Nathan Stroud Nathan Stroud 6'5" | PF Mount Pleasant | 2024 State IA has really come onto the scene this past season and from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like he is going anyway anytime soon. Stroud, a 6’5 power forward, put on a display this weekend all over the court for his Iowa Prep team. He averaged around 14 PPG as well as recording some games with double-digit rebounds. I would have to say his highlight of the weekend though was when he dunked on his defender in the open court who tried to go up for a block with him. It didn’t work out so well for that defender. This play just speaks to the aggression and athleticism of Stroud when he is near the hoop. I’m interested to see how this all translates to the high school floor during summer ball in June. If he keeps up with everything he is doing, he could be one of the most dominate power forwards in the 3A class next year across the state of Iowa.

A talented 6-6 forward who impacts the game on both ends of the floor, Stroud was one of the best players on the floor in Prep’s win over All-Wisconsin over the weekend. He has really good hands and is strong on the glass on both ends, is a good enough ball-handler to lead the break after pulling down a defensive rebound, and is a good passer out of the high post area who sees the floor well. He showed a strong face-up game with range comfortably out to about 15 feet as well as good footwork and touch around the rim. On the defensive end he does a great job fighting through screens and he rotates well as a help defender, contesting shots at a high clip.

If you are familiar with boys basketball in the state of Iowa you know that having a skilled and athletic post player is a blessing. One of the more unknown but rising forwards I’ve seen this spring out of the state is Nathan Stroud Nathan Stroud 6'5" | PF Mount Pleasant | 2024 State IA . Stroud is a 6’5 power forward with a lot more skill then people think. Usually when he gets highlighted it’s for a big dunk at the rim or a defensive stop but there is much more to his game than that. This spring he has been putting on a clinic of what it’s like to be a physical forward with a post presence near the basket. He has displayed excellent footwork, a soft touch on the ball, an elite passing ability out of the post, and done a great job of understanding when/where to use specific skills moves. Going into this winter Stroud is going to be one of the most physically dominate forwards in the state. I’m excited to see what he can make out of it.

Stroud was a new name for me, but he played really well in the game that I watched. A mobile 6-6 big man who runs the floor well, he has really good hands that he used to rebound well on both ends of the floor as well as make contested catches in the pick-and-roll game. He’s a good finisher around the bucket with his left. He showed some ability to put the ball on the floor, catching at the top of the key as the trail man on the break, taking a few hard dribbles, and getting to the bucket, plus the foul.