Iowa Top 250 Expo: 2017 and 2018’s Top Wings
As part of a series of posts profiling standout performances from this past weekend’s Top 250 Expo in Ames, we take a look at some of the top performers among the wings from the 2017 and 2018 classes.
Grant Arnold (6-3, Southeast Polk, 2018)
A big, strong wing, Arnold was very strong during game play. He’s an active rebounder on both ends of the floor, uses his strength to help finish through contact around the rim, and showed a knack for knocking down open jumpers from both the mid-range and the arc. He does a nice job moving without the ball, and was very good as a “pop” man in pick-and-pop spots. He’s got a smooth stroke with good rotation, and he does a nice job squaring up to the rim before the catch so that he’s ready to fire quickly.
Jal Bijiek (6-7, Des Moines North, 2017)
We’ve come to know what to expect from the explosive Des Moines North wing, and Bijiek didn’t disappoint on Saturday. A long, athletic and rangy player, he’s capable of scoring in bunches from anywhere on the floor, but is at his best in transition. He’s a dynamic finisher at the rim and is in constant attack mode. His jumper has steadily improved since we first saw him, and he’s a threat now to take you off the dribble, stop and elevate into a smooth jumper, with range out to the arc. On the defensive end, he’s a menace coming from the helpside as a shot blocker, using his leaping ability and ridiculous length to swat shots with ease. It’s no wonder that he’s got a pair of Division I offers (North Dakota, Southeast Missouri State), and he’s got loads of potential still to tap in to.
Broden Coulter (6-2, Dike-New Hartford, 2017)
Coulter came in with a reputation as a shooter (he shot 56.3% from the arc last year on 32 attempts), and he lived up to that rep. He’s a good shooter off the bounce, but where he’s truly special is shooting off the catch. He does a great job using screens to help free himself, and he’s always squared up and ready to fire upon receiving the pass. He’s got a smooth, consistent release, with range well beyond the high school line. In one game on Saturday, he nailed seven of his 11 attempts from the arc, confirming the fact for us that he can really shoot the rock.
Lim Chuol (6-3, Chariton, 2017)
The playmaking forward excels with the ball in his hands. He had a stretch last season in which he had three straight triple-doubles, and he showcased each of those necessary skills throughout the Expo. He’s a solid ball handler and a very good passer with plus-court vision. His scoring skill set revolves primarily around his ability to get to the rim and finish with a strong frame, but his jumper is certainly improving. He’s strong on the glass on both ends of the floor as well. He didn’t really do anything that we haven’t seen him do before, but he was still a standout player due to his all-around skills on the offensive end.
Dadrian Hoambrecker (6-5, Burlington, 2018)
Hoambrecker was sensational during the drills session, showcasing an all-around ability on both ends of the floor. He was a dynamite defender during the one-on-one and two-on-two sessions, with great lateral movement and long arms. He moves his feet extremely well and doesn’t take chances; he was a true lockdown defender. He showed the ability to shoot from the arc and mid-range, with a consistent release, and he is a decent ball handler who can get to the rim and finish. He disappeared at times during game play, and I’d like to see more consistent effort, but there are certainly tools here to work with.
Keith Johnson (6-5, Dubuque Hempstead, 2018)
Johnson caught my eye playing with his Hempstead team up at a team camp in Platteville, WI, during the summer. He didn’t disappoint here, as arguably the best player on the floor during the evening session. A rangy, athletic wing, Johnson is capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor. He’s got good form on his jumper and he gets good rotation on it, with the ability to shoot both off the dribble and the catch. He does a nice job moving without the ball, finding open spaces in the defense and doing a nice job flashing to the rim when his defender is helping. He’s a high level rebounder on both ends of the floor, and a threat to take it coast-to-coast when grabbing a defensive board. He’s a good passer when plus-court vision. On the defensive end he’s capable of guarding four spots at the high school level, with adequate strength to bang down low, and the requisite quickness to guard on the perimeter. An all-around fantastic showing for the Hempstead wing.
Ben Lyon (6-3, Ankeny, 2018)
The Ankeny wing is a playmaker who is excellent with the ball in his hands. He’s very good in the pick-and-roll, displaying good vision and passing abilities. He does a nice job attacking the rim, and is able to finish despite contact. He’s a vocal leader on both ends of the floor, and has a skill set that allows him to make plays for himself and teammates constantly. A capable perimeter shooter, but he’s at his best when attacking the rim.
Chad Moran (6-4, Lewis Central, 2017)
Moran was the most pleasant surprise for me, having never seen him play before. He displayed plus-athleticism, the ability to score from anywhere on the floor, and the ability to make plays for his teammates. He was in constant attack mode with the ball in his hands during game play, routinely getting to the rim, where he is a very strong finisher. He flashed his athletic ability with an impressive chase-down block, one of those vintage LeBron-type blocks. He’s got long arms, is a good perimeter shooter, and showed a good understanding and feel for playing in pick-and-roll situations, where he’s a threat to hit the roll man, turn the corner or just pop out behind the screen and knock down a jumper. He also caught the eye of the Simpson coach, who had an extended conversation with him after his games were over. A very nice showing for the Council Bluffs product.
Kyle Nevitt (6-5, Perry, 2017)
The lefty sharpshooter was sensational during game play, showcasing a beautiful stroke that he gets fantastic rotation on. He was knocking down threes left and right throughout the course of his four games, hitting them off the dribble, off the catch, coming off screens, whenever. He’s a big-bodied wing who is also capable of getting to the rim and finishing with his strength. He’s a solid rebounder on both ends of the floor, and a capable defender. With Shammond Ivory gone, look for Nevitt to have a huge senior year for the Bluejays, and he should be on the radar of NAIA schools with his ability to stretch the D.
Landon Torneten (6-6, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, 2017)
Torneten truly stood out during game play, as he seemed to be gaining more energy as the rest of the players were fading fast near the end. He’s a long, lanky, playmaking wing who was in constant attack mode with the ball in his hands. He’s an adept finisher at the rim, and has good vision while he’s driving, finding open teammates when the defense collapses on him. He’s a capable shooter from the arc, but was definitely better attacking the rim. On the defensive end, his long arms and solid lateral movement make him a solid on-ball defender. He should have a huge year for a Lynx team that loses a lot of talent.