Iowa’s Player of the Week (10)
Tommy Donovan (Carlisle)
For much of the season, Tommy Donovan has been a high-end role player for the Wildcats — he’s averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. But last week he exploded in three Carlsile wins, averaging 18.3 points on 68 percent shooting, 9.7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.3 steals. He went all Draymond Green in a win over Pleasantville on Thursday night; 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 steals and 5 assists. Oh, and he was 24-25 from the free-throw line.
Trenton Massner (Wapello)
Wapello won twice last week, and they can think Massner for that. In the two Indians wins, Massner averaged 31.5 points, 5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 5.5 steals. His 38 points in a win over Notre Dame was perhaps his most impressive accomplishment of the week, but his 8 steals on Tuesday night was eye-opening too.
Brady Walker (Louisa-Muscatine)
We didn’t know a lot about this 6-foot-3 forward until he had two monster games in a row last week. First was a 25 point, 11 rebound performance against Pekin. That was nothing compared to an even more monstrous 31 point, 14 rebound performance in a 10 point win over WACO. Walker is enjoying a fine junior season, averaging 18 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Marco Balderas (South Hamilton)
Recently, Balderas was featured on our top assists:turnivers list; he’s been a tremendously efficient point guard all season for the Hawks. Last week — in two South Hamilton wins — he kicked it up a notch, averaging 16.5 points on 63 percent shooting, 10 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3 steals per game. The junior floor-general has been one of the most productive point guards in Iowa this season.
Jason Taylor (Rock Valley)
Iowa’s 5th-ranked 2018, Taylor currently has offers from South Dakota State and North Dakota, and we’re willing to bet other programs have their sights set on the 6-foot-10 center — especially after last week. In Rock Valley’s last three regular season games, Taylor averaged 20.3 points on 73 percent shooting, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks per game — all well above his season averages in all categories.