Class 1A: Top Ten Returning 3-Point Shooters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Minimum 50 3-point attempts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2027 Jaxson Boswell (East Marshall) -- 36/80 (45.0%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boswell had a breakout junior year for the Mustangs, averaging 10.1 points per game on 46-45-76 shooting splits. He moves really well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release off the catch. As the leading returning scorer on a team that lost three of their top four, look for him to potentially emerge as one of the top scorers in 1A this season, in large part because of how deadly he can be from distance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828832' first='Taegin' last='Smith'] (Marquette Catholic) -- 80/186 (43.0%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a high-volume shooter who may just be the best pure shooter in the state right now. He's exceptional off both the dribble and the catch, getting his feet set and firing with a lightning-quick release. He came off the bench in all but one game last season for the Defenders and still averaged 10.6 points a game and got up over 6.5 3-point attempts a game. He's got the green light!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='3693058' first='Beau' last='Burdic'] (East Mills) -- 60/142 (42.3%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 5-9 off-ball guard, Burdic was really productive as a freshman, averaging 14.8 points and posting 45-42-71 shooting splits. He's a really nice complement to star guard, senior Mason Camden, who averaged nearly 24 a game last season. Burdic and Camden will give the always strong Wolverines one of the best one-two punches in the class this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3681787' first='Henry' last='Gruver'] (Woodbine) -- 32/77 (41.6%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gruver wasn't a high-volume shooter, averaging just 1.5 made 3-pointers per game last season, but he certainly provided a real spark off the bench for the Tigers with his ability to help space the floor for their athletic guards and wings who were better playing downhill. Look for him to become a much bigger part of the Tigers' offensive attack as a junior following some significant losses to graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3650845' first='Kade' last='Clarkson'] (Ankeny Christian) -- 51/123 (41.5%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarkson emerged as a very reliable tertiary scorer for the Eagles as a sophomore, averaging 10.5 points a game and showcasing himself as their best perimeter shooting threat. With their top three scorers returning, the Eagles could be a sleeper team in 1A this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2027 John Deemer (Bedford) -- 41/99 (41.4%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deemer will pair with high-scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='3343950' first='Quentin' last='Dalton'] to give the Bulldogs one of the best guard tandems in 1A this winter. He takes full advantage of the open looks that the slashing Dalton is able to provide for him, proving himself as a sharpshooter throughout his junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2845971' first='Lucas' last='Helgeland'] (Lake Mills) -- 46/114 (40.4%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-2 wing was really good as a junior for the Bulldogs, averaging 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while showing that he can not only shoot it from deep off either the dribble or the catch, but also score around the bucket, using his size and length to his advantage. His size allows him to shoot over most players at this level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3453701' first='Griffin' last='Kies'] (Notre Dame) -- 55/137 (40.1%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second-leading scorer on a Nikes team that reached the semifinals last season, Kies was their top perimeter shooting threat, helping space the floor for superstar guard Shay Stephens. He shoots it really, really well off the catch and has steadily developed as an off-dribble shooter, something he'll probably need to do some more of as a senior leader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2028 Hudson Whitney (St. Albert) -- 22/55 (40.0%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitney came off the bench for the Falcons to provide some shooting, and while his volume wasn't huge, the floor spacing that he helps provide is big for a St. Albert team that has a lot of quality offensive weapons returning alongside him. He's a true 3-point marksman, with over 76% of his shot attempts last season coming from distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2028 Griffen Hammersland (Central Elkader) -- 51/130 (39.2%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffen and older brother Owen Hammersland were the Warriors' top two scorers last season, and both return (as does another double-figure scorer), giving them a chance to make some noise this season. Griffen is the team's best shooting threat, capable of shooting it at a high clip off both the dribble and the catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->