UPDATED 2018 Rankings: Highest Debuts
No. 31 Kyle Boerhave, 6’6 F (Sheldon)
Formerly a hidden gem in northern Iowa, the big and physical forward is no longer a secret. Northstar Hoops Report’s Ryan James was impressed with Boerhave’s play two weekend’s ago at their hosted tournament in the Twin Cities. That led to us getting Boerhave on the phone for an interview shortly after. It turns out he has an offer from D2 Wayne State, and more could be coming.
No. 43 AJ Costello, 6’5 SF (Urbandale)
We saw this big and skilled lefty play last season as a role player for Urbandale, and we was pretty good then. After growing some, and adding to his skill-set, he’s very good now. Costello will star for the J-Hawks this season, and with his size and ability to score at all three levels, he could emerge as one of the best players in the CIML next winter.
No. 72 Kyler Bell, 6′ G (Cedar Rapids Jefferson)
After a nice season with the upstart J-Hawks last season as a junior, we were curious about then junior guard. We saw him play plenty this spring with one of Iowa’s best grassroots squads, Iowa Mavericks Purple, and we knew then he was a sure-fire top-100 guy inn the class. He’s athletic and gets to the rim with ease where he finishes up high. The ceiling is high for Bell.
No. 83 Jahion McCaleb, 6’3 SG (Des Moines North)
He was a key player off the bench for last season’s state qualifying squad, and he could be a starter on this season’s still-star-studded team. With good size, McCaleb is able to get shots off that smaller guards wouldn’t, and when he lets it fly, he let’s it go with supreme confidence; rightfully so, McCaleb has one of the purest shots in the state, and seemingly unlimited range.
N0. 94 Ryan Myers, 6’4 G (G-H-V)
Though his numbers weren’t spectacular at G-H-V last season, they could have been on nearly any other 2A team in the state. There’s so much talent on the Cardinals’ roster; the scoring was balanced, plus they’re one of the more defensive-minded teams in the state. He’s big, skilled and rangy — certainly worthy of being placed in the top-100.
No. 97 Alec Oberhauser, 6’5 G (Aplington-Parkersburg)
This tall and versatile senior-to-be has the size and skill-set to play all five positions for his Aplington-Parkersburg squad, but he’s most well-suited to play on the perimeter. He was very good last season as junior, going for 11.2 points per game on 54 percent shooting, he also led the team in assists, blocks and rebounds. The ceiling is high for this do-it-all guard.
No. 103 Curtis Martin, 5’9 G (Dubuque, Hempstead)
Another very talented senior-to-be at Dubuque, Hempstead, Martin was amazing during the first half of its state quarterfinal loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy. He came off the bench to score 19 first half points in that game, helping the Mustangs race out to a huge early lead. That alone proved that he can be on one the most dynamic talents in Iowa.
No. 113 Jaxx Rittman, 6’1 G (Waukee)
Rittman has patiently waited his turn to shine in a Waukee program that is starting to churn out high quality talent, in numbers, on a regular basis. Now, as he heads into his senior year, he’s getting the opportunity to showcase himself at June team camps, and at the Urbandale camp earlier this month, the sharpshooting scrapper was sensational.
No. 114, Jackson Foley, 5’7 G (Cedar Rapids Kennedy)
We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: pound-for-pound, Foley is a top-5 player in Iowa. He’s tiny, but so skilled and effective. He’s a lethal shooter from deep, and despite being the smallest guy on the floor more often than not, he’s able to get to the rim and finish at times. He’s got a high basketball, IQ, and is a legit playmaker. Foley is flat-out fun to watch.