STATE TOURNAMENT: Class 1A Breakout Candidates
Over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing and covering the State Tournament. Here we take a look at ten potential breakout players to keep an eye on during the Class 1A tournament.
2021 Parker Rochford, Edgewood-Colesburg
The sparkplug for the surprise Vikings, this 5-9 freshman guard has been among the top 2021 players in the state this season. He leads Ed-Co in scoring and has been remarkably efficient, shooting 55.2% from the floor and 50% from behind the arc. Look for this star in the making to make an impact for the Vikings.
2019 Preston Rochford, Edgewood-Colesburg
Parker’s older brother Preston has also had a great season, averaging 11.2 points a game, shooting 40% from the arc, and leading the team in assists by a mile with 172. He’ll have an extremely difficult task in front of him dealing with the insane pressure that North Linn provides, and the Vikings haven’t handled that well in two previous meetings this season, but the Rochford brothers are leading a bright future for Ed-Co.
2019 David Seber, North Linn
Ryan Miller and Jake Hilmer are stars, and Seber is the sidekick. He’ll be stepping into that coveted role as Hilmer’s primary running mate next year, and he’s been solid in his own right, averaging 12.5 points and making 67 3s on the year. He’s capable of getting red hot and can put points on the board in a hurry for the high powered Lynx.
2019 Sam Glenn, Grand View Christian
A 6-3 wing, the younger brother of former Thunder standout Stephen Glenn is a solid contributor for this year’s version. He’s long and really athletic, making an impact on both ends of the floor with his ability to score at the rim or from the arc, while also ranking among the team’s leaders in steals and blocks.
2020 Spencer Schorg, Remsen, St. Mary’s
This 5-11 sophomore guard has been great for the Hawks, leading the team in assists (78) and he’s been a dynamic shooter from deep at 42.2%. He’s probably pretty well known already in the 1A community in western Iowa, but he’ll have a chance to really get his name on the map with a big week in Des Moines.
2020 Zach Huff, Don Bosco
Another skilled sophomore guard, Huff leads the Dons in assists (127) and has a 2.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s capable of scoring when the opportunity presents itself, but he’s much more comfortable facilitating, and with the other weapons Don Bosco has, why not?
2019 Jared Gast, Council Bluffs, St. Albert
Gast, a 6-5 junior forward, comes off the bench for the Falcons, giving them some size off the pine that few 1A teams can match. He’s a solid finisher around the rim, shooting 58.8% from the floor, and he’s active on the offensive glass. Look for him to make a major impact against the opposition when they’re forced to go to their bench, and he’ll be one of the Falcons’ leaders next year.
2019 Caleb Terhark, George-Little Rock
The 6-4 junior forward is second on the Mustangs in scoring at 10.1 points a game, but what really stands out here is the 62.1% from the floor. He’s a remarkably efficient big man who controls the glass on both ends of the floor to the tune of 8.7 rebounds a night. If G-LR is going to make a run, Terhark’s control of the paint will be a reason why. And he’s a big reason why the Mustangs will be near the top of our “Way Too Early” rankings in 1A in the fall.
2019 Blake Johnson, George-Little Rock
On a team that is loaded with talent, Johnson can get lost in the shuffle, but teams will do so at their own peril. He’s the Mustangs’ top 3-point shooter, knocking in 45.6% of his attempts from the arc, and he’s become a really solid bench contributor on both ends of the floor for the ‘Stangs. He’s a reliable ball handler and scorer who fits into his role well but is a candidate to have an explosion game if he can get hot from deep.
2019 Tyson Vander Linden, Lynnville-Sully
The 5-10 junior guard isn’t asked to score an awful lot in a lineup that includes standouts like Jesse Van Wyk, Tanner Foster and Brevin Hansen. He’s been a steady mainstay on both ends of the floor, however, for the Hawks, tying for the team lead in assists (85), swiping 31 steals and he’s been a reliable 3-point shooter, connecting on over 38% of his attempts. He’ll have the ball in his hands a lot and asked to put his teammates in a position to score, but if he’s left open, he’ll make teams pay. This will be his team next season, and this will be a chance for him to put his name on the map.