Prep Hoops Top 250: 2018/2019 Wings and Bigs (Part I)
As part of a series of posts profiling some of this past weekend’s standouts from the Top 250 Expo in Des Moines, we take a look at 10 of the best wings and bigs from the 2018 and 2019 classes. In Part I, we’ll take a look at five of them, while Part II will feature the remaining five players.
6-8 C Will Berg (West Des Moines Valley/2020)
Despite the fact that Berg is a member of the Class of 2020, we’re listing him among this group because this is where he competed over the weekend (Valley had homecoming Saturday night, so he came for the morning/afternoon session). Despite playing against significantly older players, he was still among the standouts. He’s a legit 6-8, with long arms and he runs the floor extremely well. He’s a fluid athlete who finishes well around the rim and has range out to about 12 feet currently. He rebounds well and is an excellent shot blocker. Another in a long line of talented Valley big men, Berg will make his name known not only across the state, but across the Midwest in the coming years.
6-5 SF Shane Chamberlain (Harlan/2018)
Chamberlain put up great numbers with the Cyclones last winter, and I was anxious to get a look at him. I was not disappointed. He’s a physically strong wing capable of scoring inside and out, and he displayed a great, quick release on his jumper with range well beyond high school line. He’s a big-time scorer who shined during game play. He moves well off the ball, finding spaces in the defense, and he’s almost always squared and ready to shoot off the catch. He’s a high-level rebounder from his wing spot, and has the ability to defend multiple positions as well. Look for Chamberlain to put up huge numbers this season for Harlan.
6-8 F Dylan Jones (Waukee/2019)
The junior combo forward was the MVP of the 2019/2020 session last year, and he was exceptional again this time around. A gifted, long forward who can score inside and out, he’s on the verge of a major breakout. He has great length, rebounds at a high level, runs the floor and can stretch out to the arc and knock down shots. He’s improving his ball handling, which allows him to put the ball on the floor to take advantage of when he has bigger defenders on him. He has good footwork in the paint and good touch around the rim. I’d like to see him get a little tougher around the rim, but that should come with added strength, something he’s working on. He has the ability to go up and dunk on people, he just needs to gain the confidence to do so, and I’m confident that will come.
6-6 SF Japannah Kellogg III (Ames/2019)
One of the longest players in this session, Kellogg uses that plus length and athleticism to make a major impact on both ends of the floor. He has the quickness to defend on the perimeter, which when paired with his length, allows him to cover a lot of ground. He’s also capable of defending in the paint and blocking shots. He’s still a work in progress on that end of the floor, but it’s coming together. Where he’s made the biggest strides are on the offensive end, where his handle has improved tremendously. He’s able to use a quick first step and long strides to get to the rim with ease from the perimeter, and when he gets to the rim, he’s looking to dunk on people. He’s capable of stepping out and hitting shots from behind the arc, and he’s a dynamic rebounder on both ends of the floor. With the added ball handling ability, he’s able to “rip and run”, leading the break, where he displayed some quality court vision and passing ability. If Jake Hilmer wasn’t Jake Hilmer, Kellogg would’ve been our pick for MVP of the 2018/19 session. He was great on both ends of the floor, and did so with consistent effort throughout.
6-4 SF James Cameron Nelson (Linn-Mar/2019)
A phenomenal athlete, Nelson is built to excel in events like this, where the game play is up-and-down. That said, his all-around skill set has improved dramatically since last season. He has the ability to knock down shots from behind the arc now, has turned himself into a capable ball handler and has the ability to get to the rim and finish through contact. He has great length, is an explosive athlete who is great in transition and he rebounds at a high level. He’s still putting everything together, but the improvement from last year’s event to this year’s was extremely evident, and if he stays on this trajectory, he has a chance to make a major impact for Linn-Mar.