Battle at the Lakes: Iowa’s Best
The very best from all over the Midwest was on attendance this past weekend in Minneapolis, and there was no shortage of Iowa prospects in the mix. We were busy tracking the squads from the Hawkeye State, and we saw some fresh-faces and familiar ones. Below, are 10 of the very best we saw from Iowa.
FRESH FACES
Malik Allen, 5’9 PG (Beyond Ball 15U)
He was running the show for Beyond Ball’s top 15U unit, and is one of those guys that just has a nose for the ball. Defensively, he’s a pest; offensively, his handles and ability to get to the rim are well-advanced for his age.
Reid Grant, 6’3 G (Kingdom Hoops 15)
Johnston has a really good one coming through the ranks with this good-sized guard. He is not shy about attacking the rim, and in an age of settling for jumpers, Reid’s game is predicated on scoring tough buckets at the hoop.
Zach Rizzutti, 6’3 G (All Iowa Attack 15U)
Had a breakout weekend for an All Iowa Attack squad that advanced to the platinum division quarterfinals. The Panorama guard played tough all weekend, and we liked his propensity for attacking the hoop.
Marcus Morgan, 6’3 G (Iowa Barnstormers 16U)
A lead guard who does a little bit of everything, Morgan’s star was shining brightly at times for the Barnstormers’ top 15U squad. His high-arching 3-ball always has a good chance to go in, and he can create and make difficult shots off the bounce.
Payton Sandfort, 6’4 G/F (Kingdom Hoops 15U)
Waukee is going to be a program that continues to load up with talent for the foreseeable future. Sandfort is one of several young guns coming through the ranks, and his ability to guard several positions, paired with a sharpshooter’s touch makes him very dangerous.
FAMILIAR STANDOUTS
Noah Carter, 6’5 F (Iowa Barnstormers 17U)
The big-man is having a breakout spring, and that continued in Minneapolis. He scored 15 second half points in our viewing of him, and was showcasing high-level bounce with a soft shooting touch. An undersized, but very effective big, he even had his AAU coach comparing him on Twitter to Charles Barkley; we like that comparison.
Collin Lister, 6’2 G (All Iowa Attack 17U)
Lister is a guy that just gets it done. A jack-of-all trades, he can shoot the deep ball and score at the rim effectively, and has a knack for getting buckets in bunches. The Carlisle guard scored 12 points inn the first five minutes of the game when we saw him, and he finished that one with a game-high 23 points.
Bowen Born, 5’10 PG (Iowa Barnstormers 16U)
A tough, tough point guard, Born is perhaps the most skilled player in the state of Iowa. He scored 11 points in the first four minutes when we saw him, and lit up a good RWA Burford (IL) squad for 19 points. He’s got high-level handles and a pure jumper. He probes the defense exceptionally well. Northern Iowa was smart to offer him.
Nathaniel Mueller, 5’6 PG (Kingdom Hoops 15U)
This youngster is just a freshman, but he’s not new to us. He absolutely torched the competition at our Top 250 Expo last fall, and he was doing it again last weekend. The ADM point guard is a dynamic ball-handler and passer with elite quickness. He gets the rim and finishes with a high degree of skill and craftiness. Mueller is one of the most fun players in Iowa to watch.
Angelo Winkel, 6’7 PF (All Iowa Attack 15U)
Another youngster who is no stranger to us. We’ve seen Winkel plenty already this spring, and each time, he comes away impressing us. He controls the glass and has a flare about him when he rebounds. Defensively, he’s a strong presence in the paint, and offensively he can get up and finish on or at the rim very effectively. He’ll be highly-ranked when the 2021 rankings are released this fall.