Iowa’s Premier Performers (Week 11)
Each week, we’ll sift through quikstats.com, Twitter, emails and the like in search of the best performances from around the state. It’s the 40-point games, triple doubles and stat-stuffing performances that are likely to make the list. Below, you’ll find 10 of this week’s eye-opening performances.
Garrett Sturtz (2018)
6’3 PG Newton
56 points (16-27 FGs, 22-23 FTs), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Sturtz is putting together one of the best individual seasons we’ve seen since starting Prep Hoops Iowa in 2014. He’s averaging 33.8 points per game on 49 percent shooting and is an amazing 222-252 from the free-throw line. He’s been on this list plenty plenty this season, but he pieced together his best masterpiece yet in a win over Winterest last Monday. The 56 points ties an Iowa High school single-game high this season (Tyreke Locure did it, too). The 22-23 from the line is amazing.
Tyrese Nickelson (2019)
6′ PG, Waterloo East
32 points (9-14 FGs), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks
This Eastern Iowa floor general has put together a fine junior season. And for a guy who wasn’t even sure if he’d be playing at the beginning of the year after being stabbed several times and taken to an Iowa City hospital last spring, he sure has been impressive. This 32-point outburst came in a Trojans win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Nickelson also came away with a season-high three blocks in the 13-point win.
Shane Chamberlain (2018)
6’3 SF, Harlan
34 points (12-19 FGs, 7-12 3s), 11 rebounds, 8 offensive rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
What a line this big and versatile Harlan wing pieced together during a narrow loss at Creston last Tuesday night. The points are great, and the efficiency from deep really showcases his ability to excel on the perimeter. However, it’s the eight offensive rebounds that really stand out here.
Spencer Schorg (2020)
5’11 G, St. Mary’s, Remsen
32 points (12-17FGs, 8-13 3FGs), 4 assists, 2 steals
Just a sophomore, Schorg has been one of the main contributors on one of the best teams in 1A. His Hawks squad is undefeated as they head into the meat of their post-season, and he’s averaged 13.3 points on some fantastic shooting, and leads the team assists to boot. He had his finest game of the season during a 33-point win over West Harrison, Mondamin last Thursday night.
Bryce Carr (2019)
5’9 PG, Danville
32 points (14-20 FGs), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals
It’s been a fantastic junior season for this Danville point guard, and he’s one of those guys (like Hilmer and Sturtz) that have been on this list more than once. There’s no denying a quadruple-nickel — he was doing it all during this loss to Highland, Riverside. The Bears many not have come away with the win, they’re a bit down this season; but Carr has certainly put himself on our radar. He’s dishing out a whopping 7.9 assists per game.
Tom Geelan (2019)
6’2 G, G-T/R-A
33 points (13-16 FGs, 6-7 3FGs)
Geelan is having himself a very nice junior campaign, and he came away with his best games of the season during a 40-point win over North Union last Thursday night. What’s most impressive is he did it while coming off the bench. It’s plain to see how he was able to notch a season-high 33 points, he only missed three of his 16 shot attempts, and he canned six of his seven 3-point attempts. He was on fire! We remember writing about another Geelan who posted some huge numbers fro G-T-R-A, Andy.
Conner Groves (2019)
6′ G, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
33 points (12-17 FGs, 7-10 3FGs), 4 assists, 5 steals
We got a good look at Groves last March during the state tournament, and although he was a sophomore on a senior-leaden squad, it was clear that he’d be a top prospect in Iowa as a junior and senior. And his junior season has gone well, Groves is averaging 14.8 points per game, plus he’s connected on 56 3s at a 43 percent clip. He also leads the team in steals. His Warriors are currently riding a six-game win streak — that’s what we call peaking at the right time. This 33 point outburst came during a 29-point win over South Sioux City (NE).
Jake Hilmer (2019)
5’10 PG, North Linn
28 points (9-13 FGs), 10 assists, 11 steals
Hilmer continues his dominance of 1A basketball, and he got himself yet another triple-double during an 80-point win over Springville last Thursday night. It was 61-8 at halftime. According to our Tony Roe, Hilmer is now 11 assists shy of breaking the all-time assists record in Iowa. And it’s very important to note, that Hilmer is just a junior. Wow.
Bryce Phelps (2021)
6’1 G, Denver
13 points, 5 rebounds, 9 steals
This is the Denver freshman’s first appearance on this list, and if he keeps playing defense like this, he might land in the ‘Premier Performers’ series plenty before his career is done. The 13 points and five rebounds were fine, especially for a freshman playing up with the varsity. But, it’s the nine steals that really stand out here, that’s more than anyone else in the state last week.
Devon Fuson (2019)
6′ F, Madrid
18 points (7-11 FGs), 18 rebounds, 10 offensive rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals
Look at this monster performance from the Madrid junior. Not only is it a quadruple-nickel, but he grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds — that rarely happens. And he’s only 6-feet tall, yeesh. Fuson has been enjoying a nice junior season, and is averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.