2024 Winterset Shootout: 2025 Player Evaluations (Class 1A/2A)

SG [player_tooltip player_id='1416420' first='Noah' last='Kading'] (ACGC)   It took the Chargers a while to get accustomed to the athleticism and speed of Southeast Polk, but they played better in the second half against the Rams, in particular Kading. A 6-3 wing who can handle it and score from all three levels, he displayed impressive footwork and ball-handling, getting to the rim for finishes or finding cutting teammates for good looks. He has good size and length, a good feel for the game, and doesn't get sped up, playing at his pace and letting the game come to him. In addition to his ability to control the game with the ball in his hands, he's also a good shooter both off the dribble and the catch with a pure stroke and high release on his jumper. He finished with 10 points.   CG [player_tooltip player_id='2397210' first='Brody' last='Buck'] (Madrid)   Buck was really good against Ankeny Centennial, playing under control and showing the ability to play with and without the ball in his hands. He can shoot it at a high level both off the dribble and the catch, with a quick release. He gets the ball into his shooting pocket quickly off the dribble and has a really solid mid-range game. He plays with pace, can change speeds effectively, and has a quick burst of a first step that he uses to blow by defenders and get to the rim.   SG Lucas Klootwyk (Pleasantville)   In watching Klootwyk play against Center Point-Urbana, you wouldn't think that he shot just 23% from behind the arc last season. He has a quick release and a lot of confidence in his shot, shooting it effectively both off the dribble and the catch en route to 14 points on four made 3s.   SF Jathan South (ACGC)   South led the Chargers in scoring last season, and you can see why he can be such a productive scorer when you watch him play. He struggled at times to finish against the size of a 4A school like Southeast Polk, but he's an active wing with a nice mid-range game, and he knows how to get to his spots off the dribble, taking a few hard dribbles off the catch and elevating into his jumper around the nail. He has good size and length that he uses effectively on the defensive end.   C Mason Wahl (ACGC)   Wahl is a massive body in the paint for the Chargers, looking like an offensive tackle, and he uses his frame effectively, carving out space around the rim. He has big, soft hands that he uses to control the glass, and he does a nice job keeping the ball high after catching a pass or pulling down a rebound. On a perimeter-oriented team like ACGC, he provides some needed size in the painted area.   SF [player_tooltip player_id='1797393' first='Payton' last='Policky'] (ACGC)   Policky reminds me a bit of Sage Evans, the former West Harrison standout. He doesn't necessarily look like a basketball player, but man is he effective. He impacts the game in a number of different ways, showing good vision and passing instincts, the ability to handle it and get to the rim off the dribble, and he has a really good feel for the game. He's active on the glass on both ends of the floor, has good touch around the rim, and can occasionally step out and shoot it from deep. He's a floor general who does a lot of things for his team on both ends.   SF [player_tooltip player_id='1174816' first='Toryn' last='Severson'] (Madrid)   A lanky wing who impacts the game in a major way on both ends of the floor, Severson (pictured) is a high IQ player who can score from anywhere, defend multiple positions, create off the bounce, and contribute on the glass in a big way. He looks like he's added even more range to his arsenal, comfortably pulling up from several feet beyond the high school line, which will only make him more deadly as an offensive weapon if he's able to knock down shots from that distance consistently.   PF [player_tooltip player_id='2511537' first='Quinton' last='Bailey'] (Des Moines Christian)   A 6-3/6-4 big man with big, soft hands, Bailey does a nice job keeping the ball high after pulling down a rebound or receiving a pass in the post. He finishes well around the rim and can finish through contact effectively. He had a pair of and-one finishes against Winterset. He sets good, hard screens and rolls hard to the rim.   SF [player_tooltip player_id='1951817' first='Tregan' last='Beiter'] (Kuemper Catholic)   Kuemper was extremely impressive throughout the weekend, and while Beiter wasn't the headliner of the group, he was very solid in a pair of viewings against Williamsburg and Indianola. He's an active forward with good hands and some toughness that he uses to battle on the glass on both ends of the floor. He can defend a few different positions, and he finishes really well around the rim with either hand. He'll do a majority of his damage off of drop-off passes or by pounding the offensive glass, but he can also get to the rim off the dribble or step out and knock down shots on occasion from 3.   PG [player_tooltip player_id='1759944' first='Carson' last='Kanne'] (Kuemper Catholic)   The heady lead guard is the maestro of a potent Kuemper attack. He has a great feel for the game, doesn't get sped up, and plays with great pace. He knows how to change speeds to help get by defenders, and he finishes well through contact at the bucket. He's a capable three-level scorer with a pure stroke from 3-point range, but he's also a true floor general who loves to get his teammates involved, play strong on-ball defense, and be a vocal leader on the hardwood.

SG Noah Kading Noah Kading 6'3" | SG ACGC | 2025 State IA (ACGC)