Best of the Best: Iowa’s All-Class Top 30 (5-1)
With game action officially starting next week across the state, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to rollout a best of the best list. Sure, each class has its own rankings, but we’re kicking it up a notch and consolidating the 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 classes to create an all-class look of Iowa’s finest hoopsters. Below is the final installment of Iowa’s 30 best.
5-1
5. Austin Phyfe, 6’9 PF, Waverly-Shell Rock (2017)
The most skilled and polished big-man in the state, Phyfe is smooth in the paint and can step out and knock down a 3-ball to boot. A second generation Panther, Phyfe committed to Northern Iowa in the fall of 2015, and signed earlier this month — his dad Steve played for the Panthers nearly 30 years ago. The Panthers have been notorious for putting versatile bigs on the floor the past decade, and Phyfe will be able to add to that legacy. Here’s what he told PHIA last fall: “I want to be a player that can bring the ball up the court from a rebound, and a good pick-and-pop player. I want to be able to drive and take it to the hole. (But) I don’t want to shy away from the low block kind of stuff, I still want to be able to have those skills.”
4. Devontae Lane, 6′ PG, Iowa City West (2017)
He’s a bit unassuming; a stout and solidly built lead guard. But this guy is tremendous. Lane is a D1 football prospect too, but it’s his prowess on the hardwood that we’re concerned with. His speed and athleticism make him special, but his knack for the game and uncanny ability to make plays on both sides of the ball make him a guy that can fill up a stat sheet in a hurry. He’s worked over the years to improve his jumper, and we saw it dropping with regularity at times this past spring. He does hold an Eastern Michigan offer for football. And though he received an Iowa State offer during the Fred Hoiberg administration, that has since been (seemingly) revoked. It’s unclear as to what the elite senior point guard will do next year, but one thing is clear: he’s got the ability to play Division I basketball, we think mid to high-major.
3. Connor McCaffery, 6’5 G, Iowa City West (2017)
Iowa’s top-ranked 2017, McCaffery brings great size and and some pedigree to the top 5. His father is Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, and Connor will play for, and could make an immediate impact with the Hawkeyes next season. He’s never been one to post gaudy numbers, but he could if necessary, and he proved that during a summer camp at Urbandale. In the championship game at the camp — against defending state champs Valley — McCaffery erupted for 36 points, and was impressive in doing so, scoring plenty from deep, and getting to the rim at will. Hawkeyes fans will want to see him score 25 a game this season with West, that may not happen, but just watch how he impacts a game in other ways – he’s a game-changer. The lefty will hit from deep, control tempo, play stout defense and could very well lead his Trojans to a state title come March.
2. AJ Green, 6’1 PG, Cedar Falls (2018)
Perhaps the most innately skilled player in the state, Green is a guy who seems to possess supernatural abilities on the hardwood. His ball-handling is not necessarily flashy, yet still dazzling. And his ability to create separation, despite his seeming lack of elite strength or quickness is baffling. Green is without a doubt quicker and stronger than he appears, but opponents could look at him and underestimate his ability; that would be a huge mistake. We’ve seen this kid do some special things on the court, most notably last March when he scored 14 points in the final for minutes against Iowa City West, almost bringing Cedar Falls back from a huge deficit at the state tournament — and he was a just sophomore. Green officially solidified himself as a high-major prospect when Minnesota offered during the summer. His dad coaches at Northern Iowa, so that’s always an option for him too. South Dakota State and North Dakota have also offered. Look for that list of offers to balloon over the next 12 months.
1. Joe Wieskamp, 6’6 G/F, Muscatine (2018)
Wieskmap has received more national praise and recognition than any other player in the state, and rightfully so. Originally known as a sharpshooter, the tall and long wing has worked to diversity his game over the past several years. He’s now more than capable of putting the ball on the deck and getting to the hoop, and he rebounds extraordinarily well for a wing. Last season as a junior with the Muskies he averaged 21.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Expect utter domination from him the next two seasons as well. It would have been interesting to see what caliber of offers Wieskamp could have pulled in, but the lifelong Hawkeyes fan ended his recruitment very early, when he committed to the Hawkeyes back in July of 2015, before his sophomore season. With great size, length and skill we expect Wieskamp to not only make an immediate impact with the Hawkeyes in two seasons, but it could be that he stars with them during his four years.