Week One: 2023 New Names
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Clayton Liddle HEIGHT 5'10" POS SG CLASS 2023 Clayton Liddle School: Denver Liddle is a confident shooter who had a big night against Crestwood for the Cyclones, scoring 20 points on 6-14 shooting (6-11 3P) to go with 6 rebounds.…
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Continue ReadingClayton Liddle
Clayton Liddle
Liddle is a confident shooter who had a big night against Crestwood for the Cyclones, scoring 20 points on 6-14 shooting (6-11 3P) to go with 6 rebounds. He’s an off-ball guard who moves really well without the ball in his hands, has extended range, and a quick release off the catch. For a Denver team that lost a ton of production to graduation, he’ll be asked to shoulder a significant scoring load as a senior. He did a good job sticking his nose in and contributing on the glass on both ends of the floor as well.
Maurice Powell
Maurice Powell
Powell is small, listed at just 5-8, but he’s a quick guard who loves to attack the rim and he’s a good finisher around the bucket despite his smaller stature. He’s a capable shooter, but is certainly at his best when he’s using his handles and quickness to blow by defenders and get into the painted area. He showed some playmaking ability for his teammates, moves his feet well on the defensive end, and isn’t afraid to mix it up on the glass as well, pulling down 5 rebounds in the Cadets narrow road win over Denver to go with a team-high 18 points.
Isaac Comito
Isaac Comito
A 6-1 combo forward who did a great job controlling the glass throughout the Wildcats’ overtime loss to Des Moines Christian, Comito was a pleasant surprise on both ends of the floor. He contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal in the loss, showing that he can score both inside and out, pound the glass on both ends, and that the offense can flow through him. He showed a smooth stroke out to the arc, knocking down the biggest shot of the game when he buried a 3 late in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, one of two 3-pointers that he made in the game.
Tristin Jackson Tristin Jackson 5'11" Linn-Mar | 2023 IA
Tristin Jackson Tristin Jackson 5'11" Linn-Mar | 2023 IA
A cat-quick lead guard who can put a ton of pressure on opposing defenses with his speed, Jackson is able to get into the teeth of the defense routinely and dish out to open shooters or cutting teammates for easy buckets. He’s a true pass-first guard who wants to get others involved first and foremost, dishing out 4 assists in the Lions’ loss to Bettendorf.
Zach Mehmert
Zach Mehmert
Watching him play on the hardwood, it should come as no surprise that Mehmert was a standout football player for the Cadets as a tight end and linebacker. He’s a 6-5, 240-pound force on the interior with great hands and a wide, physical frame that he uses to bully his way to the bucket. His offensive game is fairly limited, but his ability to control the glass on both ends of the floor with his physicality, size, and excellent hands makes him a valuable piece for Crestwood. He’s a good enough athlete to occasionally defend out on the perimeter without getting torched, and he has the size and strength to bang against bigger bodies in the paint. He had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Cadets win over Denver.
Owen Olmstead
Owen Olmstead
Olmstead had a solid game in Linn-Mar’s loss to Bettendorf, finishing with 7 points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3P, 2-2 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist. Those numbers are really solid out of a role player, and they don’t even begin to tell the whole story. He was the primary defender on Bulldogs’ star Caden Wilkins Caden Wilkins 6’7″ | SF Bettendorf | 2024 State #196 Nation IA , and he did a tremendous job defensively, helping hold Wilkins to 6-24 shooting. He moves his feet really well on the defensive end and does a great job contesting shots without fouling. He has good size and length at 6-4 and has the looks of a really good defender for the Lions.
Spencer Del Vecchio
Spencer Del Vecchio
Del Vecchio had a quiet scoring game in the Bulldogs win over Linn-Mar (4 points on 1-3 shooting), but he did a lot of little things that make him an intriguing prospect for small schools around the state. He’s a 6-2 lead guard with good court vision and handles who keeps the ball moving and will contribute on the glass. He dished out 4 assists against just 1 turnover to go with 5 rebounds (4 offensive). He’s able to use his length effectively on the defensive end and is a high IQ player who understands help defense and angles.