Spring Winners — Part II
2019 James Betz, 6’6 F (Kingdom Hoops Elite 17U)
Probably the biggest winner of the spring so far is this bouncy Garner-Hayfield-Ventura forward. He picked up a pair of offers, one from North Dakota — which has a slew of offers out to Iowa kids right now — and another big one from Northern Iowa. We’ve been high on this big and athletic prospect for awhile, so we’re not really surprised.
2018 Peter Timmerman, 6’6 F (Iowa Mavericks Purple 17U)
Divison II programs should be taking notice of this big and strong forward from Dubuque, Wahlert. In one game we’ve seen him can several 3s, snare o-bards for putbacks and bang with the other team’s bigs down low. He’s a versatile threat who is not afraid to get his hands dirty, and one of the best players on one of the state’s best grassroots teams.
2019 Cole Henry, 6’8 F (Martin Brothers 16U)
We’ve yet to see the Martin Brothers play this spring — hoping to catch them next weekend at Kings of the Court — but that doesn’t mean we haven’t heard a great deal of positives from the renowned program. This Oskaloosa forward is tall and versatile; able to knock in a 3, put the ball on the deck or protect the rim. He has a North Dakota offer, and others may be looming.
2018 Hunter Strait, 6’2 PG (Team Iowa 17U)
It’s surprising to us that this smooth lead guard does not have any offers. There’s been Division I programs aware of him for awhile now, yet none have pulled the trigger. He continues to impress with his silky handles, elite vision and improving jumper. This July will be crucial for him and the schools that have missed out on him so far.
2018 Jocoa Kerschen, 6’4 (Iowa Pump N Run Black 17U)
He caught our Tony Roe’s eye last fall when he was lighting up Iowa Dynsaty’s Fall League, and he’s doing the same this spring with a talented Pump ‘N Run squad. With some nice length and height, he certainly looks like a player, and he’s got a sharpshooting ability to back it up. Oh, and he’s clutch, very clutch.
2019 Owen Coburn, 6’10 C (Martin Brothers 16U)
Already with Drake and North Dakota offers, Coburn is well-established as one of the state’s best bigs. He was turning heads last weekend for a supremely talented Martin Brothers squad in Minneapolis, and with immense length and at a legit 6’10, more offers could come pouring in soon.
2019 Agueck Deng, 6’7 PF (Kingdom Hoops Elite 16U)
We remember him wrecking rims last summer, which is something you don’t see too much of on the 15U circuit. Now, a year older, he’s doing the same thing, but to a larger degree at the 16U level. He did not play with Valley’s varsity least winter, but should be a key contributor next season as a junior. Division I coaches should be taking note of this above-time-rim forward.
2018 AJ Green, 6’2 PG (Iowa Barnstormers 17U)
Green has graduated from our Iowa praise and is now regularly receiving national praise; he’ll be one of the highest ranked point guards in the country by summer’s end. He’s been torching opponents since the first time we saw him play, and Clemson is the latest to take note as they offered earlier this week. He now has Northern Iowa (where his dad coaches), Minnesota, Iowa State, Nebraska , South Dakota State, North Dakota and Clemson offers.