Sophomore Sensations: Class 2A
Cooper DeJean, 6′ G, OA-BCIG — 20.8 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.6 spg, 11.4 rpg This is one of the better seasons that any player in Iowa is putting together, and is arguably the best sophomore season so far in the…
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Continue ReadingCooper DeJean, 6′ G, OA-BCIG — 20.8 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.6 spg, 11.4 rpg
This is one of the better seasons that any player in Iowa is putting together, and is arguably the best sophomore season so far in the state. DeJean is a guard, but you wouldn’t know it by the very high rebounding numbers. No sophomore in Iowa is rebounding it better than him.
Blake Chance, 6’3 G, Albia — 21.4 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 4.9 rpg
Albia is off to a hot start this season, and after losing its first game to Knoxville, has run off seven straight wins. Chance has been exceptional as a young leader of the team. He’s Class 2A’s best-scoring sophomore.
Justin Recker, 6’5 F, Monticello — 17.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.7 bpg, 7.4 rpg
The Panthers are perhaps the most sophomore-led team in Iowa, and Recker is at the forefront of that strong 2021 class. The four best scorers for Monticello are sophomores, with Recker’s 17 points per game the best of the the bunch.
Bryce Phelps, 6’1 G, Denver — 15.1 ppg, 6.8 apg, 3.4 spg, 6.0 rpg
Like Monticello, Denver also features a very strong sophomore class this season. Phelps has been one of the better stat-stuffers in the state, and is a triple-double threat every time he takes the floor.
Kyler Matthias, 6’1 G, Denver — 16.0 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1.6 spg
Last year’s Denver squad was senior-laden, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for Matthias to make his mark. This season, with those seniors graduated, he’s made major strides. Nobody on Denver’s 8-2 team is scoring it better.
Noah Miller, 5’10 G, Forest City — 13.1 ppg, 4.4 spg
The Indians are 8-2, and it’s Miller that’s been leading the charge. His 13.1 points per game are tops for Forest City, and his 4.4 steals are most among any sophomore in Iowa, regardless of class.
Kole Johnson, 6’1 G/F, North Fayette Valley — 13.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg
North Fayette Valley has already eclipsed its win total from a season ago, and Johnson has seen his numbers from last year rise considerably, too. As a freshman, he played in six games and averaged 9.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. This season, he’s leading the Tigerhawks in scoring and their second-best rebounder.
Ben Dunlap, 6’2 F, Emmetsburg — 14.8 ppg, 10.0 ppg
Not many guys in Iowa are averaging double-doubles, and the fact that Dunlap is doing so as a sophomore is very impressive. He’s one of just three sophomores in Class 2A averaging double-digits in points and rebounds this season.
Zach Rizzutti, 6’1 G, Panorama — 12.9 ppg, 2.9 spg, 5.5 apg
After a breakout freshman season and good 15U campaign with All Iowa Attack, Rizzuti is a guy that’s already been put squarely on the Prep Hoops map. He’s now posting impressive numbers for Panorama, we especially like the high steals and assists numbers.
Caleb Bacon, 6’3 F, Lake Mills — 12.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 11.1 rpg
The 12.6 points per game are nice, but the 66.2 field goal percentage make it even better. Bacon’s also rebounding it at a very high rate, his 11.1 per game are second-best among all Iowa sophomores, and more than doubles his production from a season ago.