Who’s Leading the Race for Mr. Basketball?
As the season winds down, we take a look at who’s leading the race for Mr. Basketball, who’s close behind, and who else to watch for. Who’s in the lead? Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest |…
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Continue ReadingAs the season winds down, we take a look at who’s leading the race for Mr. Basketball, who’s close behind, and who else to watch for.
Who’s in the lead? Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA of Waukee Northwest, Omaha Biliew Omaha Biliew 6'8" | SF Waukee | 2023 State IA of Waukee
Teammates their sophomore year at Waukee, Sandfort and Biliew are the favorites to be Mr. Basketball this year, and rightly so. The race between these two may go right down to the 4A State Championship. Each of these players has their teams ranked in the top 3, Waukee at #2 and Northwest at #3 (PrepHoop Rankings).
Sandfort put everyone on watch right away this season, putting up 33 points and 19 rebounds in the second game of the season. Since then, he’s logged five other thirty-point outings, including a 40-point game against Iowa City High. Pryce, a four-year starter, is averaging 25.6 points a game, to go along with 11.1 rebounds per game. The 6’7″ forward has put together quite the high school career and will join his brother at Iowa next year.
Biliew came back to Waukee after spending a year at the Link Academy in Missouri. In his return to Iowa, he’s averaging 22.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. He’s had four games where scoring 30+, including a 40-point game against Johnston. Omaha just recently led the Warriors to a win against a very talented Totino Grace (MN) team. Ranked in the top fifteen nationally, Biliew is heading to be a Cyclone next year.
Who’s close behind? Dallas Bear Dallas Bear 6'8" | SF Cedar Falls | 2023 State #276 Nation IA of Cedar Falls, Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA of Marion
Heading to play at Augustana (SD) next year, Bear is averaging 20.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He dropped 38 points and 16 rebounds a couple of weeks ago against Iowa City Liberty, helping his Mr. Basketball resume. Cedar Falls got off to a rocky start, but since then, Bear has the Tigers to solid wins over Iowa City West and a sweep of Waterloo West.
Also heading to Augustana next year, Marion’s Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA is another contender for Mr. Basketball. A three-year starter, Laube is averaging 21.9 points a contest and has the Wolves (17-5) sitting at first in the WaMaC East. A four-year starter for Marion, Brayson recently broke the career scoring record. Laube’s led the Wolves to nice wins over Cedar Rapids Washington, Solon x2, Mt. Vernon, and Beckman. Keep an eye on Laube in postseason play.
Who’s in contention? William Kiburis William Kiburis 6'4" | PG Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 2023 State IA of Gladbrook-Reinbeck (26.5 ppg), Caden Kirkman Caden Kirkman 6'8" | PF Wilton | 2023 State IA of Wilton (27.4 ppg), Padraig Gallagher Padraig Gallagher 6'5" | SF Beckman Catholic | 2023 State IA of Dyersville Beckman (22.3 ppg), Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA of Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10.6 ppg), Drew Kingery Drew Kingery 6'4" | SF Indianola | 2023 State IA of Indianola (15.5 ppg), and Chase Henderson Chase Henderson 6'0" | PG Hoover | 2023 State IA of Des Moines Hoover (21.3 ppg)