Winterset Shootout Preview

Winterset High School will be hosting 32 teams from around the state on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17. There will be a ton of talent in three gyms, with games tipping off at 8:00 am each day, and lasting until 8:00 pm, giving us a solid 24 hours of basketball over the course of two days. Below we take a look at some of the top players and teams that will be in Winterset this weekend.   Dates: June 16-17 Location: Winterset High School (Penrod Gym, Husky Gym, Junior High Gym)   Participating teams Both days: ADM, Ankeny, Dallas Center-Grimes, Des Moines Christian, Grand View Christian, Harlan, Indianola, Madrid, Norwalk, Pleasant Valley, Roland-Story, Roosevelt, Solon, Williamsburg, Winterset, Xavier Friday only: Ames, Centennial, Knoxville, Kuemper Catholic, Newton, Ottumwa, Southeast Polk, Van Meter Saturday only: Clear Creek Amana, Humboldt, Iowa Falls-Alden, North Polk, Pella, Pella Christian, Spencer, Waverly-Shell Rock   Teams to Watch   Ankeny: The Hawks battled injuries and inconsistent play throughout last season and finished with a disappointing 9-15 record, but they showed what they're capable of by posting wins over state tournament qualifiers Ames, Waukee, and Hoover. They will bring back 71.5% of their scoring, led by a dynamic senior tandem in the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='1171660' first='Carson' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1171676' first='Lio' last='Aguirre'], as well as role players [player_tooltip player_id='1751178' first='Cash' last='Schoolen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1751177' first='Devon' last='Akers']. We're looking forward to seeing the Johnson-Aguirre combo, as well as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1977422' first='Rio' last='Aguirre']. This is a big summer for an Ankeny program that took a bit of a step back and is looking to rebound.   Grand View Christian: The defending Class 1A champions lost their two star guards, Josh Sanderson and Frankie Chiodo, as well as 7-foot shot blocker Daniel Tobiloba, to graduation, leaving some gaping holes in the lineup. But with 6-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (12.7 points, 10.1 rebounds) and 6-5 [player_tooltip player_id='1476971' first='Noah' last='John'] (10.7 points, 8.9 rebounds) returning, they're still going to be big and skilled in the frontcourt. The question for this group will be who fills in in the backcourt, and we're looking forward to learning more about what the Thunder are going to look like.   Madrid: After making their first state tournament trip in March, the Tigers will be looking to build on that success, with 62% of their scoring returning led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (20.6), a skilled three-level scorer with a high IQ and the ability to dominate games on both ends of the floor with his length and talent. Fellow juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (10.8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398087' first='Fabian' last='Ortiz-Alaniz'] (10.1) will provide some additional scoring punch and shooting on the perimeter, but the question for the Tigers will be who steps into the huge hole in the paint following the graduation of Jackson Newell, who blocked over 6 shots a game last season.   Norwalk: The top-ranked player in the gym this weekend will be Warriors' star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'], coming off a season in which he averaged 18.6 points and 4.9 assists a game with 51-40-84 shooting splits. He (pictured) led Norwalk to the 4A state tournament last season, and they're bringing back nearly 58% of their scoring. This will be a great opportunity for [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (9.8 points per game) and [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (4.0) to step into bigger roles after the graduations of Braeden Carlson and Jack Brown, who were second and fourth in scoring last season.   Pella Christian: Could the Eagles be the team to beat in Class 2A heading into this winter? It's certainly possible after they gave Central Lyon their toughest game of the postseason, a one-point loss in the semifinals. The Eagles bring back three of their top four scorers, led by the senior backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='Devries'] (12.5, 4.1 assists) and Dane Gettings (10.5), as well as wing [player_tooltip player_id='2325478' first='Josiah' last='Vos'] (6.7), a dynamic defensive option with tremendous length. Four other significant contributors return and this is a program that always seems to find athletic, long contributors. Devries is one of my favorite players in the state to watch, and this group has a chance to be special.   Pleasant Valley: The Spartans won 20 games last season, upsetting top-seed Kennedy in the 4A quarterfinals and giving eventual champion Valley a good game in the semifinals. They bring back 79% of their scoring from that group and will be a tough, physical group that nobody wants to play. The senior backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1256306' first='Caden' last='Rubel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1376711' first='Coy' last='Kipper'] are as reliable as they come as ball-handlers and shot creators, while [player_tooltip player_id='1751106' first='Max' last='Muszalski'], [player_tooltip player_id='1256301' first='David' last='Gorsline'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1759910' first='Max' last='Schmeltzer'] are all a bit undersized traditionally as big men, but they're strong, physical, tough, and play bigger than they are. We'll be looking to see if junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1587376' first='Cole' last='Beinborn'] has taken another step. If he can provide some additional perimeter scoring punch, that would be a big boost for PV.   Roosevelt: To those who don't know what has happened at Roosevelt, this may seem like a confusing addition to this list, as the Rougriders lost their top four scorers from a 14-10 team. But they've added a ton of transfers from other Des Moines schools - [player_tooltip player_id='1171694' first='Tyron' last='Wright'], [player_tooltip player_id='1376685' first='JeCari' last='Patton'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1587379' first='Desmon' last='Campbell'] from East; [player_tooltip player_id='1171699' first='Ja'Vion' last='Bell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1288903' first='Deng' last='Gai'] from Lincoln; and [player_tooltip player_id='1381410' first='Markese' last='Harvey-Bell'] from Hoover. Those six join returnees [player_tooltip player_id='1476972' first='Zahj' last='Collins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1439900' first='Remi' last='Taylor'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1170334' first='Jayden' last='Davison'], who each saw significant time last season, making this a group that we are really interested in watching to see how the early chemistry is.   Solon: Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1376687' first='Jake' last='Benzing'] (17.7) is coming off a sensational junior year in which he posted 52-46-85 shooting splits and took over games as a versatile scoring threat. Armed with a lethal jumper, good length and size at 6-4, and a developing handle, he could emerge as one of the best scorers in the state as a senior. The Spartans bring back their top three, and four of their top five, scorers from last year and are a team that is going to really get after you on the defensive end. A lot of their kids look similar - long, athletic, and between 6-2 and 6-4 - and they use that depth and versatility to make life really difficult for opposing teams.     Waverly-Shell Rock: The Go-Hawks could be a top 10 team in 3A this season, bringing back 77% of their scoring from a team that won 17 games and reached the substate finals last season. The top four scorers return in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1376675' first='Cole' last='Marsh'] (14.2), [player_tooltip player_id='1751095' first='Noah' last='Frazell'] (13.8), and [player_tooltip player_id='1751097' first='Benny' last='Ramker'] (9.5), along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1759905' first='Luke' last='Frazell'] (12.2). Each of those four are quality shooting threats from the arc, and W-SR shot nearly 40% from deep as a team last season. A deep, skilled backcourt should lead this team to plenty of wins again this year, and they could be one of the best teams in the event this weekend.   Prospects to Watch   2024   #4 [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (Norwalk) #9 [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (Williamsburg) #14 [player_tooltip player_id='1288923' first='Luke' last='Winkel'] (Centennial) #16 [player_tooltip player_id='1171660' first='Carson' last='Johnson'] (Ankeny) #21 [player_tooltip player_id='1476938' first='Jack' last='Wynter'] (Ames) #22 [player_tooltip player_id='1171681' first='Jonovan' last='Wilkinson'] (Roland-Story) #25 [player_tooltip player_id='1171676' first='Lio' last='Aguirre'] (Ankeny) #32 [player_tooltip player_id='1376675' first='Cole' last='Marsh'] (Waverly-Shell Rock) #33 [player_tooltip player_id='1376687' first='Jake' last='Benzing'] (Solon) #42 [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Tyler' last='Netolicky'] (Xavier) #49 [player_tooltip player_id='1376674' first='Calix' last='Cahill'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) #51 [player_tooltip player_id='1171694' first='Tyron' last='Wright'] (Roosevelt) #55 [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (Norwalk) #56 [player_tooltip player_id='1751094' first='Nick' last='Vaske'] (Centennial) #59 [player_tooltip player_id='1256306' first='Caden' last='Rubel'] (Pleasant Valley) #64 [player_tooltip player_id='1751095' first='Noah' last='Frazell'] (Waverly-Shell Rock) #65 [player_tooltip player_id='1256301' first='David' last='Gorsline'] (Pleasant Valley) #67 [player_tooltip player_id='1256299' first='Chase' last='Schutty'] (Centennial) #70 [player_tooltip player_id='1423351' first='Tysen' last='Devries'] (Pella Christian) #71 [player_tooltip player_id='1171672' first='Luke' last='Hardman'] (Pella) #80 [player_tooltip player_id='1751215' first='Reggie' last='Postel'] (North Polk) #81 [player_tooltip player_id='1751106' first='Max' last='Muszalski'] (Pleasant Valley) #91 [player_tooltip player_id='1476971' first='Noah' last='John'] (Grand View Christian) #92 [player_tooltip player_id='1288927' first='Michael' last='Kasperbauer'] (Kuemper Catholic) #93 [player_tooltip player_id='1376711' first='Coy' last='Kipper'] (Pleasant Valley) #96 [player_tooltip player_id='1171689' first='Landon' last='Craven'] (Des Moines Christian)   2025   #16 [player_tooltip player_id='1381402' first='Emiliano' last='Barrantes'] (Grand View Christian) #17 [player_tooltip player_id='1587368' first='Bode' last='Goodman'] (Southeast Polk) #22 [player_tooltip player_id='1381424' first='Abe' last='Vos'] (Ames) #24 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid) #41 [player_tooltip player_id='1759910' first='Max' last='Schmeltzer'] (Pleasant Valley) #42 [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (Ames) #47 [player_tooltip player_id='1759905' first='Luke' last='Frazell'] (Waverly-Shell Rock) #50 [player_tooltip player_id='1759901' first='Seaton' last='Ingram'] (Des Moines Christian) #55 [player_tooltip player_id='1759907' first='Tate' last='Perrin'] (Dallas Center-Grimes) #57 [player_tooltip player_id='1759909' first='DeShawn' last='Long'] (Ames) #58 [player_tooltip player_id='1484417' first='Brayden' last='Treatow'] (Pella) #64 [player_tooltip player_id='1381410' first='Markese' last='Harvey-Bell'] (Roosevelt) #66 [player_tooltip player_id='1759931' first='Cale' last='Berry'] (Clear Creek Amana) #69 [player_tooltip player_id='1759933' first='Elliott' last='Carlson'] (Humboldt) #72 [player_tooltip player_id='1668669' first='Landen' last='Norris'] (Knoxville) #73 [player_tooltip player_id='1587379' first='Desmon' last='Campbell'] (Roosevelt) #82 [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (Clear Creek Amana) #84 [player_tooltip player_id='1170334' first='Jayden' last='Davison'] (Roosevelt) #86 [player_tooltip player_id='1288918' first='Levi' last='Hoskins'] (Pleasant Valley) #98 [player_tooltip player_id='1587373' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (Norwalk) #99 [player_tooltip player_id='1759944' first='Carson' last='Kanne'] (Kuemper Catholic)   2026   #14 [player_tooltip player_id='1977422' first='Rio' last='Aguirre'] (Ankeny) #16 [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] (Ames) #17 [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic) #29 [player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] (Xavier) #35 [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] (Ames) #62 [player_tooltip player_id='1978114' first='Kolby' last='Bechen'] (Centennial) #63 [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] (Xavier) #64 [player_tooltip player_id='1978115' first='Trey' last='Bryte'] (ADM) #65 [player_tooltip player_id='1978116' first='Grady' last='Braunschweig-Norris'] (Southeast Polk) #79 [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] (ADM) #84 [player_tooltip player_id='1978133' first='Max' last='Town'] (Des Moines Christian) #97 [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (Xavier)

Winterset High School will be hosting 32 teams from around the state on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17. There will be a ton of talent in three gyms, with games tipping off at 8:00 am each day, and lasting until 8:00 pm, giving us a solid 24 hours of basketball over the course of two days. Below we take a look at some of the top players and teams that will be in Winterset this weekend.