Area Rankings: Top 10 2024 Prospects in Southeast Iowa
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Caden Wilkins IA #3 SF #1 HEIGHT 6'7" POS SF CLASS 2024 View Profile Caden Wilkins Instagram Twitter State: Iowa School: Bettendorf Club: Iowa Barnstormers Bettendorf will likely have their next nationally ranked prospect soon in Wilkins, an athletic, high…
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Continue ReadingBettendorf will likely have their next nationally ranked prospect soon in Wilkins, an athletic, high IQ 6-6/6-7 wing who can fill it up from all three levels with efficiency. He’s coming off a huge summer with the Iowa Barnstormers that has firmly landed him on the radar of high-major Division I programs around the Midwest. He moves extremely well without the ball in his hands, has good size and length, a tremendous understanding of the game, and a smooth stroke out to the arc to pair with a rapidly developing handle and ability to create his own looks. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore for the Bulldogs, and could be a candidate to lead 4A in scoring as a junior.
Weisskopf is an excellent athlete who has already committed to play football at Iowa, but he would be a strong Division II prospect if he had decided to go the hardwood route. An athletic 6-5 wing with length and plenty of bounce, he was extremely impressive as a sophomore for the Raiders, leading them to an undefeated conference season while averaging 15.3 points and 6.6 rebounds on impressive 56-42-73 shooting splits. He can play with or without the ball in his hands, defend multiple positions, rebound, and make plays for others. He’s oozing with potential on the basketball court, and it’s scary to think that it’s his second best sport.
Wade didn’t have huge numbers as a sophomore for the Bulldogs (5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds), but he’s a 6-7 big man who makes a tremendous impact on the game with his defense and ability to control the glass. Like Wilkins, he’s coming off a really strong summer with the Barnstormers where he more than held his own against some of the best big men in the country, limiting them offensively and taking advantage of his opportunities when they presented themselves on the offensive end. He has good hands, improving footwork and touch, and he’s incredibly strong. Programs looking for a defensive enforcer will love Wade.
A high IQ lead guard who defends on the ball at a high level, Gerardy’s numbers as a sophomore won’t blow your mind – 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds – but he was a strong contributor on both ends of the floor who takes pride in his work on the defensive end. He’s the type of lead guard who is going to take care of the ball, get others involved, and want the toughest assignment defensively on a nightly basis.
A long, athletic wing with a ton of potential, Phillips averaged 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore for the Lancers. He’s at his best when he’s either getting out in transition or attacking the rim within the halfcourt setting. He does a good job using his length on the defensive end to get into passing lanes or contest shots, and he’ll contribute on the glass. If he can add some consistent range to his game, he’ll be one to really look out for.
A high IQ guard who can really shoot it from deep, Martin averaged 13.0 points and shot 43% from behind the arc as a sophomore, and like Wilkins and Wade, is coming off a strong summer with the Barnstormers where he showcased his ability to not only shoot it but also create for others as well as get to the rim. He does a good job playing with pace and changing speeds to help get by defenders, and he shoots it well both off the dribble and the catch.
Highlights
Like Weisskopf, Buffington has already committed to play football at Iowa, and a lot of the same attributes as Weisskopf. He’s big, physical, and a great athlete with excellent hands. He’s a powerful forward who plays much bigger on the hardwood than his listed 6-2 in large part because of his athleticism and the strength and physicality he brings to the table. He averaged 19.0 points and 10.2 rebounds a game while shooting nearly 63% from the floor as a sophomore for the Wolves. He’s a bouncy athlete who looks to throw down with authority in transition, and his ability to control the glass on both ends is huge for his WMU team.
A long, springy athlete on the wing, Moore is a ton of fun to watch in transition. He averaged a team-high 16.8 points on 50.7% shooting as a sophomore for the Rockets. His jumper is still a work in progress, but he has the ability to put the ball on the floor and create looks for himself, and he showed that he can pass it a bit last year as well, dishing out 2.8 assists a game. He figures to have the ball in his hands more this year, and if he can add some consistent range to his shot, he’ll be a terror to defend at the 2A level.
The son of former Iowa State forward Klay Edwards, Abram is a long combo forward with a lot of potential. He handles it well for a 6-6 forward and he has really good court vision and passing instincts. He has a good feel for the game and loves to get his teammates involved. He’s a good scorer around the bucket who can step out and knock down the occasional jumper, and he has good timing and instincts on the defensive end, which when paired with his pure size and length, makes him a solid rim protector. He averaged 12.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks a game as a sophomore. We’d like to see him become a bit more assertive because he has the size and skillset to absolutely dominate on the hardwood.
Gorsline is one of those throwback “bring your hard hat” type players. He’s an undersized four at 6-2, but he plays much bigger than that with his athleticism, toughness, and non-stop motor. He loves to compete on the glass (7.0 rebounds a game), will defend anyone at the high school level and do it well, and he’ll finish his opportunities around the rim. He has worked to extend his range and produced well last year, knocking down nearly 39% of his 3-point attempts, and his relentless energy rubs off on his teammates. He’s tough as nails and is always going to compete on every possession.