bouncy, and he plays hard all the time. He's third on the team in scoring at 10.3 points a game, but his biggest impact comes with his rim protection (2.3 blocks) and his rebounding (9.9 a game). He was huge in the Bears' district final win over Winfield-Mt. Union by pounding the offensive glass and finding points when they were hard to come by, and the 6-6 forward's activity will be huge for the Bears on both ends. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147251" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Austin-Hilmer-new-crop-2786x1829-1615315146-crop-536x352-1615315160-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="682273" first="Austin" last="Hilmer"] (North Linn)</strong></p> <p>A cat-quick 5-11 point guard who paces a high-powered offensive attack and a swarming defense, Hilmer is averaging 20.0 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.4 steals a game for the Lynx. He has committed to play his college ball at Upper Iowa, and he's the type of player who can drop 15 points in the blink of an eye because of how frequently he forces turnovers, but can also dominate games without taking a shot.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Cade-Haughenbury-crop-2786x1829-1615314288-crop-520x341-1615314304.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1147212" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Cade-Haughenbury-crop-2786x1829-1615314288-crop-520x341-1615314304-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167704" first="Tate" last="Haughenbury"] (North Linn)</strong></p> <p>Haughenbury is an athletic and rangy 6-4 forward who runs the floor extremely well and finishes at a high level around the rim, shooting over 68% from the floor while averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. He has excellent hands and good touch around the rim, and is a perfect complementary piece alongside Hilmer, a big man who can run the floor with him.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167743" first="Nash" last="Smith"] (North Mahaska)</strong></p> <p>Smith is a long and athletic 6-6 combo forward who can stuff the stat sheet for the Warhawks, averaging 19.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals while posting 54-40-68 shooting splits. He uses his length effectively on the defensive end as the frontman for their halfcourt trapping defense, and he can fill it up at all three levels offensively. He makes the game look effortless at times with his ability to impact it all over the floor. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/85-Sage-Evans.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290488" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/85-Sage-Evans-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167703" first="Sage" last="Evans"] (West Harrison)</strong></p> <p>Evans ranks third on his own team in scoring, but he's their most important player. A 6-2 power forward who can stretch the floor (44.8 3P%), he's putting up some video game-like numbers this season, averaging 13.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 3.4 steals a game. He's the type of player that the offense can flow through, and he plays with a non-stop motor. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167735" first="Jaxon" last="Bunkers"] (St. Mary’s)</strong></p> <p>The Hawks don't have a true "star" player, as all five starters average between 9.0 and 12.9 points a game, but Bunkers has the ability to take over games even when he isn't scoring. A 6-2 wing who is dishing out 3.7 assists a game, leads the team in scoring and is scoring at a highly efficient clip (53.8 FG%, 49.0 3P%), Bunkers, who is playing in his third state tournament, could be the most important piece for the Hawks next week. </p>