Iowa’s Player of the Week Poll (6)
Evan Gauger (Indianola)
The dynamic senior guard has always been one of the best players in his class, but he’s taken his game to new heights this season. Last week was his best ever as a prep. The Northern Iowa recruit went for 37 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in a win over Urbandale, then bettered that, going for 39 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in a win at Newton.
Nate Reed (Sioux City North)
Talk about a breakout a week. The North Star junior was having himself a nice season coming into games against Council Bluffs Jefferson and Sioux City East, and after averaging 31.5 points on 66 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in those games, he’s firmly on our radar. The 63 points is the best two-game total from a Sioux City North player since Daniel Tillo in 2013.
Mick McMurray (Cedar Rapids Washington)
What a season this senior forward is having. And not only was last week great for McMurray, but his Warriors got consecutive wins for the first time since January of last year. Against Waterloo East, he went for 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Against Wahlert, he scored it even even better while going for 32 points, and adding nine rebounds.
Derek Krogmann (West Delaware)
The West Delaware Hawks got back into their groove after losing three of their previous four by winning two games last week. Against Mount Vernon, Krogmann, a Northern Iowa recruit, went for 29 points and 11 rebounds. Then he blew up for 31 points against Central DeWitt, adding 11 rebounds and five blocks in the 60-58 win.
Tyson Kruse (Graettinger-Terril)
In three games last week the Titans were 2-1 and they finished it with a big win over Pocahontas Area. Kruse, a 6-foot-4 forward, averaged 21 points and a whopping 15 rebounds in the three games. He saved his best for last, going for a season-high 31 points on Friday against Pocahontas Area and adding 11 rebounds in the 56-53 triumph.