10 Unranked Sophomores on the Move-Part 1
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Taking a look into the upcoming class rankings updates and who could make their first appearances on Prep Hoops Iowa’s list. The Sophomore class is going to be in two parts because the pandemic has shortened our window of scouting…
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Continue ReadingTaking a look into the upcoming class rankings updates and who could make their first appearances on Prep Hoops Iowa’s list. The Sophomore class is going to be in two parts because the pandemic has shortened our window of scouting this class and our rankings are not as in depth as they would be in a normal year.
Jaixen Frost, Mount Ayr High School- Sophomore Guard
In a fast paced game plan, Frost is the catalyst for the offense and defenses really have to key in on him. He has a quick first step with the basketball and looks to get downhill with either hand. Frost is also an efficient shooter from the outside (40% 3pt) so you can imagine the amount of pressure he can put on 1A defenses throughout a game. Frost is the state’s 2nd leading Sophomore scorer at 21.5 per contest and adds in 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 steals for his team a game. Mount Ayr would run into a juggernaut in Montezuma in the substate final ending their season, and Frost was held to just 3 total points.
Aidan Yamilkoski, Xavier High School- Sophomore Guard/Wing
A lanky player does a little bit of everything on the court. Yamilkoski can shoot it from the perimeter (37.1% 3pt), but can also put on the deck and get to the hoop to finish with his length. He is able to bring the ball up the court and start the offense, and he provides good length on defense to help defend on the wings. He is the leading scorer for the Saints this season at 10.3 points per game and led the team in 3pt%. The more he grows into his body the better he will be. In the sub state second round game that the Saints ended up losing in, Yamilkoski tied for a team-high 9 points.
Carter Sievers, Newell-Fonda High School- Sophomore Guard
A heady guard who can beat you from the outside, or he can put it on the floor and get to the basket. He’s quick with is hands, and will take the ball away if the opposing team leaves it out there, and is a mature basketball player using good body control who seems to make the right play. On the season Sievers led his team in scoring with 17 points per contest and chipped in 3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals as well. Newell-Fonda had a tough outing in the substate semifinal game against Remsen St. Mary’s where Sievers would score 12 points total.
William Kilburis, Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School- Sophomore PG
Kilburis is a big reason why Gladbrook-Reinbeck was able to end the season with the #1 seed in district pairing as he is a big part of what the Rebels do on offense. Kilburis was 9th in scoring amongst Sophomores in the state. Kilburis is at his best in the pick-n-roll situation, as he is good at reading the defense and deciding whether to pull-up for a jumpshot or get downhill towards the defense where he uses good body control and some craftiness around the rim. On the year Kilburis would average 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. The Rebels ran out of gas in the substate final against South Winneshiek, but Kilburis scored 21 points, had 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals on the game.
Travaughn Luyobya, Clear Lake High School- Sophomore PG
Not a player who lights the scorebook on fire with points, but what he does do is share the basketball well, takes care of the ball, and plays good on-ball defense for his team. His 5.7 assists per game are ranked 7th amongst Sophomores in the state of Iowa. It’s one thing to be surrounded by weapons to pass to, but it’s another when you can find them consistently. Luyobya isn’t capped when it comes to scoring the basketball well, but likes to do damage around the basket getting to the hole. On the season he would average 5 points, 5.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and nearly 2 steals per game for the Lions. Clear Lake will play tonight, March 1st, with a trip to Wells Fargo on the line against Humboldt and Luyobya doing what he’s done all season will be a key to success.
Sam King, Des Moines Roosevelt High School- Sophomore Guard
One of the more aesthetically pleasing shots to watch is Sam King, and though his season number (26.7% 3pt) doesn’t reveal just how good it can be at times, seeing it in action can. King is a 3-and-D plus guard right now who can get his own shot off the bounce and has a good mid-range jumper. A young Roosevelt team this season will rely on King’s development going further to take the next step and he has plenty of raw ability to do so. King threw in 11 points per contest this season along with 4.4 rebounds and 1 assist. Roosevelt dropped a tough first round matchup with Marshalltown where King had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Garrett Hempen, Aplington-Parkersburg High School- Sophomore Guard
Starting on a very good Aplington-Parkersburg team as a sophomore is a feat in itself but being second-leading scorer for the same team is another. Hempen wasn’t necessarily on my radar going into the season, but showed why he should be on the state’s radar this season with the way he shot the ball, played tough defense, and initiated offense for the Falcons. Hempen’s 12.3 points per contest were second on the team, and the 5’11 Sophomore guard pulled in 2.3 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 steals. Hempen and Aplington-Parkersburg are awaiting their first round game at Wells Fargo against a tough Van Meter team and will need Hempen to continue his strong play.
Kooper Ebel, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School- Sophomore Guard/Wing
The athletic, slashing guard/wing is another perimeter player to keep an eye out for in this deep class. Ebel has good instincts and understands where he needs to go to receive the ball and score. He has the ability to shoot the 3 ball, but will need to be more efficient (20% 3pt) heading into next season. He shows good hands and body control in traffic which allowed him to score 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. H-M-S were outmatched by Newell-Fonda in the substate second round where Ebel scored 11 points on 4/7 shooting from the field and 3/6 from 3pt land.
Drake Kapayou, Marshalltown High School- Sophomore Guard
Holding one of the better 3pt%’s in the state at 45.8% from distance, Kapayou can really fill it up if the defense gives him space. Adding some counter moves will be something to work on in the off-season, but nonetheless, his shooting ability is what puts him on this list. On the season, Kapayou averaged 9.1 points on 45%FG and the nearly 46% 3pt and 90% FT percentage with tops on the Bobcat team in all of those categories. Marshalltown didn’t go down without a fight against one of the top teams in Waukee, and Kapayou was 2/2 for 6 points from the 3pt line.
Riley Edwards, Southeast Polk High School- Sophomore Guard
The first time I saw Edwards play this year, it was in a pretty bad team game by the Rams against Valley, but Edwards himself was a bright spot for the Rams where he ended up with 8 points. It wasn’t necessarily the points outage that impressed me the most, but the composure and craftiness he showed with the ball in his hands. Edwards can also shoot the ball at a high clip, currently sitting at 39.7% from 3pt land. Edwards came off the bench all season and was a key piece to the Rams’ success throwing in 9.3 points, and 3 rebounds per game. Southeast Polk will face off with Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln tomorrow, March 2nd, in a game to go to Wells Fargo.