Summer Roundup: 2024 Stock Risers

Courbat’s stock can’t get much higher than it already is, but the versatile and athletic 6-8 lefty forward was able to secure Division I offers from UMKC, North Dakota, and NJIT over the last month or so. A bouncy combo forward who has really developed his ball-handling and shot creation over the last year, Courbat has the explosive athleticism that college coaches drool over. He’s a good rim protector and all-around team defender who will also pound the glass on both ends of the floor. The added offensive game might make his ceiling as high as anyone in the state’s 2024 class. He’s a high-academic kid (4.29 GPA, per his Twitter) with a great understanding of the game, great raw physical tools, and a drive to continue to improve.

A long, athletic wing who uses his size and length to his advantage on both ends of the floor, Phillips put together a really good summer with the Iowa Barnstormers on the NXTPro circuit. He recently picked up offers from D2s Augustana (SD) and Truman State, programs that have recruited Iowa at a high level lately. He’s a versatile defender with the size and strength to defend bigger bodies, and the athleticism and length to defend on the perimeter. Offensively he’s at his best when he’s playing downhill and getting to the rim, but he’s a good enough shooter that it needs to be respected, with the potential to become a strong threat from deep.

Arnaman had a fantastic summer for a Kingdom Hoops team that competed at a really high level on the EYCL and at the Peach Jam Invitational against programs that competed in the EYBL throughout the year. A skilled combo guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands, he’s a pure shooting threat, especially off the dribble, with the ability to create looks for himself at a high level. That said, he’s not just a scorer, he’s also a talented passer and playmaker who puts constant pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to get into the teeth of the defense, getting them to collapse, then finding open shooters with his great court vision. He competed well on the defensive end throughout the summer and probably played his way into some scholarship money.

Berggren is due for a major leap in the next rankings after a dominant spring and summer as a three-level scorer for an Iowa Hoop Dreams team that played really well at a majority of the tournaments they played in. A crafty scoring threat with good size at 6-4, Berggren has a pure stroke off both the dribble and the catch, and he pairs that with a willingness to post up smaller defenders, showing great footwork and touch in that part of the floor. He can invert the offense as a scorer and facilitator. He competes on the glass on both ends of the floor and plays hard on the defensive end.

Few players in the state, regardless of class, helped themselves this summer as much as Williams did. He has grown another inch or two, measuring around 6-6/6-7 now, and he was absolutely dominant as an interior scorer, while also showing other aspects of his offensive arsenal throughout the summer. He showcased an improved face-up game, comfortably knocking down jumpers from 15 feet, and he also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack off the dribble against bigger, slower-footed defenders. He’s a good athlete with an explosive second jump, is great on the glass on both ends of the floor, and plays with a non-stop motor. He turned himself from a really good Division III prospect into a player who should certainly get some scholarship money.

A dynamic scoring threat who can fill it up from all three levels in a hurry, Readus had some explosive scoring games for the Barnstormers this summer. He can create looks for himself and is a confident playmaker who wants the ball in his hands late in games. He’s a good enough shooting threat that it needs to be respected, but he’s at his best when he’s playing downhill and using his quickness and athleticism to get to the rim for finishes. He’s a good athlete who will compete on the defensive end and contribute on the glass.

Reid has drastically improved his all-around game over the last 12-18 months, turning himself from a catch-and-shoot weapon into a versatile all-around threat. He’s still one of the best pure shooters out there, especially off the catch, but he has improved his ball-handling and decision-making, proving himself to be someone who can be relied upon to make the right decision with the ball in his hands. He provides some versatility on the defensive end with his length and size, and he has gotten much stronger, allowing him to not only defend bigger players, but also finish at a high clip around the rim.

Another high IQ player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor with his blend of size, athleticism, and length, Davis is a versatile weapon who can defend multiple positions as well as score from all three levels. He’s a good team defender who positions himself and rotates well, and he’s a three-level scorer and capable playmaker on the offensive end who uses his size to see over the defense and find open teammates. He can do a little bit of everything on the floor and will be a valuable asset for whichever school he ends up at.

Webb is an intriguing prospect who continues to get better and more assertive on the offensive end. He’s a good athlete with outstanding length on the perimeter, pairing a 6-7 frame and long wingspan with a pure stroke from the arc. He has always had a solid skillset, but he’s putting everything together now and smaller schools around the state and the area are taking notice. He provides versatility on the defensive end and should be a good 3-and-D wing at the next level.

Schipper picked up offers from Simpson, Central, Buena Vista, and the University of St. Mary throughout the last month or so, with his ability to fill it up from all three levels grabbing the attention of college coaches around the area. He has good size and length at 6-6/6-7, and when you pair that type of size with his ability to shoot it from the arc, you have a player who is going to command some attention. He didn’t get a lot of run on last year’s loaded Warriors team, but he should be one of the focal points of the offensive attack this year. He rebounds well, can provide some versatility on both ends of the floor, and he plays hard on every possession. He’s due for a major jump when the rankings are updated in September.