State Tournament Preview: Class 1A Stars to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-4 lead guard who is a threat to go off for a triple-double every time he steps on the floor, Kiburis is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 2.8 steals a game with 63-37-77 shooting splits. He has tremendous court vision and a great feel for the game, and with his size, he's able to make passes that few other players in the class can. He has really improved as a shooter, which has opened up the rest of his arsenal and made him an even more deadly all-around offensive weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367394' first='Preston' last='Gillespie'] (Dunkerton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-3/6-4 combo forward who has really improved as a ball-handler this season, Gillespie is averaging 25.8 points and 11.8 rebounds a game for the Raiders, using his athleticism and size to bully his way to the rim for buckets routinely. When he gets some momentum, he's difficult to slow down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956871' first='Blaise' last='Porter'] (New London)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter is averaging 25.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game, and is one of the fastest players in the state with the ball in his hands. His ability to beat defenders off the dribble and get to the rim routinely makes him difficult to defend. He has an elite first step, great handles, changes speeds well, and is armed with a lethal mid-range pull-up game. He's headed to play his college ball at Truman State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high IQ wing with good size at 6-4, Severson has a great feel for the game and is a pure scorer who can score in bunches, putting up fantastic numbers during his first two seasons. He's averaging 20.8 points and 6.4 rebounds a game while shooting 50% from the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956872' first='Kade' last='Benjamin'] (New London)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bouncy 6-4/6-5 forward who is headed to Oklahoma State to high jump for the Cowboys, Benjamin is a fantastic rim protector, blocking 3.7 shots a game in addition to 19.6 points and 8.7 rebounds. He's a perfect complement to Porter, a great athlete who runs the floor, finishes above the rim, and protects the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167715' first='Casey' last='Gardner'] (Dunkerton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's leader in assists per game, Gardner sees the floor exceptionally well and is one of the most creative passers in the state. He has great handles and does a great job changing speeds to get by defenders. He loves to push the pace, has improved as a shooter (both in his actual skill and in his confidence in his shot), and is a true gamer who will leave everything on the floor. He's averaging 19.2 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1367400' first='Josh' last='Sanderson'] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Thunder's leading scorer, Sanderson is putting up 20.7 points a game and dishing out 8.3 assists while shooting 40% from behind the arc. He's a quick, shifty 5-11 guard who sees the floor really well and is a fantastic shooter off the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956875' first='Daniel' last='Tobiloba'] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tobiloba, a future Kennesaw State Owl, is a 7-0 rim protector who is a dominant force in the paint. He's averaging 13.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks a game, and he completely alters the game plans of opposing teams with his size, length, and athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1426164' first='Ty' last='Pflughaupt'] (North Linn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pflughaupt is leading the Lynx in scoring (16.9), rebounding (8.1), and blocks (1.5), showing his ability to score from all three levels, control the glass, and protect the paint. He provides versatility on the defensive end, moving his feet well on the perimeter and contesting shots at a high level, and he has a silky smooth stroke from the arc with a quick release and plenty of range. With his size and length at 6-5, he's a tough matchup with his off-ball movement and ability to get his shot off whenever he wants. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167693' first='Koleson' last='Evans'] (West Harrison)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evans is a difficult matchup at this level because of his size (6-6), physical frame, and ability to score inside and out. He's averaging 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks a game, while shooting nearly 47% from behind the arc. He's able to get his shot off whenever he wants with his size, has the physical frame to finish through contact around the bucket, and he can protect the painted area at a high level defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167703' first='Sage' last='Evans'] (West Harrison)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evans doesn't look like a typical basketball player, but the 6-2 forward puts up video game-esque numbers - 15.1 points, 16.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.8 steals a game. He has a non-stop motor, great hands, and is a physical force who powers through contact, scores from all three levels, and has been absolutely dominant on the glass on both ends (7.1 offensive rebounds a game).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167704' first='Tate' last='Haughenbury'] (North Linn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The captain of the 2022 all-tournament team is back for one more run with the Lynx. A bouncy 6-4/6-5 forward who can dominate games defensively with his length, athleticism, and instincts, he's a terror in the open court, an elite finisher around the rim, and he has really improved as a passer and playmaker this season. Haughenbury is averaging 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.8 steals a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] (North Linn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high IQ guard who has stepped into the shoes of the graduated Austin Hilmer and performed admirably on both ends of the floor, Bechen is a quick guard who can score from all three levels, get others involved, and fly around defensively. His ability to get to the rim, putting constant pressure on opposing defenses, and change speeds and directions, makes him incredibly difficult to defend. He's averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, 2.1 steals and posting 51-46-80 shooting splits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469838' first='Frankie' last='Chiodo'] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-0 off-ball guard who can really shoot it, Chiodo is averaging 16.7 points a game and shooting 40.3% from behind the arc. He has a quick release off the catch, moves well without the ball in his hands, and has showed that he can be a solid secondary playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1167735' first='Jaxon' last='Bunkers'] (Remsen, St. Mary's)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few players in the state have as much state tournament experience as Bunkers, who has been a varsity contributor each of the last four years for the Hawks, all which ended with trips to Des Moines. A versatile 6-3 wing, Bunkers is leading the team in scoring (15.5 points) and assists (5.3), while also contributing at a high level on the glass. He can get to the rim routinely and is a good enough shooter that it needs to be respected. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->