Hardwood Classic: Iowa Preview
Friday, we’ll be in Lawrence, Kansas to cover the Hardwood Classic Session One. Today (Thursday) the tourney begins, with pool play tipping off at 2:00. It’ll be a hotbed for Iowa teams, and we’ll have them covered from Friday through Sunday. Below, we’ll take a look at the teams, and players to watch this weekend in the Sunflower State.
17U Teams
Kingdom Hoops Elite-Mosley, Kingdom Hoops Elite-Stinson, Iowa Intensity 2019, Showtime Hoopers Black, Sioux City Bombers, AFES Black, Team Iowa Red, Iowa Cornsharks, SW Iowa Select
Key Players
Hosea Treadwell, 6’2 G (Kingdom Hoops Elite-Mosley)
Has been as good as anyone this offseason, and should be seeing college interest coming in droves this summer.
Adam Jackson, 5’10 G (Kingdom Hoops-Stinson)
Another in a lineage of strong Hoover guards, Jackson can fill it up offensively, and Ds up too.
Logan Peters, 6’1 G (Iowa Cornsharks)
A state track champion, Peters is a standout on the hardwood as well. His length and ability to pass the ball make him one of 2019’s best guards.
Cliff McCray, 6’2 PG (Showtime Hoopers)
An athletic lead guard, McCray is a guy that has several D2 offers. Will low-major D1s get involved?
Jack Peterson, 6′ G (Sioux City Bombers)
We first saw the skilled and smooth combo-guard last offseason in Omaha with the Bombers. He’s one of the more savvy guards in Iowa.
16U Teams
Kingdom Hoops Elite I, Kingdom Hoops Elite II, All Iowa Attack Black, All Iowa Attack White, Iowa Intensity-Allen, Team Iowa Silver, Showtime Hoopers 10th Black, SW Iowa Select, Team Iowa White
Key Players
Matt Ockey, 5’10 G (Kingdom Hoops Elite I)
He’s the catalyst for his Kingdom Hoops squad, and excels from beyond the arc.
Tyler Johnson, 6’2 G (All Iowa Attack Black)
He’s in line for a breakout season at Norwalk, and has been filling it up this spring and summer with both the Warriors and Attack.
Daquavion Walker, 6′ PG (All Iowa Attack Black)
A supremely quick and athletic point guard with some serious vision. Walker is fun to watch, and will drop a dime at a moment’s notice.
Matt Evans, 6’2 SF (SW Iowa Select)
The rising junior played minimally last season for Council Bluffs Lincoln, but will take on a more prominent role next season as a projected starter with the Lynx.
15U Teams
Kingdom Hoops Elite I, Iowa Intensity-Jackson, AFES 15U, Showtime Hoopers 9th Black, Kingdom Hoops Elite II
Key Players
Nathaniel Mueller, 5’7 PG (Kingdom Hoops Elite I)
An electric talent who is usually the smallest guy on the floor, but is also usually the most dynamic. He had a big tourney in Milwaukee last weekend.
Payton Sandfort, 6’4 G/F (Kingdom Hoops Elite I)
A projected top-5 guy in Iowa’s class of 2021, Sandfort will light you up from deep, but has the size to take smaller guards down into the paint.
Reid Grant, 6’2 G (Kingdom Hoops Elite I)
A solid off-guard who does not shy away from contact, he’s always in attack mode. He can shoot it and handle it, too.
Manny Austin, 6′ G (Kingdom Hoops Elite I)
Another of the top all-around players in Iowa’s class of 2021. Austin is the younger brother of Kingdom Hoops Elite 17U guard Hosea Treadwell, and is cut from the same mold.