Prep Hoops Top 250: Top 2018/2019 Wings and Bigs (Part II)
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 took a look at five of them. Here in Part II, we’ll take a look at the remaining five standout players.
6-8 C Ryan Schmitt (Van Meter/2019)
Schmitt was the best low-post player in the early session, and frankly, it wasn’t that close. He’s a legitimate 6-8, with some girth to him as well that allows him to establish great position on the block. He’s capable of scoring with either hand in the paint, and he’s steadily improving his footwork and post moves. He also stepped out to the arc and knocked down a couple of 3s during game play. He’s better in a halfcourt setting, but showed the ability to run the floor and finish occasionally as well. His conditioning probably needs to improve a bit, but when he’s playing in a halfcourt game, he’s capable of being a dominant force on both ends of the floor. He’ll be the focal point of a Van Meter team that we have ranked No. 1 in 2A to open the year.
6-4 SG Christian Stanislav (Glenwood/2019)
Arguably the best wing scorer in the first session, Stanislav has the all-around offensive skill set that makes coaches drool. He’s a long, athletic wing who is capable of getting red hot from behind the arc, showcasing a silky smooth jumper with range well beyond the high school line. He’s also adept at putting the ball on the floor, and you wouldn’t realize it by simply looking at him, but he’s a great athlete who isn’t afraid to get into the paint and try to throw one down on somebody. He’s an electric scorer who is capable of scoring in bunches, and with his length and athleticism, he rebounds and defends at an above-average level as well.
6-8 C Max Campbell (Cedar Rapids Washington/2018)
A true big man who does a large majority of his damage in the paint, Campbell has improved his conditioning quite a bit in the last year, slimming down and gaining some definition in his arms and shoulders. He runs the floor really well, finishes around the rim and rebounds effectively. His offensive skill set is still a work in progress, but it’s much further along than it was a year ago, and he continues to show improvement there. He’s got good size, is a decent athlete and he’ll compete on both ends.
6-6 SF Dadrian Hoambrecker (Iowa City West/2018)
Few players “look the part” more than Hoambrecker, who is a gifted athlete blessed with tremendous length and athletic ability. His jumper is much improved from where it was a year ago, as he routinely stepped out to the arc and knocked down shots with a much smoother motion than before. He’s capable of putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim, and when he’s engaged, he can be a good defender. The biggest question here is whether he’ll compete consistently. If he does, he’s extremely talented and can make a major impact on both ends of the floor.
6-4 SG Brock Simon (Cascade/2018)
Another skilled wing with tremendous length, Simon displayed a top-notch ability to finish around the rim, both through and around contact. He’s creative with his finishes, and doesn’t shy away from contact in the paint. He’s a good perimeter shooter off the catch, can handle the ball a little bit and rebounds at a high level from his guard spot. He’s a fluid athlete with some explosiveness, and he answered some major questions on the defensive end. His high school team, Cascade, plays only a 2-3 zone, but he’s shown over the summer and at the Top 250 that he can defend in the man as well, with his length causing plenty of issues on that end of the floor.