Iowa 4A Standout Underclassman (Sophomores And Under) Prospects

The 4A division in Iowa high school basketball is filled to the brim with excellent talent. The underclassmen (sophomores and under) in this division have greatly contributed to the excess of standout prospects that are throughout this group of teams. Let's get right into the most standout underclassman prospects from the 4A division in Iowa.    [player_tooltip player_id='2772350' first='Frank' last='Lee IV'] is one of the most impressive young guards I have seen play so far this season. His deep range as a shooter is his defining skill. He can shoot off the dribble, off the catch, and while running around screens. He showcases an elite release from behind the arc because his shot is both mechanically sound and very quick. He also has no issue shooting over contests and draining jump shots even after being fouled. His threat as a shooter makes his pump fake deadly, which allows him to get downhill and pull up in the midrange, where he is very adept at scoring in both of those positions. He is a smooth shot creator and ball handler in general. However, he thrives in the midrange as a creator more often than not. He has great footwork, balance, and change of pace that allow him to shake defenders and hit tough fadeaways over their contests. One of my favorite things about him as a shot creator is how he embraces contact. He shoves through defenders and bumps them out of his way, leading to better angles for pull-ups and layups. He takes on all of these shot-creation duties while also being an elite point-of-attack defender. He allows no separation and gets many steals and blocks due to his activity on the defensive end.     [player_tooltip player_id='2478747' first='Nash' last='Kooken'] plays like a veteran at this point. He really has a game beyond his years in terms of polish. He is an elite ball handler and a calm initiator of the offense. His processing speed is out of this world when it comes to reading defenses. Even at his young age, the game moves very slowly for Nash. He routinely dimes up his teammates with his ability to manipulate the defense and predict their next moves. He is especially great at making reads out of the pick and roll, which is where his court vision shines through the most, as he can make layered reads in seconds and find cutters before the defense has a chance to react. Even though I would say his most impressive skill is his playmaking, he is no slouch as a scorer either. He has a beautiful stroke from outside that he can get off in short spaces due to his quick release, and he is very good at running off screens and hitting threes. He is also a very good scorer around the rim. He has touch with both hands and is very good at stretching out and finishing tough layups. Another area that I would say Nash is advanced in is his ability to draw fouls at a high rate. He is very smart with his body, and he knows how to initiate contact and force calls.     [player_tooltip player_id='2594655' first='Pete' last='Craig'] is already insanely versatile. He has an elite combination of size, physicality, and skill. For starters, he is a monster as a post scorer. He bumps defenders with his frame and carves out space for hook shots and floaters. He embraces contact at every moment possible and makes life difficult for whoever is tasked with defending him. When you couple that with his fluid footwork, you have a dangerous scorer around the rim, as he is also very skilled at driving downhill and smashing through the defense, leading to many and-1 finishes. He is great at attacking closeouts and can also shoot from outside. He is also a very high-level passer and processor for his age. He makes many high-level reads and is great at operating as a playmaker out of the post. Pete is similarly impactful on the defensive end of the floor. He is a great and physical post defender, while also being able to switch out onto guards on the perimeter. He has great skills as a rim protector as well.     Joshua Charlotin is one of the most difficult scorers to defend in the entire state. He can do about everything on the offensive end of the court. He is an elite post scorer and driver. His touch, footwork, fluidity, speed, and leaping ability make him a constant presence in the paint. He is a matchup nightmare, and he can get by about any defender that you throw at him. He is a true three-level shot creator who is also a very elite passer. He makes difficult reads while exploding downhill, and he is elite at pushing the break and finding his teammates in transition. Even while being this all-around impactful offensive force, he is just as impactful as a defender. He blocks shots, gets steals, can switch onto almost any player, and he is the anchor for Southeast Polk's defense.     Evan Mitchell does all of the dirty work. He has great size and physicality, and he plays with the utmost hustle and energy. He is always fighting for rebounds, getting 50/50 balls, diving on the floor, and getting in the passing lanes for steals. He makes his presence felt in every aspect of the game due to his size and hustle. He brings down many boards because he just fights harder than his opponents. He is also great defensively around the rim, always cutting off angles with his great help defense and deterring opponents from attempting shots around the rim. He also gets a surprising amount of steals for a player of his stature, and this is because of his tenacity to go after the ball every chance he gets.

The 4A division in Iowa high school basketball is filled to the brim with excellent talent. The underclassmen (sophomores and under) in this division have greatly contributed to the excess of standout prospects that are throughout this group of teams. Let's get right into the most standout underclassman prospects from the 4A division in Iowa.