Iowa’s Shot-blocking Leaders
1 Seth Weiland (2017, West Hancock) 6.0 This guy has been one of the more intriguing players in Iowa state for two years now. Seldom will the state’s leading shot-blocker also be one of the most efficient 3-point shooters too,…
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Continue Reading1 Seth Weiland (2017, West Hancock) 6.0
This guy has been one of the more intriguing players in Iowa state for two years now. Seldom will the state’s leading shot-blocker also be one of the most efficient 3-point shooters too, but Weiland is just that – he leads the Eagles in 3-point makes, and knocks them down at a 44 percent clip.
2 Grant Wishon (2017, Clarke) 4.44
Back on December 9th, Wishon swatted nine shots in a win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, that’s when we knew he was a true game-changer. And at 6’7 with some offensive skills to boot, he could be a guy that area college coaches clamor over.
3 Matt Dentlinger (2017, Kuemper Catholic) 4.29
Spoiler alert: Matt is one of two Dentlinger’s to make this list – long arms must run in the family. Matt is a future South Dakota State Jackrabbit, and blocking shots is one of many things the do-it-all stretch four does well.
4 Chase Potter (2017, Lamoni) 4.0
Lamoni is off to a somewhat surprising 7-2 start, and Potter is enjoying a very nice season in the process. Not only is he putting up extraordinary shot-blocking numbers, but he’s posting 10.1 points and 8 rebounds per game too.
5 Weston Meyer (2017, Iowa Falls-Alden) 3.77
Jace Ites is one of the state’s best scorers and Weston Meyer is one of the state’s best rim protectors; it’s no wonder the Cadets are off to a 5-2 start. Meyer is a 6’5 post who is also just one rebound shy of a double-double (points, rebounds) average so far this season.
6 Ben Dentlinger (2017, New London) 3.43
Another Dentlinger makes this list; Ben is the cousin of future South Dakota State Jackrabbit Matt. Ben is more of a small forward type guy, and being 6-foot-5 with long arms really helps when swatting shots is your intent.
7 Andrew Hasselquist (2017, Hinton) 3.38
Jay Small scores the buckets and Hasselquist denies them. The 6’6 senior is doing the dirty work for the Blackhawks, snaring 9.1 rebounds per game to go along with his high shot-blocking numbers. If Hinton makes it to Wells Fargo Arena this March, Hasselquist will be a big reason why.
8 Kyle Arrington (2017, Lewis Central) 3.33
This kid is having a spectacular season. Not only is he the only 4A player to make this list, but he’s the only player that made both this list and the top 10 rebounders list. A 6’10 center, Arrington was quiet last season after suffering an ACL injury the summer before, but he’s showing his true colors this winter.
9 Thane Simmons (2017, Murray) 3.29
This comes as no surprise to us. We saw Simmons last spring while playing with the Iowa Cornsharks, and he was swatting everything in sight. He’s a lanky 6’7 center that college coaches should be recruiting – if they want an elite shot-blocker, that is.
10 Matthew Hill (2017, Colo-NESCO) 3.22
What a season this 6’4 post is having for the Royals. If his 3.2 blocks per game weren’t impressive enough, just see his 23.3 points and 7 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 62 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the free-throw line, which he visits quite often.