2025 Rankings Update: Top 10 Newcomer Wings and Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(38) PF [player_tooltip player_id='2442409' first='Jang' last='Ruei'] (Sioux City East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruei makes a lofty debut in the 2025 rankings following an impressive spring and summer run with Team Warwick and the [program_tooltip program_id='2246861' first='Iowa' last='Barnstormers'] (now Murray Elite) in which he was able to routinely show off his eye-popping athleticism. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but he finishes above the rim with authority, and his combination of length, athleticism, and explosiveness provide him with some real versatility on the defensive end of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(102) SF [player_tooltip player_id='2511505' first='Kaiden' last='Smith'] (Knoxville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another impressive, versatile defender with tremendous length is Smith, a 6-6/6-7 combo forward who can defend one through five at this level. He has great athleticism and length, which allows him to contest shots on the perimeter and protect the paint, blocking 2.7 shots a game as a junior. While his offensive game is starting to catch up, it's the frame, athleticism, and defensive versatility that should be garnering him some interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(118) SF [player_tooltip player_id='2511468' first='Isiah' last='Rose'] (Assumption)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a similar vein to Smith, Rose is another length, athletic wing who can do a little bit of everything on the defensive end of the floor. He has a huge wingspan and is 6-7, so he can defend on the perimeter or protect the rim defensively. He was a key bench piece for the 3A champion Knights last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(142) C [player_tooltip player_id='2511461' first='Derek' last='Willmott'] (Indianola)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willmott will be a senior leader on a very young Indianola team this season after averaging 7.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game last season. He's a very efficient 6-7 big man, posting 62-40-69 shooting splits while showing impressive footwork and good touch around the bucket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(154) PF [player_tooltip player_id='2440642' first='Connor' last='Williams'] (Springville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After seeing him play a bit with [program_tooltip program_id='2075572' first='Iowa' last='Prep'] this spring and summer, Williams is a player I'm excited about heading into his senior year with the Orioles. He's a mobile 6-4 big man with soft hands and great timing as a shot blocker, turning away 2.5 shots a game as a junior. He has a good motor and competes hard on the glass on both ends of the floor. If he's able to add some consistency to his jumper and show some ability to step out and stretch the floor a bit, he could be a player that area small schools will be interested in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(171) PF [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (Grinnell)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-4 forward was very productive as a junior for the Tigers, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.5% from the floor. He has good hands and soft touch around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(180) PF [player_tooltip player_id='2511486' first='Traven' last='Wheeler'] (South Hardin)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wheeler is a bouncy 6-4 forward who had a breakout junior year for the Tigers, averaging 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game on 62.7% shooting. He has a really good second jump that he uses to compete on the glass, and he's a great finisher around the rim who pounds the offensive glass (3.3 a game).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(193) SF [player_tooltip player_id='2480003' first='Jathan' last='South'] (ACGC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South led the Chargers in scoring as a junior, putting up 15.4 points a game while showing the ability to score from all three levels. He's at his best in the mid-range, where he uses his bigger frame to back down smaller defenders and shoot over them, but he can also attack off the dribble or knock down shots off the catch after good off-ball movement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(194) SF [player_tooltip player_id='2511456' first='Landon' last='Bozarth'] (Newton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bozarth (pictured) only appeared in nine games last season for the Cardinals, taking just eight shots, but he'll be a key piece for them as a senior. He was excellent in June at the Winterset Shootout, using his length and athleticism effectively on both ends of the floor while also showing himself to be a really good three-level scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(198) PF [player_tooltip player_id='2511478' first='Tyler' last='Gade'] (Waverly-Shell Rock)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gade is another Go-Hawk who saw some time last season, but who will be asked to step into a much larger role as a senior. He's a big 6-4 forward with a strong frame, soft hands, and good touch both around the rim and on his jumper with range out to the 3-point line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->