Class 3A: Top 10 Returning Shot Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2448279' first='Brooks' last='Coates'] (Marion) -- 59 blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coates is one of the best rim protectors in the state, regardless of class. At 6-10, he has great size and length, and he's an incredibly mobile big man who runs the floor, rotates well as the help defender, and can wall up on the block against bigger bodies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2027 Grant Arends (Webster City) -- 46</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-2, Arends is one of the smaller players on this list, but that's a testament to his athleticism, willingness to defend, timing, and IQ. He's not a big scorer, averaging just 3.9 points per game last season, but he knows his role (rebound, 5.2 a game) and defend, and he plays it well for the Lynx.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3073150' first='Nate' last='Walterbach'] (Saydel) -- 39</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-7 Walterbach has a chance to get onto college radars this winter with his unique blend of size, shooting (40.7 3P%), and rim protection. He's the type of raw talent that small colleges covet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2028 Alex Kelley (Knoxville) -- 35</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelley is a raw, but intriguing, 6-7 big man with some mobility and good timing as a rim protector. He turned away 1.5 shots per game as a sophomore while also averaging 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds on nearly 55% shooting. If he's able to take another leap, that would be huge for the Panthers this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2615533' first='Matthew' last='Ochalla'] (Gilbert) -- 27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ochalla moved from Wisconsin to Gilbert before his sophomore year, and he made his mark on the Iowa high school basketball scene on both ends of the floor before his season ended in the substate final with an injury. He's a long, athletic wing who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He can defend one through five at this level and does a nice job utilizing his length and IQ to his advantage defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>t6.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2758688' first='Jacob' last='Mulder'] (MOC-Floyd Valley) -- 26</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mulder isn't an elite, bouncy athlete, but he's a highly intelligent big man who positions himself well, stays vertical, and rotates well as a help defender, which is where he gets a good chunk of his blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>t6.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2770487' first='Darius' last='Foy'] (Fort Madison) -- 26</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foy averaged 1.7 blocks per game for the Bloodhounds, using his long arms and good timing to contest shots and he was largely able to do so without fouling. The 'Hounds were a much different team on both ends of the floor when he was healthy and suited up, and he looks primed to have a huge senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3343990' first='Tyler' last='Edgar'] (Oskaloosa) -- 25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edgar is a strong, physical, and athletic 6-4 forward who can defend multiple positions. He averaged 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game while also averaging 2.1 "stocks" per night for the Indians. Oskaloosa could be one of the more improved teams in 3A this winter, and Edgar's presence on the block will be a big part of that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2617495' first='Drake' last='Pfaltzgraff'] (Bondurant-Farrar) -- 24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pfaltzgarff turned away a shot a game last year for the Bluejays, serving as the team's dominant rim protector. He's a versatile, athletic defender who can switch onto smaller players as well as hold his own in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2754699' first='Gavin' last='Ahrendt'] (Sergeant Bluff-Luton) -- 23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahrendt is a very mobile 6-6 big man who can switch defensively and stay in front of guards, or wall up inside the paint and make life difficult for opposing bigs. His length and mobility are major assets for the Warriors on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->