Area Rankings: Top 10 2023 Des Moines Metro Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Des Moines metro area is always filled with talent, and the 2023 class is no exception as Polk County and the surrounding area are home to nine of the top 25 2023 prospects in the state. Below we take a little deeper look at the top 10 prospects in the Des Moines metro area to continue our "Area Rankings" series that will detail some of the top prospects from different parts of the state in each class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6315208da0327","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["956447"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The last time we saw [player_tooltip player_id='956447' first='Omaha' last='Biliew'] playing high school basketball in Iowa, he was helping lead Waukee to the 4A state championship. He then spent a year at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, but he's back in Iowa now, and he will be the top-ranked player in the 2023 class when we update the rankings, overtaking Sandfort. A dynamic athlete with outstanding length and the ability to impact the game at an incredible level on both ends of the floor, Biliew spent that year at Link improving his offensive game, which will make him a deadly two-way player as a senior for the Warriors. He has committed to play his college ball at Iowa State.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["956868"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Sandfort is coming off an absolutely dominant junior year in which he averaged 26.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.9 blocks, and posted 53-41-89 shooting splits. The 6-7 wing is an absolutely dominant three-level scorer who shoots it extremely well both off the dribble and the catch, has the ability to create his own look, and control the game on the defensive end with his ability to block shots or defend on the perimeter. The future Hawkeye is a beast.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["956873"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The top-ranked uncommitted player in the state, Kingery is a pure wing scorer with the ability to score from anywhere at any time. He averaged 18.7 points on 52-36-74 shooting splits as a junior to go with 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. He's a bouncy athlete with a great feel for the game who provides versatility on both ends of the floor. He holds offers from North Dakota and Truman State, but I believe he can play at a higher level than that.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["956876"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A cat-quick 6-1 lead guard, Henderson has always been one of the top scorers in the 2023 class, putting up huge numbers for the Huskies since his freshman year. He's coming off a great summer with a really good Nebraska Supreme team, showing that he can score from all three levels efficiently as well as distribute the ball at a high level. He collected a handful of offers before ending his recruitment and committing to play at Montana.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["956875"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A 7-0 big man with eye-popping length and good athleticism, Tobiloba has been a game-changer on the defensive end of the floor for the Thunder for the last three years, routinely blocking more shots than most teams in the state do. His offensive game is still very much a work in progress, which has helped limit his recruitment to smaller Division I schools, but if he is able to put together any sort of offense, whichever school ends up with him will be getting a steal. He averaged 8.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks a game as a junior and recently went on an official visit to Kennesaw State.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["956869"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Vos, like Henderson, has been a major contributor for three years now for the Huskies. A versatile 6-5 scoring wing, he is equally content taking a smaller defender down onto the block and using his physicality and footwork to score or moving off the ball to find an opening to get his shot off. He has a smooth stroke from the arc and is capable of getting scorching hot from deep. He has committed to play his college ball at NAIA MidAmerica Nazarene (KS).","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["956874"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"A 6-4/6-5 wing with a tremendous feel for the game, Collison really does a great job of letting the game come to him, which is evident when looking at his remarkable efficiency numbers. He averaged 18.3 points on 54.5% shooting, including 45.3% from the arc. He doesn't force anything, instead letting his teammates get into the flow of the game and then picking and choosing his spots to attack. His efficiency and length make him a strong Division II/NAIA prospect.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["956887"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"A strong lefty lead guard, Kelderman had a breakout junior year in which he averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 43.4% from the arc. He's quick and does a great job absorbing contact around the bucket for finishes. He has excellent court vision and loves to get others involved, and he does a good job moving his feet on the defensive end.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1167670"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"A high IQ lead guard who shot the ball incredibly well as a junior, Littlefield is the type of floor general that any small school in the area would love to have leading their team at the next level. He protects the ball, makes great decisions, is a good pick-and-roll guard, and a knockdown shooter. Littlefield averaged 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game while shooting 49.4% from the arc and 87% from the free-throw line.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1167685"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Another high IQ player in the Waukee system, Peiffer is a versatile defender as a big man who can protect the paint or switch onto smaller perimeter players without getting lost. He has good hands and footwork around the bucket, and has the ability to occasionally step out and stretch the floor. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game as a junior, leading the Warriors in all three categories.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->