Early Summer Sensations
Believe it or not, we’re about midway through summer, which, for those who don’t know, officially runs from the end of June to the end of September. In a year-round hoops season, it’s a time when guys can show what they got during the latter part of their grassroots seasons. Then, in August and September there’s no shortage of camps and showcase events for the guys to display their newfound skill and confidence. Here, we’ll take a look at eight guys who have had exceptional starts to the summer.
Cole Henry, 6’9 F (Oskaloosa)
Offers came pouring in for this versatile Oskaloosa forward; Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, American, Illinois-Chicago, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, Indiana State, South Dakota, Montana State and Northern Iowa all have offered since summer started. He was outstanding in Milwaukee when we saw him in July, showing off why some might even consider him a point-forward.
Noah Carter, 6’5 F (Dubuque, Senior)
Carter’s big spring carried into a big summer, and before we could even reach the end of the offseason, he made his college decision. It didn’t take long for him to commit to Northern Iowa after the Panthers offered in July. And why not? The Panthers tend to like big-men that can shoot it, that’s just what Carter is, but with some serious bounce too.
Kris Murray, 6’6 SG (Cedar Rapids Prairie)
The Murray twins were two guys we thought had a chance to blow this summer, and come summertime, there wasn’t one weekend that went by when we were’t seeing their name pop up on Twitter or in our text messages, “Who are these twins?!” Division II offers are staring to roll in.
Keegan Murray, 6’7 SG (Cedar Rapids Prairie)
The other Murray twin, Keegan and his brother Kris were dominant this summer with Iowa Barnstormers 17U Silver. And their Barnstormers coach Tanner Carlson said it best, “You just don’t see a 6’7 guard with that length who shoots it like Keegan does and doesn’t have a Division I offer,” Carlson said. “He’s someone, who I could see the D1s hanging around, or a new one getting on the mix here soon.”
Cliff McCray, 6’2 PG (Sioux City West)
There’s no question in our minds that this athletic and heady point guard out of Sioux City is still flying under the radar. As of right now, he’s got Division II offers from Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State. Either program would be lucky to have him. He sure did look like a D1-caliber guard when we were watching him in Kansas in July.
Dante Eldridge, 5’9 PG (Iowa City West)
He was smokin’ in Chicago during Iowa Dynasty’s 17U platinum division title run to end July. Eldridge was on another level in that tourney, burning by opponents, out-jumping bigger guards, and seeing the floor exceptional well, all while scoring in bunches. Division II schools in need of a heady and skilled lead guard need to be on this kid.
Jake Beckmann, 5’11 PG ( Cedar Rapids Xavier)
He hit not one, but two game-winning shots in consecutive games during the last tournament of the offseason in Chicago, that’s something rare. But it’s not just that; his grassroots squad Team Iowa White was one of the most successful 16U units in Iowa during the summer, and he was the catalyst of that unit.
Karson Sharar, 6′ G (Iowa Falls-Alden)
The guard that makes All Iowa Attack, arguably the state’s best 15U squad, go. Sharar proved he was one of the state’s best offensive threats when he averaged 19.6 points per game last season as a freshman with the Iowa Falls-Alden varsity. He continued to score in large does throughout the summer and became the first guy from Iowa’s class of 2021 to nab a D1 offer, when Drake extended one in July.