June’s Fresh Faces
We spent plenty of time in the gym this June taking in a heap of summer camp games. In addition to the AAU season, June team camps provide an excellent opportunity to see guys we otherwise might not get to; guys who are filling voids left by last year’s seniors, or guys who just have yet to be seen by us. Below, we’ll highlight eight under the radar prospects, who will likely make their way into the next installment of prospect rankings.
Chase Winterboer, 6’1 G (Ballard) — 2019
We’d been hearing lots of good things about the Ballard combo-guard, and during our first viewing of him at the Grand View Team Camp, he delivered big-time. He canned seven 3s in that game, and showed a propensity to make the right plays. D3s and NAIA schools are very interested.
Josiah Conkrite, 5’7 PG (Des Moines Lincoln) — 2019
The Railsplitters have a chance to be sneaky good next season, and this ultra quick lead guard is the main reason why. He’s small, but really, really fast. And he’s skilled. Conkrite will hit a jumper just as fluidly as he’ll breeze by his guy and get into the paint, where he can finish over bigger guys or create for others.
Nathan Weaver, 6’3 F (Chariton) — 2019
A combo-forward with a versatile skill-set and a high motor, Weaver has a chance to post some monster numbers from Chariton this coming winter, Last year he was good, while averaging 12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Look for him to average a double-double as a senior.
Luke Rankin, 5’7 PG (Dallas Center-Grimes) — 2021
We’ve been writing about this rising sophomore quite a bit since his effort as the Grand View Team Camp last weekend, and we think he’s got a chance to be really good for the Mustangs. He’s got that “it” factor about him; good vision, precision shooting, handles, and just a good all-around feel for the game. And he’s really lengthy.
Trenton Beck, 6’3 G/F (Carlisle) — 2019
Maybe the single best performance that we saw in a June game from a guy we didn’t know, Beck dropped 34 points in the opening game of the Simpson Team Camp, and was looking really impressive while doing so (it’s hard to not look impressive while dropping 34). Beck played a small role last season with the Wildcats, and it looks like the tall, slashing wing will be pivotal to the team’s success this coming season.
Jackson Kochendorfer, 6’2 SG (St. Edmond) — 2019
We saw him play well last spring with AFES 16U, and again he impressed this spring at the Grand View Team Camp. Kochendorfer is a sniper from long range, he canned his first six 3s in our viewing of him, and ended that game with 23 points. Last season he canned 72 3s, that was eighth-most in 1A, and he did so at a very decent 43 percent clip.
Maiwut Jok, 6’7 C (Des Moines Lincoln) — 2020
The Lincoln big-man probably has a higher upside than anyone else on this list. He’s tall, lengthy and very athletic. In a CIML Metro Division that tends to be on the smaller side, Jok could do a lot of damage the next two seasons.
Collin Breen, 6’4 G (Fairfield) — 2019
A big and versatile guard who had an OK junior season, Breen is a guy that should be getting looked at by area Division III and NAIA programs. We’ve seen him plenty the past two offseasons honing his skills with Iowa Pump N Run Black, and we think he’s in line for what could be a breakout senior season.