STATE TOURNAMENT: Ten Who Impressed on Wednesday
Profiling ten of the standout individual performances from day three at the state tournament.
PG Turner Scott, West Des Moines Valley (2016) — 25 points (6-11 FG, 2-2 3P, 11-12 FT), 5 assists
The always steady lead guard for the Tigers was instrumental in their quarterfinal win over rival Dowling Catholic. He scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, routinely getting to the rim and either converting or getting to the free throw line. He’s a very good perimeter shooter who moves extremely well off the ball to free himself for looks. He was also very impressive at the free throw line down the stretch, knocking down 11 of his 12 attempts.
PF Quinton Curry, West Des Moines Valley (2017) — 19 points (9-11 FG, 1-2 3P), 6 rebounds, 3 assists
If the second half was the Turner Scott show for Valley, the first half belonged to Curry, the 6’7″ power forward who anchors the middle for the Tigers. Curry scored 13 of his 19 points before the break, connecting on six of his eight attempts. He displayed a versatile offensive skill set, scoring on post-ups, penetration, putbacks and even stepping out and hitting a three. His all-around offensive skill set makes him a dangerous player, and he did a fantastic job defensively against Dowling Catholic big man Ted Brown. His length and strength allowed him to prevent Brown from getting catches on the block, and whenever he did find the ball in his hands, Curry was there to make getting shots off difficult.
PG Sam Ingoli, Dowling Catholic (2018) — 17 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 3P, 5-6 FT), 4 rebounds 7 assists
Ingoli, our 2nd ranked 2018, put together a fairly quiet game until the second half, in particular the fourth quarter, where he scored nine points and dished out three of his seven assists, in an attempt to bring his team back. The Maroons dug themselves a pretty big hole, but were able to eventually trim the Valley lead to 3, and Ingoli’s efforts where part of the reason. He showcased his stat sheet stuffing abilities in the loss, giving the state a taste of what’s to come over the next two seasons.
PF Noah Carter, Dubuque Senior (2019) — 18 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3P, 2-2 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block
Just a freshman, Carter was spectacular in the first half for an extremely young Rams team. He showed his offensive versatility, flashing good footwork in the paint with the ability to finish both through and around contact, and he stepped out behind the arc and hit a pair of 3-pointers. He’s got good form and rotation on his jumper, and that combined with the footwork he already has in the paint will make him a tough player to stop for the next three seasons. The future is very bright for the 6’4″ forward.
F Will Carius, Pleasant Valley (2016) — 20 points (5-10 FG, 10-13 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 steals
On his 18th birthday, Carius delivered the performance we’ve come to expect out of him, with a workmanlike double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. He played with a lot more emotion that I’m used to seeing out of him, maybe because at this point of his career, he knows that each game could be his last. Either way, he was his usual dominant self, scoring around the rim, pulling down tough rebounds on both ends, and converting his opportunities at the line. He’s a truly dynamic combo forward who will have one hell of a career at Northern Michigan.
PF Carter Milam, Pleasant Valley (2016) — 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-6 FT), 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Carius’ teammate and right-hand man in the paint, Milam was also his usual self on the interior, exerting himself on both ends of the floor and using his length and size to cause problems. He has really worked on improving his face-up game, now with the ability to extend all the way out to the arc. While that’s not something he showcased today, it is a weapon he has in his arsenal. He’s very good around the rim, showed the ability to pass out of the post, either to shooters spotting up, or across the lane to an open teammate, and he does a good job recognizing the double team early. Like Carius, he’s probably a steal at where he’ll end up at, NAIA Grand View University.
F Tra’Von Fagan, Cedar Falls (2016) — 24 points (7-12 FG, 1-2 3P, 9-13 FT), 10 rebounds
After a very quiet first half (five points, three rebounds), Fagan came out of the gates on fire in the third quarter, scoring six points in the first 1:55 of the quarter en route to a 19-point second half outburst. He’s got the ability to take his defender off the dribble, as he did a few times against Martin Brothers teammate Tony Bonner, score in the post with good footwork, off of offensive rebounds, or step out to the arc and hit the three. He’s a very solid all-around offensive player with the ability to take over games and make plays for not only himself, but also his teammates, when he’s got the ball in his hands. The 6’7″ forward looks like an ideal Division II candidate.
PG A.J. Green, Cedar Falls (2018) — 14 points (7-13 FG), 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Green picked up where he left off in last week’s substate final, taking complete control of the game. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, each of them coming from opportunities he created himself. He’s a fantastic shooter off the dribble, has great handles, and pairs that with good footwork to help create space to get his shot off. He’s a silky smooth lead guard who is also capable of setting up his teammates with plus-court vision. His mere presence allowed Fagan to take over in the second half, as CBAL was forced to face guard him from midway through the second quarter and on, occupying a valuable defender. Our 4th ranked 2018 has become an offensive force, and will likely see himself rise towards the top two in the new installment of rankings.
G Devontae Lane, Iowa City West (2017) — 24 points (8-17 FG, 2-4 3P, 6-7 FT)
Lane may be the strongest guard in the state, using his elite strength to help finish through contact in the paint, or bounce off defenders on his way to the rim. He’s got incredibly strong legs and a well-defined upper body that he uses to just bully anyone who is guarding him. He was in constant attack mode tonight for the Trojans, routinely getting to the rim and either finishing or getting himself to the free throw line, where he converted on six of his seven attempts. He also displayed the ability to shoot from the perimeter, including a back-breaking 3 right before the third quarter buzzer that he hit off the dribble, with a defender right in his face. When he’s in attack mode like he was against Hoover, he’s tough to stop.
SG Aldreias Campbell, Des Moines Hoover (2017) — 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-5 3P)
Campbell looked far from a 29.6% shooter from the arc in their game against Iowa City West, confidently knocking down three of his five attempts from the perimeter. Like Lane, he’s better when he’s attacking the rim, something he also did a good amount of. His shots also seemed to come at key moments, when the Huskies really needed them with West starting to gain some separation. Like every Hoover guard, he’s a solid defender, and with Y’Vez Quinn graduating, he’ll likely be asked to become the primary guard scoring option next season, something he proved he could be capable of.
Honorable mentions: Kyle Crowl and Tony Bonner (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln), Douglas Wilson (Des Moines Hoover), Stevie Sarcone (West Des Moines Dowling)