Introducing Mr. Basketball Candidate #4: Garrett Sturtz

As part of our preseason content, we're counting down the top dozen candidates for this year's Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. The list continues with our No. 4 player, Newton guard Garrett Sturtz, one of the best pure scorers in the state. Name: Garrett Sturtz Height: 6-4 Position: SG School: Newton 2016-17 stats: 495 points (19.8/game), 158 rebounds (6.3), 71 assists (2.8), 48 steals (1.9), 27 blocks (1.1), 49.1 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 87.0 FT% Career stats: 982 points (14.4/game), 337 rebounds (5.0), 166 assists (2.4), 91 steals (1.3), 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 84.9 FT% About Sturtz: If people around the state weren't aware of Sturtz's talent before last season, he made them realize just how good he is with his performance against Iowa City West in the first round of the state tournament, when he nearly led the Cardinals to a major upset win over the eventual champions. He's one of the most gifted pure scorers in the state, with the ability to score effectively at all three levels. He has a beautiful jump shot, fantastic footwork and an innate ability to get to the free throw line, where he's nearly automatic. After spending the early part of the grassroots season scoring in bunches with Iowa Intensity, he moved over to play with the Barnstormers later in the summer and flourished against top-notch competition, showing there is plenty more to his game than just his scoring ability. He's a good defender with great length, he rebounds at a high level and he's a really smart player who can control the game on both ends of the floor. Why he can win Mr. Basketball: He got his name out there last season, and he'll have a huge senior season after the graduation of Connor Gholson. If he's able to lead a really inexperienced Newton team back into the state tournament picture, he'll need to get plenty of consideration. His ability to impact the game in any number of ways should intrigue voters. Odds he wins Mr. Basketball: Not great, but a run to state given the lack of experience Newton has coming back could mean he gets a longer look. There are two exceptional candidates at the top of this countdown that are going to be nearly impossible to dethrone, but Sturtz may have as good a shot as anyone else.