Player Evaluations: Iowa Dynasty Fall League, Week 1
The Iowa Dynasty Fall League started last Sunday, featuring players in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area. The league features six teams, with four games being played each Sunday at the North Liberty Rec Center, from 10am-2pm.
Note: These are just some of the standouts. There will be more evaluations on different players each week.
G Austin Ash, Mount Vernon, 2017 — Ash poured in 28 points in his team’s win, going 8-12 from behind the arc and 10-16 from the floor overall. The wiry lead guard has an extremely high basketball IQ, a steadily improving handle and very good court vision. He’s got the ability to get his shot off pretty much whenever he wants with an innate ability to create space whether he’s working on or off the ball. He’s in range as soon as he steps in the gym, and despite a somewhat unorthodox form, is a phenomenal perimeter shooter. He also displayed his playmaking ability, coming away with a steal playing the passing lane off the ball, and then delivering an unbelievable 3/4 court bounce pass to a streaking Hakeem Odunsi for a layup. With his all-around skill set, outside shooting ability and high basketball IQ, he profiles as a solid Division II guard.
SF Donovan Beard, Cedar Rapids Washington, 2017 — An intriguing wing player with a unique blend of size, length and skills, Beard has a chance to do some special things for Washington. He’s a legitimate 6’7″ with great length, handles the ball well and is a solid passer. He’s a fluid athlete who at times makes things look easier than they should. Defensively, his length and athleticism allow him to guard at least the two through four spots, and he’s a solid help defender. As he continues to improve his perimeter stroke and refine his all-around offensive skill set, he could become a matchup nightmare.
PG Evan Flitz, Iowa City West, 2018 — Flitz had a very impressive showing in his lone game on Sunday morning, displaying his lead guard and scoring skills. He continues to develop physically, with his arms and shoulders having much more definition now than they did during an April grassroots viewing. He’s a smart point guard who doesn’t turn the ball over, has the ability to pull up from anywhere or turn the corner in the pick-and-roll. He’s a good perimeter shooter who gets good elevation on his jumper and has a smooth, consistent release. At most other schools, he’d have a chance to play some varsity minutes this season with his ability to take care of the ball and occasionally score.
PF Chuck Johnson, Iowa City High, 2017 — Johnson may have been the surprise of the day. I’ve seen him play plenty of times already, but he provided a few moments that showcased things I’ve never seen him do. First, he grabbed a defensive rebound, pushed the ball up the floor and went coast-to-coast for a tough finish at the rim. His ball handling is improving and he looked fairly confident pushing the ball in transition. The other surprise came in him going 3-for-4 from behind the arc in two games. I’m not sure I had ever seen him shoot from outside the paint before, but he fired his first one confidently and the release and rotation actually looked pretty good. He hit a few more throughout the afternoon. It’s an interesting wrinkle that he seems to be adding to his game.
C Micah Martin, Iowa City High, 2016 — Martin continues to improve himself physically, looking to be in much better shape than he was during last high school season. He runs the floor much better now and is able to stay on the floor significantly longer. On the offensive end, his touch is improving around the rim, although he could still stand to improve, especially with his left hand. He’s got decent footwork and post moves, good hands and with his improving body, he’s now finishing strong at the rim. He had a pair of powerful dunks after dumpoffs by teammates. Defensively, he’s got a good understanding of defensive rotations and is a solid help defender with the ability to block shots. He’s an intriguing player for lower level Division II schools. As they say, “you can’t teach height”.
PG Antonio Turner, Iowa City High, 2019 — The future looks bright at point guard for City High, with Turner performing at a high level in a pair of games on Sunday. A lightning quick lead guard, he’s able to get into the paint with ease, using a good handle and a great first step to get by his defender. He’s already pretty good in the pick-and-roll, with the ability to turn the corner or find the roll man. He needs to improve as a shooter, both from the mid-range and beyond the arc, but there are plenty of physical tools here to get excited about.
SF Adam Van Oort, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2016 — The 6’6″ wing is in line for a big senior season at Jefferson. Van Oort is a well built scorer who showed the ability to do so at all three levels. He’s got a good perimeter stroke with a clean, high release and the size to get his shot off in just about any situation. He’s also got the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim, even doing so through contact on a few occasions. He’s a good rebounder from his wing spot and a solid on-ball defender with good length and solid lateral movement.