Grassroots Preview: Team Iowa
With the grassroots season rapidly approaching, we’re previewing programs throughout the state. Former Iowa Hawkeye and current Team Iowa coach Kenyon Murray joins us to help break down the teams from Team Iowa, a program based in Cedar Rapids. Below, you’ll find rosters, schedules and some of Murray’s thoughts on each of the groups, as well as a few of my own.
17U
Head coach: Lorne Royster
Name | School | |
Spencer Touro | Benton Community | |
Colin Westmoreland | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Carter Frey | West Des Moines Valley | |
Hunter Strait | Ankeny Centennial | |
Max Taylor | Davenport North | |
Grant Arnold | Southeast Polk | |
Larenz Plum | Waterloo East | |
Noah Samples | West Des Moines Valley | |
Derrick Diggins | Cedar Rapids Kennedy | |
Max Campbell | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Carter Bachmann | Ankeny Centennial |
Murray says: “Team Iowa 17U will be led by D1 prospects Hunter Strait (Centennial) and Derrick Diggins (Kennedy). These two have played together for over five years on the AAU circuit and will help this year’s team welcome some “newbies” as they have solidified their roster. Spencer Touro (Benton), Carter Frey (Valley), Max Taylor (Davenport North) and Grant Arnold (Southeast Polk) give this team added shooting and athleticism on the wing. With Max Campbell (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Carter Bachmann (Centennial) holding down the paint, this team is looking to have a good AAU season and some scouts may very well find a steal out of this group.”
Tony’s take: The guard play here is very good, headlined by the obvious ones, Hunter Strait and Derrick Diggins. Strait is one of the best passers in the state, with elite court vision and the ability to fit passes into windows that few players around can. He’s a top-notch ball handler, pushes in transition and is a very good player in the pick-and-roll. Diggins is a high-level athlete who excels in transition, finishing above the rim. His jumper is streaky, but when he gets it rolling, he’s tough to stop as it opens up his penetration.
They’ve got some nice role players alongside those two with Touro, Frey, Taylor and Arnold. Taylor has great size and can handle and pass it. Touro is a good ball handler and shooter, Frey is a winner and Arnold can shoot the ball and has good size. He also rebounds it well. Campbell and Bachmann give them some size and physicality in the paint.
This will be a huge summer for this group, with a number of smaller level prospects, while Strait and Diggins will be working to garner Division I attention.
16U Red
Head coach: Kenyon Murray
Name | School | |
Luke Young | Iowa City High | |
Keegan Murray | Cedar Rapids Prairie | |
Ross Snitker | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Logan Burg | Cedar Rapids Prairie | |
Hayden Passmore | Linn-Mar | |
Kris Murray | Cedar Rapids Prairie | |
Keith Keahna | South Tama | |
Zach Hirst | Davenport North | |
David Seber | North Linn |
Murray says: “Team Iowa Red 16U is a mix of some very talented players that mostly played on sophomore teams last year, but excelled there. They will be led by Kris and Keegan Murray (Prairie) on the perimeter. Both players received a lot of varsity action last year for Prairie and look to solidify their place as college basketball prospects this spring/summer. Keith Keahna (South Tama), David Seber (North Linn), Ross Snitker (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Luke Young (City High) also played varsity minutes this year and will be keys on this year’s team. Sleepers on our roster include Hayden Passmore (Linn-Mar) and Logan Burg (Prairie), as both played sophomore basketball this past season, but had their seasons interrupted by injury.”
Tony’s take: This group will be led by the Murray twins. Both are top-notch shooters who are working to expand their all-around skill sets. They’ll both be major pieces for a Prairie team that will be among the top 10 in 4A next year. David Seber adds some additional shooting alongside the Murrays, so this team will be capable of torching opponents from the arc. I’m looking forward to seeing Hayden Passmore, a player I’ve heard good things about but have yet to see. Zach Hirst (Davenport North) gives them some size and athleticism on the interior. He had a really strong Dynasty Fall League in September.
16U Silver
Head coach: Nikki Rowland
Name | School | |
Michael Allen | Waterloo West | |
Kaden Bowie | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Matt Duesing | Linn-Mar | |
Chandlir Haug | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Dymonte Hawkins | Cedar Rapids Jefferson | |
Joe McKinstry | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Gabe Peterman | Starmont | |
Imanuel Rowland | Cedar Rapids Washington | |
Silver Schmitz | Union, La Porte City | |
Sebastian Simmons | Cedar Rapids Prairie | |
Brayden Wright | Cedar Rapids Washington |
Murray says: “Team Iowa Silver 16U has a roster full of players ready to have breakouts this AAU season. Most of the roster is comprised of players that had limited minutes on varsity, but showed flashes of their ability. Silver Schmitz (Union), Joe McKinstry (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Gabe Peterman (Starmont) are the only players that played varsity minutes. Some sleepers on this team will be Brayden Wright, Kaden Bowie and Imanuel Rowland, all from Cedar Rapids Washington. Washington has some talent to work with over the next few years!”
Tony’s take: Silver Schmitz is the only player from this group that I’ve seen so far. He had an efficient season for Union, shooting 53% from the floor. He has good size and can score at all three levels. I’m looking forward to learning more about the rest of this roster, in particular the kids at Washington. That program is in need of some talent, and it looks like they have some on the way.
Schedule
Dates | Event | Location |
April 2 (17U) | Nothin’ but Net | Cedar Rapids, IA |
April 21-23 | Midwest Live! | Des Moines, IA |
April 28-30 | Midwest Live! | Omaha, NE |
May 12-14 | Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes | Minneapolis, MN |
May 20-21 | Prep Hoops Midwest Cup | Ames, IA |
June 3-4 | Mississippi River Classic | Dubuque, IA |
July 12-16 | GASO | Wichita, KS |
July 20-23 | Hardwood Classic | Lawrence, KS |
July 27-30 (17U) | Fab 48 | Las Vegas, NV |
July 27-30 (16U) | Summer Slam | Kansas City, KS |