Holiday Break Check-In: Top 10 1A Shot Blockers

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.   1.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476970' first='Carson' last='Ourth'] (Danville) - 44 blocks   The state's leading shot blocker, Ourth is a versatile, mobile 6-7 big man who runs the floor hard, can switch on the defensive end, and he rotates well as a help defender, coming out of nowhere to turn away shots. He's averaging 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 4.4 blocks, and 2.9 steals a game for the Bears, stuffing the stat sheet.   2.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951796' first='Caleb' last='Haack'] (Iowa Valley) - 36   Haack is a really skilled 6-7 combo forward who can do a little bit of everything on the floor, including showing impressive rotations and help defense as a shot blocker. He has good timing and does a really good job at contesting shots without fouling, averaging just 1.1 fouls per game. He leads the Tigers in just about every category, averaging 22.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals a game.   3.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325508' first='Hunter' last='Hillman'] (Saint Ansgar) - 35   A tough, well-built 6-6 forward, Hillman leads the Saints in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (10.7) in addition to his work on the defensive end. Like Haack, he does a good job staying out of foul trouble (2.0 fouls per game), allowing him to stay on the floor and provide significant value on both ends.   4.) 2024 Riley Simmons (Belle Plaine) - 32   An efficient 6-3 forward with good bounce and great timing as a shot blocker, Simmons has been a dominant force on both ends of the floor for the Plainsmen, averaging 15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 steals in addition to his rim protection.   5.) 2024 Titus Barber (Murray) - 30   A 6-8 big man, Barber has a significant size advantage against just about anyone that the Mustangs run into in the Bluegrass Conference, and he has taken full advantage of that edge, averaging 19.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and shooting 58.4% from the floor.   6.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721652' first='Sam' last='Hoodjer'] (Clarksville) - 29   Hoodjer is one of the few perimeter-oriented players who will appear on the top 10 shot blockers lists, a testament to how his length impacts the game on the defensive end of the floor. He's averaging 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals a game.   7.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid) - 25   Severson is not only one of the best two-way players in 1A, he's firmly establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in the state, period. A high IQ, long, active defender, he positions himself well, rotates, communicates, and does a great job contesting shots, using his combination of length and athleticism. He's averaging 23.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals on 51-36-78 splits, to boot.   8.) 2024 Christian Dahir (Tri-Center) - 24   A tough 6-3 forward who uses his physicality to his advantage on both ends, Dahir also leads the Trojans in steals, averaging 2.9 thefts a game.   9.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511615' first='Brayden' last='Darling'] (Kee) - 24   Kee has been one of 1A's most pleasant surprises so far this season, off to an 11-0 start and a #8 ranking, and the 6-5 Darling's work on the defensive end is a notable piece of that success. He has split his time starting and coming off the bench, but he provides a lot of value as a rim protector and rebounder in whichever role he's playing.   10.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376713' first='Drew' last='Wagner'] (Waterloo Christian) - 22   Wagner has found himself on quite a few of these top 10 lists during the break, a testament to just how dominant he has been on both ends of the floor through the first portion of the schedule for the Regents. He's a physical 6-4 forward with the size and strength to hold his own in the paint, and the timing to contest shots without fouling.

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.