Drake Team Camp: Top Prospects (Part I)
As it has been the past several years, the Drake Team Camp was one of the highlights of the spring. Last weekend, teams from all over Iowa assembled in Des Moines to get some work in and showcase themselves at Drake’s Knapp Center and Shivers Practice Facility. Prep Hoops Iowa was there all day Friday taking in the action, below, we’ll break down the 10 best prospects we saw.
Harouna Sissoko, 6’7 F (Grand View Christian) — 2019
A transfer into two-time defending state champs Grand View Christian, Sissoko played last season at Lincoln Academy in Georgia, and will debut in Iowa’s top-20 when the next installment of 2019 rankings are released in the fall. Sissoko is a lot of things, but what’s most striking is his ability to get up and jam. He’s not necessarily a freak athlete, but at 6’7 and with some well able average hops, he gets up and dunks like very few we’ve ever seen in Iowa the past five years. He’s also got a pretty good looking stroke from deep, and can handle it a little bit. Sissoko currently holds offers from Tulsa, Middle Tennessee State and most recently Coppin State. He had the Drake coaches very impressed after scoring 16 points, including a 3-ball and several high-flying jams in the Thunder’s camp opener against Iowa Falls-Alden.
Issa Samake, 6’7 F (Grand View Christian) — 2019
Another relative newcomer to the Iowa high school hoops scene. This Mali-born hoopster possesses two things that make him a cut above the rest: freakish athleticism and really, really long arms. His dunk where he took off from just inside the free-throw line was eye-opening. He didn’t necessarily fly on that one — like he’s tended to do on a couple reverse jams we’ve seen from him — but it was his immense length that made the long jam possible. A 7’4 wing-span allows him to wreck shots defensively. And one thing that was most striking, was his much-improved jumper, he canned two 3-balls in our viewing of him, to go along with some show-stopping jams. Grand View Christian will have two guys in Iowa’s 2019 top-20 (maybe top-10) when the new rankings are released; they’ll be favorites to win another Class 1A title.
Trayvon Williams, 6’3 G (Valley) — 2019
This Valley rising senior’s strong spring continues. It’s very clear that his leadership has ramped-up, he’ll certainly be the guy this season for the Tigers. A team that will again be able to compete for a state title. Williams was good in a win over Cedar Falls, scoring 19 points, 15 in the first half, on his usual slashes to the hoop. Most all of his scoring this spring has come at the rim. That’s not because he’s missing outside shots, he’s just electing to not shoot them. Last season with Valley, he made six of his 17 3-point attempts, good for 44 percent. But Williams knows his strengths, and he’s smartly catering to them. One Drake coach mentioned he’d like to see Williams tighten his handle; if he can do that, and continue to develop his jumper on his own time in the gym, the sky’s the limit.
Will Berg, 6’8 F (Valley) — 2020
This tall and versatile combo-forward is not afraid to let it fly from deep, and he’s got a pretty good looking stroke. A really good looking stroke considering he’s 6’8 and considered a post more than a wing. It looks like Berg has a shot to be a 40 percent 3-point shooter, but it’s his size and ability to exploit smaller guys in the paint that makes him most dangerous, though. It’s very clear that Berg has worked hard to improve his play from the perimeter, there were several occasions during our viewing of him when he sized up his guy and drove by him. When he gets big, less agile posts out on the wing, he’s certainly able to take them of the bounce. We’re interested to see Berg play as a junior, a breakout season could be in the cards.
Angelo Winkel, 6’7 F (Bishop Garrigan) — 2021
As a freshman at Bishop Garrigan, Winkel averaged 14.8 points on 62 percent shooting, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Yes, Bishop Garrigan plays a small-school schedule, but for any freshman at any level to post those numbers is impressive. He’s been really good this spring, and his length and instincts around the rim make him one of the better rebounding forwards we’ve seen. He’s athletic enough to get up and throw down some jams if granted the opportunity, and shot-blocking is another strength. Over the next three seasons at Class 1A Bishop Garrigan, he will dominate. And if he keeps doing the same with his AAU team, All Iowa Attack Red, then offers could start rolling in as soon as next summer (after his sophomore season).