Holiday Break Check-In: Top 10 3A Scorers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>With teams on a hiatus during the holiday break, let's check in on the statistical leaders in each category in each class to get a better feel for who some of the most productive players in the state have been so far this season. Leaders for this article are from whatever has been input into Bound as of 12/26 at 10:30 am.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376690' first='Colton' last='Rasmussen'] (Atlantic) - 25.6 points per game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rasmussen, a 6-3 wing, has always been a big scorer, but he has taken another step this year, turning himself into a knockdown shooter from the arc through the Trojans first nine games. He's shooting 46.4% from 3, up nearly 14% from last year's number. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376720' first='Payton' last='Hagans'] (Mount Pleasant) - 24.9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A stat-sheet stuffing guard who loves to play downhill and get to the bucket, Hagans is averaging 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 steals a game, the latter two lead the team. He gets to the free-throw line routinely and is one of the better on-ball defenders in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171695' first='Matthew' last='Noll'] (Heelan) - 24.3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noll entered the season as one of the top contenders for the Mr. Basketball award, and nothing he has done before the holiday break would change that opinion. In addition to putting up more than 24 points a game, he's chipping in 11.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while having his most efficient season to date (56.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476980' first='Mason' last='Smith'] (Chariton) - 24.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick guard who loves to use his speed to attack the rim and put constant pressure on opposing defenses, Smith dropped 39 points in a win over Central Decatur on December 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288861' first='Tanner' last='Berggren'] (Bondurant-Farrar) - 23.2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For those who didn't see Berggren play over the summer, seeing him on this top 10 may surprise you, but for those of us who saw what he did with [program_tooltip program_id='2198461' first='Iowa' last='Hoop Dreams'], this is no surprise. The Bluejays needed someone to step up following several graduation losses and the loss of [player_tooltip player_id='1587752' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'] to injury, and Berggren has been that guy. A 6-4 wing with a feathery stroke and a great feel for the game, he knows how to get to his spots and can score in bunches from all three levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476977' first='Evan' last='Hammer'] (Carroll) - 22.6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammer is a physically imposing 6-4 force in the paint with the strength, athleticism, and physicality to control that area on both ends of the floor. He's averaging a double-double, pulling down nearly 11 rebounds a game, and he also leads the Tigers in assists, dishing out 3.3 a night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171692' first='Scott' last='Harr'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL) - 22.5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-4 big man with really good touch and footwork around the rim, Harr has been one of the most productive 2024s in the state over the last four years and may have saved his best for last, averaging 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 61% shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (Algona) - 22.0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only four of the Bulldogs' seven games so far have been put into Bound, but Helmers, a quick-twitch lead guard, has been really good in those four games, shooting nearly 56% from the floor and leading the team in rebounding (6.3) and steals (3.3). He has good size and is an explosive athlete with a great first step that he uses to blow by defenders and get to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256304' first='Ben' last='Bockman'] (Decorah) - 21.8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bockman is the leading scorer for a Vikings team that has been explosive this year, putting up over 77 points a game. He's an extremely efficient 6-5 wing who shoots it incredibly well from the arc, posting 57-53-72 shooting splits. Perhaps the most impressive part of his development, however, has been his improvement as a ball-handler and playmaker, averaging 4.6 assists a game as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978100' first='Jaxon' last='Clark'] (Keokuk) - 21.7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw a lot of potential in Clark when I watched Keokuk play Solon last season in the postseason, and the 6-9 sophomore has been fantastic to start his second season, averaging 12.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks on 66% shooting to go with his scoring output. A nimble big man with soft hands, great touch, and a pretty good feel for the game, he has been a dominant two-way player for the Chiefs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->