Available '23s Deserving of More Attention

IOWA CITY, Iowa – I attempt to see as much live basketball from around the state as I can each year. However, there are too many good teams and players within the borders to see in a season.   With that in mind, I'll spend some time this spring and summer watching highlight tapes and writing up reports. Remember, highlight tapes are good, so if you're a prospect don't only rely on media outlets who produce mixes. Please include defensive clips, too.   Here's seven seniors who should be able to find college homes:   [player_tooltip player_id='1167671' first='William' last='Kiburis'], CG, Gladbrook Reinbeck/Martin Brothers - The 6-foot-4, 165-pound senior ranked fifth in the state in scoring (26.1 PPG), was his conference's player of the year and first-team all-state. He possesses good athleticism and handles in his highlights when the Rebels reached the state tournament last month. He shot 62.8 percent from the floor, including 36.5 from three. He buries mid-range jumpers and shows a smooth release on his shot. Kiburis sees the floor and finds open teammates very well. As an added bonus, he <a href="https://twitter.com/PBRIowa/status/1642594639562539016?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">could play two sports</a> at the next level.    [player_tooltip player_id='1367408' first='Merquiche' last='Lewis Jr.'], Burlington/Team Iowa - Lewis Jr. shares traits with Kiburis in being a well-rounded guard. He averaged 24.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game as a senior for a solid Grayhound squad. His highlights reveal a three-level scorer who excels in the mid-range and with pull-up jumpers in general. He shows a strong left hand as a right-hander. I like that he offers a high basketball IQ and hustle on the film.    [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'], PG, Waverly-Shell Rock - Westpfahl plays like you need to play when you're 5-10. The most important element to that is understanding your limitations and taking advantage of opponents' shortcomings. It allows him to score from everywhere on the floor. He shot 36.8 percent on treys in scoring 21.5 points per game in '22-23. It's a smooth looking shooting stroke with a quick release from deep and in the mid-range. He handles the ball well and creates.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/6LUJ6QLy7jc </div></figure>   Keishaun Pendelton, CG, Waterloo West - Pendelton (6-1) is one of those guards with a knack for making the play that needs to be made at any given time. He can create for himself and also facilitate for others. His shot features a quick, smoth release with good rise on the jumper. He changes speeds well and knows when to go. He averaged a team-high 15.7 points this past winter.    [player_tooltip player_id='956880' first='Traijan' last='Sain'], CG, Cedar Rapids Washington/Martin Brothers - Sain's athleticism is insane. The dunks on his highlights tell a story of extreme leaping ability and explosion. Kirkwood offered him an opportunity at the end of February. Iowa Lakes did the same back in September. At 6-foot-5 with length, Sain averaged 15.9 points and 6.5 rebounds. Despite him only shooting 29.4 percent from behind the arc, he shows good form and release. There's potential for improvement there with more reps and some mechanical tweaks.    [player_tooltip player_id='1367399' first='Andrew' last='Austin'], Wing, Central Lyon - The 6-foot-7 Austin was named the all-tournament team captain when the Lions won a Class 3A state title last month. For the season, he averaged 19.9 points per game and pulled down a team-best 9.3 rebounds as a senior. He shot 61.9 percent from the floor, including 34.1 on threes. His highlights illustrate good form and release. They also show a strong mid-range game and an ability to attack the basket with athleticism.    [player_tooltip player_id='1167689' first='Aidan' last='Yamilkoski'], SG, Cedar Rapids Xavier/Martin Brothers - Yamilkoski (6-4) reports college opportunities from Chadron State, Mount Mercy, Briar Cliff, Iowa Lakes and Coe. His 17.8 points per game as a senior led the Saints, who reached the Class 3A state title game. He shot 41.3 percent on three-pointers and added 4.3 rebounds per contest. His accuracy from deep stands out on his highlights but an understanding of how to get open and an ability to finish at the rim also impress.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – I attempt to see as much live basketball from around the state as I can each year. However, there are too many good teams and players within the borders to see in a season.