STATE TOURNAMENT: 2A Stars to Watch
Over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing and covering the State Tournament. Here we take a look at ten of the star players to keep an eye on during the Class 1A tournament.
Trenton Massner (Wapello)
6’2 G, 2018
We’re very excited about the opportunity to see this bouncy guard next week. He’s posted some huge numbers this season, and has been extremely efficient while doing so. His team-high 22.9 points per game are the best of any player in the 2A tourney, and he did so while shooting 62 percent from the floor and 46 percent from deep.
Marco Balderas (South Hamilton)
5’8 PG, 2018
Perhaps the most fun player to watch in the 2A field, Balderas is always good for some show-stopping passes and some slick handles. Here’s a kid who knows how to play the game, and who has a basketball IQ that we’d put up against anyone else in Iowa.
Parker Badding (Kuemper Catholic)
6’2 G, 2018
The 2A field’s second-leading scorer, Badding made a stark improvement from last season to this one, and it really doesn’t come as a big surprise. He was putting in some serious work last spring and summer, and we saw him dominate at times with Tryon Gym 17U. As a result, he’s seen his numbers, and shooting percentages in particular, spike this season. Badding is averaging 22.8 points per game on 54 percent shooting, and is shooting 47 percent from deep.
Ryan Schmitt (Van Meter)
6’8 PF, 2019
This big and versatile power forward brings a lot of size to the floor for Van Meter, and can use it to exploit opponents in the paint and from the mid-range. He’s the team’s leading scorer (14.5) and rebounder (7.7), but gets it done defensively, too. Schmitt averages just over three blocks per game, more than anyone in the 2A field. College coaches will be very interested in this junior.
Brock Simon (Cascade, Western Dubuque)
6’3 G, 2018
State tourney mainstays, Cascade always brings a well-balanced team down to Wells Fargo Arena. This season is certainly no different. But their is one player, Simon, that stands out a bit. The senior guard leads the team in scoring (11.9), assists (3.7), steals (2.3) and blocks (1.3).
Jaden Kleinhesselink (Sheldon)
6’2 G, 2018
A future Briar Cliff product, Kleinhesselink has had himself a bit of a breakout season with the Orabs. Part of a dynamic duo (also Kyle Boerhave), Kleinhesselink, in addition to having a tough last name to spell, has been tough for defenders to contain this season. He’s shooting the ball exceptionally well, and nearly has pieced together a 50-40-90 season. He comes into the tourney averaging 12.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Dillon Faubel (Treynor)
5’10 PG, 2018
The Cardinals are undefeated coming into the tourney, and have nabbed the top-seed as a result. They’ll have sharpshooter Dillon Faubel to rely on as they try and make their was through this loaded 2A field. He does a little bit of everything well, and is the team’s leading assist-man, averaging 5.6 per game. He’s also scored it well (14.5), and is one of the team’s best rebounders and defenders. Look for Faubel to be all over the floor next week.
Alec Oberhauser (Aplington-Parkersburg)
6’5 G, 2018
A big guard, Oberhauser is headed to Des Moines NAIA Grand View next season, but he’s got some work left to do for the Falcons first. With his great size, he’s able to exploit smaller guys in the paint and slower guys on the perimeter. He’s pieced together a fine season up to this point, going for 16.2 per game points on 58 percent shooting… also, 7.3 assists, 3.1 steals, 2.1 blocks and 7.2 rebounds per.
Carter Cuvelier (Aplington-Parkersburg)
6’3 SF, 2019
Part II of A-P’s dynamic duo is junior wing Carter Cuvelier. He’s a big-bodied guard/forward hybrid who doubles as a standout on the gridiron in the fall. Cuvelier leads the team in scoring (19.1) and rebounding (7.3), and is currently Iowa’s 28th-ranked 2019 — making him one of the most highly-ranked 2019 in the field.
Luke Clausen (Treynor)
6’3 G/F, 2018
A breakout star this season, Clausen has made major strides from last year to now. A role player as a junior, he’s become top-dog for Treynor as a senior. Clausen leads the undefeated and top-seeded Cardinals in scoring (17.5), and has done so while hitting from all over the floor at a high clip. He’s also the team-leader in steals (1.9), and among the best rebounders. We’re looking forward to getting a glimpse at the Week 10 Player of the Week.