Iowa Top 250-Expo: Team 9 Evaluations
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Competing at the 2023 IA Top 250 Expo were 90+ players, separated into 12 different teams. As well as being a scout in the building for the day, I was also a coach on Court 3. I had the privilege…
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Continue ReadingCompeting at the 2023 IA Top 250 Expo were 90+ players, separated into 12 different teams. As well as being a scout in the building for the day, I was also a coach on Court 3. I had the privilege of coaching Team 9, a handful of times throughout the event, giving me an inside look as to what each player excels at individually and what they need work on moving forward. I will be listing each player by their jersey number assigned at the event (for video purposes if someone wants to look back on BallerTV), name, current height, current position, & the high school they are currently attending.
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#437 – JaiShon White – 2026 – 6’1 – PG/SG – Waukee High School
JaiShon White’s game could be described in so many ways. He plays with tempo and pace while being a high level-IQ player. On Sunday it was obvious that White was one of the better players on his team on both sides of the floor. Offensively he was scoring from all three levels consistently. He displayed that he could attack going either way and finish with either hand while going toward the rim. Defensively he was just as solid. Someone who has good enough size to stick with a forward, but quick enough feet to stay in front of a shifty guard. All in all, White had a well-rounded day he should be proud of.
#439 – Nate Lukkarinen Nate Lukkarinen 6'2" | PG Muscatine | 2026 State IA – 2026 – 6’1 – SG – Muscatine High School
I would really need to study Lukkarinen’s film to understand his game to a T but on Sunday he showed glimpses of doing a little bit of everything. He was running the show at the point position and making plays, moving to the shooting guard spot for open looks from deep, and he was handling the matchup that was put in front of him on the defensive side of things. This winter is going to have some opportunity at Muscatine high school and I think Lukkarinen can use that to his advantage. He has displayed the skill-set to be a varsity player in my eyes but he will need to get a little stronger and go out there and just do it now. Something that is more than doable with someone who has the drive that Lukkarinen displayed on Sunday.
#404 – Calvin Flood Calvin Flood 6'0" | PG Urbandale | 2024 State IA – 2024 – 6’1 – PG – Waukee High School
Calvin Flood Calvin Flood 6'0" | PG Urbandale | 2024 State IA displayed to me that he is an efficient point guard out on the floor. Flood was doing it all from the point position on Sunday. He was running the show by providing the pace and tempo in which the game would be played, he was creating and facilitating to his teammates in a plethora of different ways, and he was working as hard on defense as he was on offense. Flood was one of the better PG to step onto Court 3, no doubt about it.
#480 – Juelz Coney Juelz Coney 6'4" | SF Bettendorf | 2026 State IA – 2026 – 6’4 – CG – Bettendorf High School
A lost art form in the game of basketball is moving without the ball. If you truly know the game then you know that some of the best players to ever step onto the court, were great at moving without the ball and that created a lot of success for them over their careers. A player that did a great job of this at the Top 250 Expo was Juelz Coney Juelz Coney 6'4" | SF Bettendorf | 2026 State IA . Coney has nice size and length but his best attribute/ability is his movement. Coney knows how to space out, where to space out to, and when he should cut off of that spacing. On multiple occasions on Sunday he was giving a pass and cutting immediately off of it for a finish at the rim. Coney should hold his head high and look to build off of this positive showing moving forward.
#486 – Caden Kettman – 2024 – 6’3 – CG – Marquette Catholic High School
Caden Kettman was one of the strongest players I saw on the floor on Sunday. Kettman did a good job of using his size and strength to his advantage at every given opportunity. He was posting up smaller guards near the rim, catch in the mid-post and attacking his matchup, and even spreading the floor and knocking down a jump shot a time or two. Defensively, he did a great job of using his physicality to bully players that would try to go at him 1 on 1, usually winning the matchup. I’m not sure where Kettman is with recruiting when it comes to playing at the college level but if there is a team out there looking for a hardworking competitor with physicality, a high motor, and a good base of skill, this could be your guy.
#493 – Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA – 2025 – 6’5 – SF – Marquette Catholic High School
A player that lives up to his positions name in the “stretch 4”, that showed off his length and impressive shooting stroke at this event was Spencer Roeder Spencer Roeder 6'5" | PF Maquette Catholic | 2025 State IA . Roeder is 6’5 with what seems like a longer reach. He is always ready to shoot and displays a fundamental shooting stroke on every attempt he takes. When he has a size matchup he isn’t afraid to take his man into the post and make a quick move for an easy bucket before the defense can make an adjustment. I think this winter Marquette Catholic is going to have every weapon to make a big run. They have all positions covered, including some unique players with distinct talents that could take them over the top. They will have to prove me right here but in most matchups this season, I like their odds.
#508 – Aiden Stensrud Aiden Stensrud 6'6" | PF Lake Mills | 2025 State IA – 2025 – 6’5 – PF/C – Lake Mills High School
Aiden Stensrud Aiden Stensrud 6'6" | PF Lake Mills | 2025 State IA was one of the best rim-running Power Forwards/Centers that I had the chance on watching compete all day. Stensrud does the little things here and there throughout a game and it pays off for him and his team in the end. He is good at doing his work early and beating his opponents to their spots on a consistent basis. The best way I could describe Stensrud’s game is consistent. When opponents matchup with him to start a contest, I’m sure they think they will beat him physically down the court most of the game but that is usually never the case. After about the 5-7 possessions, the consistency of Stensrud starts to emerge and he starts to slowly win his matchups with his endurance in the post. Lake Mills is another high school team looking to make a big run this winter. Will they? They have the personal but we will just have to wait and see.