UPDATED 2018 Rankings: Biggest Risers
Blake Brinkmeyer (Valley) New Ranking: No. 4 Previous Ranking: No. 48 Why? Northern Iowa. Brinkmeyer — despite not playing in a varsity game yet — was receiving a ton of buzz from anyone and everyone who was paying attention during…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBlake Brinkmeyer (Valley)
New Ranking: No. 4
Previous Ranking: No. 48
Why? Northern Iowa. Brinkmeyer — despite not playing in a varsity game yet — was receiving a ton of buzz from anyone and everyone who was paying attention during the spring. Then he picked up a surprising D1 offer from North Dakota. But after the UNI offer, it was clear that this was an elite prospect in 2018.
Camden Vander Zwaag (Johnston)
New Ranking: 17
Previous Ranking: 37
Why? He might have been the most consistent shooter we saw in the state this summer. If he missed, it was a shock. He’s grown a bit too, and is a legit 6-foot-3. Look for him to be among the state’s scoring leaders in 4A this season.
Seybian Sims (Iowa City West)
New Ranking: 22
Previous Ranking: 36
Why? It’s looking like he could nab a starting role with Iowa City West, and that’s not an easy feat — especially for a junior. He’s a 6-foot-6 power forward with nice length and an increasingly developed skill set.
Cade Moritz (Roosevelt)
New Ranking: 34
Previous Ranking: 125
Why? The transfer from Norwalk to Roosevelt has triggered something in Moritz. He scored 20 points in nearly every summer league game we saw him play this June. Big things could be coming for this 6-foot-8 center.
Evan Flitz (Iowa City West)
New Ranking: 48
Previous Ranking: 84
Why? He grew a few inches and has proven himself to be a versatile guard and most notably a knock-down shooter. He’s also a great student and is vying for a starting quarterback spot on the Trojan football team.
Ben Lyon (Ankeny)
New Ranking: 58
Previous Ranking: 82
Why? Though he was never sensational this summer when we saw him, he always showed flashes of a guy that could become a star with Ankeny. He’s a rangy 6-foot-3 wing, and has a smoothness about him.
Ryan Miller (North Linn)
New Ranking: 70
Previous Ranking: 85
Why? His stats were nice last season at North Linn, but they don’t do his actual skill set justice. Miller is small, but exceptionally quick, and he’s a smooth guard who plays tenacious D.
Zaine Leedom (East Marshall)
New Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 20
Why? It’s tough to move up five spots once you have entered the top-20, but Leedom proved this summer that he can literally do it all on the court. He was high-flying, sharpshooting, and elite defending with Iowa Intensity. He will have a huge summer with 1A East Marshall next season.