Class 1A Stars to Watch (Part 1)
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Preston Gillespie IA #64 SF #16 HEIGHT 6'3" POS SF CLASS 2023 View Profile Preston Gillespie State: Iowa School: Dunkerton Gillespie’s 23.6 points a game are tops among returnees in 1A. He enjoyed a breakout junior year as a major…
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Continue ReadingGillespie’s 23.6 points a game are tops among returnees in 1A. He enjoyed a breakout junior year as a major scoring threat for the Raiders, showing the ability to score efficiently from all three levels, posting 62-41-75 shooting splits. He’s a long wing who is at his best when he’s running the floor alongside Casey Gardner Casey Gardner 5’8″ | PG Dunkerton | 2023 State IA and attacking the bucket, but he’s proven himself to be a capable perimeter shooter and halfcourt scoring threat as well.
Gardner led the state in assists last year, dishing out 8.9 helpers a game, and he could approach 10 assists a game this year for the high-powered Raiders attack. He’s the perfect fit for their up-tempo system, constantly looking to push the pace and put pressure on opposing defenses. He has elite court vision and is a tremendously skilled passer who loves to get others involved. He’s come a long ways as a shooter as well, burying 41% of his 3-point attempts as a junior and averaging 16.1 points a game.
Highlights
A long, bouncy forward affectionately known as “Cletus” by his classmates, Haughenbury was a key piece for last year’s 1A championship team, averaging 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. He does a great job using his length and athleticism to get into passing lanes and create chaos on the defensive end, and he loves to finish above the rim in transition. An efficient finisher with either hand around the rim, he’ll be the focal point of opposing game plans as a senior.
Few players in the state are capable of stuffing the stat sheet the way that Kiburis does on a nightly basis. As a junior, he averaged 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 3.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game. A 6-4 point guard with an excellent feel for the game, he knows when to attack, when to get others involved, and he’s the rare type of player who can absolutely dominate a game even when he isn’t scoring due to his passing, rebounding, and ability to defend multiple positions at a high level.
Taylor has been committed to play baseball at Iowa since his freshman year, but that hasn’t prevented him from being a dominant basketball player as well. He averaged 22.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season on 60% shooting for the Knights. He’s a long, athletic wing who thrives when he’s playing downhill and getting to the rim for finishes. He’s a really good rebounder who uses his length and athleticism to control the glass, and he has proven that he can create for himself and others.
Porter is probably the most talented player in 1A basketball, a dynamic 6-1 point guard with blazing speed and tremendous talent. He’s armed with a tight handle, elite speed, and the physicality to absorb contact and finish through it when he gets to the rim. He averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.7 steals a game as a junior with impressive 56-45-74 shooting splits. His jumper has really improved over the last few years, turning himself into a deadly perimeter threat, which when paired with his handle and quickness makes him an extremely dangerous weapon. He holds offers from Bryant and IUPUI.
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An athletic rim-running big man, Benjamin has been a fantastic complement to Porter for the last three years. He finishes above the rim at a high level and has steadily worked to add some range to his game. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.1 blocks a game while shooting nearly 68% from the floor. He has great hands, is a good leaper, and has great timing and instincts on the defensive end.
Tobiloba is the most dominant defensive player in small-school basketball. He blocked 119 shots (4.6 a game) as a junior and altered probably another 100. His mere presence in the paint completely alters the way that teams can attack the Thunder offensively, and unlike previous Thunder big men, he does a pretty good job staying out of foul trouble (2.6 fouls a game). At 7-0 with a huge wingspan, great athleticism, and good timing, he’s still a very raw prospect but there is a lot of raw ability here in a stellar frame. Kennesaw State might be getting a huge steal here.
A long, athletic 6-6 wing who can do a little bit of everything, Smith was fantastic as a junior, helping lead the Warhawks to the state tournament while averaging 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 steals with 53-39-69 shooting splits. The lanky lefty does a great job using his length to impact the game on the defensive end, and he’s a really talented playmaker who handles it well and sees the floor extremely well. A gifted passer who loves to get others involved, he’s also a dominant three-level scorer with a smooth stroke from the arc.
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Buffington is a strong, powerful, explosive athlete who has been committed to play football at Iowa since his freshman year. Many of the same traits that make him a dynamic football prospect make him a dominant basketball player – he has great hands and timing, is remarkably strong, and is a quick-twitch athlete who can explode for rebounds. He was dominant as a sophomore, averaging 19.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game while shooting 63% from the floor. He’s undersized for a traditional big, but with his strength and athleticism, he plays much bigger than his listed 6-2.