Class 3A State Tournament Stars to Watch
Austin Phyfe, Waverly-Shell Rock (2017)
The future Northern Iowa big man may be the best player in the field, combining tremendous skill and footwork with a 6-9 frame to dominate opponents. He’s averaging 19 points, 13.1 rebounds and shooting 67.4% from the floor. Perhaps even more impressive, he’s played a bit of point guard this year for the Go-Hawks, leading the team in assists and helping pace one of 3A’s best defenses with his presence in the paint. If the top seeded Go-Hawks take home the title, there is little to no doubt that it will come on the back of Phyfe.
Brady Sartorius, Mount Pleasant (2018)
Armed with one of the best mid-range games in the state, Sartorius is a great jump shooter who has worked on expanding his range out to the arc, where he has shot 48.5% on limited attempts. He’s a good ball handler who takes great care of the ball (108 assists to 30 turnovers), is shooting 59.1% from the floor overall and leads the Panthers in scoring at 22.0 points a game. He’s made an impact on the defensive end as well, swiping 71 steals on the season. The art of the mid-range game is disappearing from basketball, but not on Sartorius.
Derek Krogmann, West Delaware (2019)
The leading scorer for 3A’s final unbeaten team, this talented sophomore is an efficient scoring machine in the paint. A 6-7 forward who runs the floor well, Krogmann is blessed with a 7-foot wingspan, and he’s picked up an early offer from North Dakota. He averages just under 16 points a game (on 57.1% shooting) and is pulling down 11.3 rebounds a game. He’s aggressive on both ends of the floor, and his ability to move his feet on the defensive end allows the Hawks to have some defensive versatility.
Ryan Van Wyk, Pella (2017)
A varsity mainstay for each of Pella’s three straight tournament appearances, Van Wyk has a non-stop motor, is relentless on the glass on both ends of the floor and is a great finisher at the rim. A 6-5 combo forward, he’s shooting 65.9% on the year (with many of those attempts coming within five feet, he really does attack the rim constantly) and averaging 20.6 points for 3A’s highest scoring offense. His consistent activity makes him a nightmare for opposing bigs to defend, as he’ll wear them out.
Garrett Franken, Atlantic (2017)
This future North Dakota wing is the ultimate stat-sheet stuffer. A 6-7 point-forward, he leads the Trojans in scoring (23.9 points a game), rebounding (9.0), steals (51) and blocks (46), while ranking second in assists (86). He’s capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor, shooting 51.1% from the floor overall, while knocking down 58 3s on the season. A versatile player on both ends of the floor, he’ll have his hands on the ball a ton with plenty of opportunity to make his mark in their first round game against top-seeded Waverly-Shell Rock.
Chris Kroll, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2017)
The leading scorer for the Warriors, the 6-1 senior guard averages 16.8 points a game and has shown the ability to score at all three levels. He leads the team in steals (75) and blocks (18), while also dishing out 95 assists on the year. If SB-L is going to make any noise in this tournament, Kroll is going to have to be a major part of it.
Trevor Grove, Dallas Center-Grimes (2017)
A 6-5 scoring wing, Grove is averaging 15.5 points a game for a Mustangs team that was much better this year than just about anyone predicted. He’s knocked down 46 3s (shooting 39% from the arc), is shooting over 53% from the floor overall, and leads the team in rebounding. He’s shown the ability to make an impact on the defensive end as well, with 33 steals and 24 blocks.
Matt Mims, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018)
The playmaking point guard picked up an offer from North Dakota following his strong play here last season. He’s led his team back to Des Moines with a chance to defend their title, and he’s playing some of his best basketball of the year. Armed with a great first step, he excels at getting to the rim, leading the Saints in scoring at 14.9 points a game. He’s also dished out 124 assists and leads the team in steals. His speed and playmaking abilities are among the best in the 3A field.
Max Techau, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2017)
The big man portion of Xavier’s “Big Three”, Techau is a highly active 6-7 forward with a non-stop motor. He’s relentless on the glass on both ends of the floor, highly efficient (62.6 FG%) and is second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points a game. He’s a good finisher around the rim, runs the floor well and can make an impact on the defensive end as well, blocking 42 shots on the year. When he’s playing well, Xavier is really tough to beat.
Jackson Joens, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018)
The final piece of Xavier’s “Big Three”, Joens is perhaps the best pure shooter in the 3A field. He burst onto the scene at last year’s state tournament, and after an up-and-down year, is now playing his best basketball of the season. He averages just 11.6 points a game for the Saints, but his ability to stretch the floor with his jumper opens everything else up for Mims and Techau. He’s a 44% 3-point shooter, and he has become Steph Curry or Klay Thompson-esque on the corner 3. If a team leaves him open in that spot, he’s automatic.