River Valley Conference Shootout: Top 2024 Performers
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Abram Claussen-Tubbs (Anamosa) The 6-4 lefty power forward had his best game of the season for the Blue Raiders, finishing with 11 points and 8 rebounds on 3-4 shooting (5-6 FT). He showed good patience on his post touches and…
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Continue ReadingAbram Claussen-Tubbs (Anamosa)
The 6-4 lefty power forward had his best game of the season for the Blue Raiders, finishing with 11 points and 8 rebounds on 3-4 shooting (5-6 FT). He showed good patience on his post touches and soft touch around the rim. His strong showing at the free-throw line suggests that he may be able to add a little bit of range to his game, but right now his damage mostly comes around the rim. He has soft hands and makes good, solid contact on his box outs to rebound at a high level.
Preston Daedlow (Tipton)
A 5-8 off-ball guard, Daedlow got fire for Tipton in the second and fourth quarters, knocking down some huge shots to spark big Tiger runs. He’s a confident shooter with a quick release on his jumper and plenty of range. He moves well without the ball in his hands and is ready to shoot off the catch. He finished with a game-high 16 points on 6-9 shooting (4-7 3P) in the Tigers’ win.
Jacob Tegeler (Northeast)
A long, 6-1 wing, Tegeler more than doubled his season scoring average by dropping 23 points on 10-12 shooting in the Rebels’ win over West Liberty. He got his hands on a ton of passes, using his length to get into passing lanes and turn defense into offense. He has great body control around the rim and is able to finish through contact, nabbing three “and ones” during the game. He’s a good athlete who rebounds well on both ends of the floor and is a menace on the defensive end. He constantly looks to attack the rim, both in the halfcourt and in transition.
Clayton Meyermann (Northeast)
A physical 6-4 power forward, Meyermann was unstoppable in the Rebels’ win over West Liberty, scoring 21 points on 9-13 shooting, along with 13 rebounds (7 offensive). He’s strong and has a relentless motor as an offensive rebounder, attacking the ball and dominating the glass against a smaller West Liberty team. He has good touch and footwork around the rim, soft hands, and showed that he can also step out and stretch the floor, knocking down a pair of 3s with a smooth release.
Eli Kluesner Eli Kluesner 6'1" | SF Beckman Catholic | 2024 State IA (Beckman Catholic)
An aggressive 6-1 wing, Kluesner was looking to constantly attack the rim and pound the offensive glass in Beckman’s blowout win over Durant. He has a quick second jump that he uses to control the offensive glass, pulling down a trio of offensive boards, and he was highly efficient as a scorer, dropping 23 points on 11-14 shooting. He has good touch and body control around the rim with the ability to finish with either hand.
Preston Ries Preston Ries 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2024 State IA (Monticello)
With all-state guard Tate Petersen Tate Petersen 6'1" | PG Monticello | 2023 State IA sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Panthers needed Ries to step up and play like an all-stater himself, and he did just that against Regina, dropping 30 points on 11-17 shooting along with 10 rebounds and 3 assists. The future Iowa football player has always been a terror on the hardwood as well, using his combination of athleticism, strength, and talent to score seemingly at will, and he was unstoppable against the Regals, especially in the first half (21 points). He’s an explosive athlete with the ability to score from all three levels, and he showed the ability to be a playmaker as well, especially in the second half when Regina was trying to take away his scoring.
Demarion Honaker Demarion Honaker 6'6" | PF Camanche | 2024 State IA (Camanche)
An athletic 6-7 combo forward, Honaker is at his best when he’s playing downhill and getting to the rim, either off the dribble or by cutting to the rim off the ball for finishes. He’s an efficient finisher around the bucket with good touch and is an explosive second jumper. He had 21 points on 9-11 shooting as well as 12 rebounds in the Storm’s narrow loss to Mid-Prairie.
Holden Arnaman Holden Arnaman 6'3" | PG West Branch | 2024 State IA (West Branch)
A talented lead guard with great handles and court vision, Arnaman has grown a bit more, now probably close to 6-2/6-3, and that added size has made him an improved finisher around the rim. Early in the Bears game against Bellevue, he was looking to get his teammates involved, showing off his court vision and passing by dishing out 5 assists in the first 10 minutes of the game. Then he turned into a scorer, putting up 20 of his 26 points in the second half, routinely getting into the teeth of the defense for finishes or getting to the free-throw line.
Ty Hinz (Maquoketa)
Hinz is a quick-twitch athlete on the perimeter with the quickness and ball-handling to blow by defenders and get to the rim, and he’s a knockdown shooter off the catch. His shot looks like it’s going to scrape the roof of the gym with the amount of arc he gets on it, but it’s extremely effective. He had 23 points and was 7-14 from behind the arc in the Cardinals win over Wilton in the nightcap.