Midwest Showcase: Iowa 2023 Bigs

<p><em>On Friday and Saturday, some of the top talent from around the Midwest will convene at Staley High School in Kansas City for a live period event for Division I coaches. Forty Iowans are among the players who will be in attendance. In this article, we take a look at the bigs from the Class of 2023 that made the cut and will play this weekend. </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Caden-Kirkman1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1254556" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Caden-Kirkman1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1167686" first="Caden" last="Kirkman"] (Wilton)</strong></p> <p>Kirkman is probably the big man that has the most to gain from this weekend. A highly skilled 6-8 big who can stretch the floor and dominate on the block, Kirkman has a bit of a throwback game with his elite footwork and touch around the rim. But he also has some modern big man in him as well, with a smooth stroke that can space the floor and some rim protection. I’m surprised that he doesn’t have a handful of low-to-mid-major offers already, and I expect that to change after this weekend. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kade-Benjamin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1254941" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Kade-Benjamin-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="956872" first="Kade" last="Benjamin"] (New London)</strong></p> <p>An athletic big man who runs the floor really well, Benjamin is a high-flyer who loves to finish above the rim on the break. His length and athleticism allow him to be a really good rim protector as well as a switchable defender. He has a reliable face-up game on the offensive end and is a really good rebounder on both ends of the floor. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Vance-Peiffer-crop-4852x3186-1632325455.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1289168" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Vance-Peiffer-crop-4852x3186-1632325455-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167685" first="Vance" last="Peiffer"] (Waukee)</strong></p> <p>Peiffer is a stretch-4 that I’m really high on, personally. I think he has a ton of potential as a switchable defender who can stretch the floor on the offensive end. He has a smooth stroke from deep with good rotation, and he sets really good screens, where he can then either roll to the rim or pop out and knock down shots. He has good instincts and timing as a shot-blocker and isn’t lost when switched onto smaller guards. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Zane-Witt-crop-4852x3186-1632325512.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1289171" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Zane-Witt-crop-4852x3186-1632325512-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1167714" first="Zane" last="Witt"] (Camanche)</strong></p> <p>A long and bouncy 6-7 big man, Witt had a breakout junior year for the Storm, averaging 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks a game while shooting 66% from the field. He’s a mobile rim-running big who finishes above the rim with authority and has great instincts as a shot blocker. His strong play has continued during the spring with the Iowa Mavs, and he could make some noise this weekend. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/118-Kirby-Schmitz-crop-2206x1449-1610566205.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1115533" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/118-Kirby-Schmitz-crop-2206x1449-1610566205-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1067656" first="Kirby" last="Schmitz"] (Urbandale)</strong></p> <p>Schmitz is a big, physical presence in the paint at 6-6 who can impact the game on both ends of the floor as a rebounder and physical interior defender. He has good hands and does a good job rebounding both in and out of his area.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/VanDyk.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1070401" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/VanDyk-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167750" first="Brandt" last="Van Dyke"] (Sioux City East)</strong></p> <p>A 6-8 big who can do a little bit of everything, Van Dyke led the Black Raiders in assists, steals, and blocks while showing his ability to score both inside and out. A bouncy big who runs the floor, can shoot it, and provides some playmaking, he’ll have a chance to get onto the radar of a lot of college coaches with an impressive showing. </p>