Five 3A Freshmen Making an Early Impact
SG Cameron Boyd (Storm Lake): A sharpshooting 6-1 off-ball guard who has shown that he can score from all three levels early in his career, Boyd is averaging a team-high 15.6 points for the Tornadoes while shooting 39.3% from behind…
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Continue ReadingSG Cameron Boyd (Storm Lake): A sharpshooting 6-1 off-ball guard who has shown that he can score from all three levels early in his career, Boyd is averaging a team-high 15.6 points for the Tornadoes while shooting 39.3% from behind the arc and 48.3% from the floor. He has shown to be a solid secondary ball-handler and playmaker as well, dishing out nearly 2 assists a game. His ability to stretch the floor and provide spacing has been huge for a Storm Lake team lacking shooting.
PF Jaidyn Coon (Storm Lake): Another Tornado who has provided some real value as a freshman, the 6-4 Coon is averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. He leads the team in rebounding and has shown himself to be a physical presence in the painted area on both ends of the floor.
PG Jude Gibson (Ballard): Gibson will find himself very high when the initial 2026 rankings are released. He has been sensational early on for the Bombers, who had a ton of production to replace from last year’s team. The 5-11 point guard is averaging 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 steals a game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Quick and with a tremendous feel for the game, he’s equally adept as a scorer or facilitator, and a true menace on the defensive end who has already established himself as a strong on-ball defender who will make life difficult for opposing ball-handlers.
PF John Nelson (Nevada): A 6-4 power forward who has made an immediate impact on both ends of the floor, Nelson is averaging 8.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks a game for the Cubs. He’s an efficient finisher around the bucket with great hands, good timing on the defensive end as a shot blocker, and he has shown a knack for finding open teammates with good court vision and passing instincts.
PG Max Roach (Oskaloosa): Starting as a freshman in the Little Hawkeye Conference is no small feat, and Roach is performing admirably for the Indians, leading the team in scoring (12.3), assists (3.6), and steals (3.1), while shooting nearly 42% from behind the arc. He’s small, listed at 5-9, but he has a great feel for the game, uses his quickness to his advantage, and has a pure stroke from behind the arc and an innate ability to create space to get his shot off.