Iowa Stock Risers: 2016
Josh VanLingen (6’8 PF, Western Christian, Hull) Maybe the best big in the 2016 class, and it’s a really good class for bigs. VanLingen is a thick-bodied 6-foot-8 post who has soft touch and a highly developed skillset. He averaged…
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Continue ReadingJosh VanLingen (6’8 PF, Western Christian, Hull)
Maybe the best big in the 2016 class, and it’s a really good class for bigs. VanLingen is a thick-bodied 6-foot-8 post who has soft touch and a highly developed skillset. He averaged 19 points on 60 percent shooting, 12.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season while leading Western Christian to the state tournament. He was dominant in an early quarterfinal exit from the tournament, going for 32 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks. It’s time to start recruiting this hidden gem.
Jaylan White (5’9 PG, I-35)
White was shockingly good during his junior season at I-35, leading class 2A in scoring (23.9 ppg), assists (7.8 apg) and steals (5.3 spg). Some knock the electrifying 5-foot-9 point guard because his mind-boggling numbers came against 2A competition, making his 17U campaign with Kingdom Hoops all the more important. White has been generating Division I and Division II interest, he most recently took an unofficial visit to Drake in January.
Granger Kingland (6’3 SG, Lake Mills)
He’s a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who connected on 82 of his 153 3-point attempts this season, good for 54 percent — he might be the best shooter in the state. Shockingly, as of late February, the Lake Mills sharpshooter has heard nothing from college coaches — anybody need an elite shooter?
Bradley Fisher (6’6 F, Ankeny Christian Acacemy)
A 6-foot-6 wing, Fisher has the look of a big time college athlete. He plays the wing as adeptly as the post despite being the tallest player on his team. Dordt, Briar Cliff, Morningside and Mercy College have discovered the versatile talent (21 ppg, 8 rpg, 43 3FG%), and he will play with Iowa Cornsharks this season.
Andy Geelan (6’5 PG/F, G-T/R-A)
Geelan is a 6-foot-5 point guard, who was a triple-double threat every time he graced the floor. His 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game was one of the more impressive seasons in the state. Northwestern, Dordt and Briar Cliff have the early track on the sharpshooting (49 3FG%), scoring/rebounding-assist-man.
Devin Green (6’7 PF, Cascade, Western Dubuque)
Another in a great class of bigs, Green (though not as impressive in the box score) showed his true potential in an early exit from the state tournament this season. He scored 16 of his team’s 32 points in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, but proved to have excellent footwork, soft touch and and a knack for blocking shots. He’s an Iowa Barnstormer product who, when we last spoke in the fall, was receiving heavy D1 and D2 interest.
Anthony Bonner (6’6 PF, CB Lincoln)
He averaged 15.2 points on 56 percent shooting for the Lynx this season and his 8.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game were nothing to scoff at either. A skilled post with tremendous footwork, he’s the third best big on this list — but the class is loaded with great post players.
Will Carius (6’5 G/F, Pleasant Valley)
Carius told us he’s receiving some D1 interest and it’s not surprising considering he’s an athletic 6-foot-5 guard/forward who can shoot it. He led the state runner-up Spartans in scoring (17 ppg) and rebounding (8 rpg) while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Derrick Howard (6’3 G, Clinton)
We thought Howard might have a breakout season with the River Kings, and he did. The athletic slasher led Clinton in scoring (16.9 ppg), and that’s a team that featured our top-ranked 2015 Brady Ernst. The 6-foot-3 guard will play with Eastern-Iowa Flight this summer and we should see his recruitment take off — he’s currently receiving interest from D1s Northern Colorado and Air Force, also D2s Winona State and University of Mary
Connor Murrell (6’3 SG, Sioux City East)
Murrell burst onto the scene this season, and after growing 6 inches last summer the 6-foot-3 sharpshooter was able to flourish with the Black Raiders. His 50 percent 3-point percentage was the highest of any of the top shooters in 4A, and he led Sioux City East in scoring (15.9 ppg) and assists (3 apg). Dordt and Morningside have the inside track on the lanky sharpshooter — he’ll play with All-Iowa Attack Nike this offseason.