Updated 2019 Rankings: Biggest Risers (Part I)
With just half a season left for the Class of 2019 to cement their legacies, it’s become very clear that this is the strongest group of players to come through Iowa in — at the very least — the last…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith just half a season left for the Class of 2019 to cement their legacies, it’s become very clear that this is the strongest group of players to come through Iowa in — at the very least — the last five seasons. And it’s not close. There’s still some jockeying going on towards the top of rankings, and even some shuffling still happening inside the top-10. Below are the eight most significant jumps in these second-to-last installment of 2019 rankings.
UPDATED 2019 PROSPECT RANKINGS
Evan Gauger (Indianola) — 14 to 9
The Northern Iowa recruit breaks his way into the top 10 after a very strong first half to his senior season. We saw Gauger throw down six slams against Carlisle earlier this season, and it’s his added athleticism that’s the biggest reason for his big rise in the rankings. He’s averaging 26.3 points per game on 56 percent shooting, 3.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.0 blocks and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Tyrese Nickelson (Waterloo East) — 22 to 14
Nickelson’s been one of the best offensive threats in the state this season, and his 25.4 points per game are fourth-best in Class 4A. He’s shooting it at a formidable 49 percent from the floor and also leads the Trojans in rebounding with 6.3 per game. JuCo appears to be the route he’ll take, and he could become a Division I hooper after that.
Cortaviaus Seales (North Scott) — 32 to 25
This athletic point guard continues to make a rise up the charts. When you’re one of the best players on the state’s top-ranked 4A squad, odds are, you’re also one of the state’s best overall players. Seales is averaging a team-best 15.1 points per game for the 13-0 Lancers. He’s shooting 50 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep.
Peyton Williams (Johnston) — 40 to 27
There’s no denying that this future Iowa Hawkeyes baseball player is one of the the state’s most dominant big-men. With Johnston this season, the bouncy 6’5 center has been the main-man, going for team-bests 11.4 points and 8.5 rebounds. He’s shooting 60 percent from the floor and he leads the team in blocks and steals for good measure. His 35 blocks are tops in Class 4A.
Christian Stanislav (Glenwood) — 36 to 28
The 6-foot-5 wing is piecing together a fine season for the defending Class 3A state champ Rams. His 22.8 points per game are fifth-best in Class 3A, and best of all, he’s shooting an efficient 53 percent from the floor. With his size and ability to score the ball, Stanislav is certainly one of the best available prospects in Iowa.
Zach Martinek (West Fork) — 54 to 34
This big and tough West Fork guard is a beneficiary of his very strong performance at our Top 250 Expo in the fall, coupled with his blistering start to his senior season. The Warhawks are 10-4 this season and Martinek is averaging 19.2 points on impressive 52/39/83 shooting splits.
Adam Jackson (Des Moines Hoover) — 46 to 35
The 5-foot-10 Huskies guard had a big offseason with Kingdom Hoops, and that has translated to lots of success in the regular season. He’s been one of the best scorers in Iowa, going for 17.9 points per game. And for a team that doesn’t score much, that’s a big number.
Gatdoar Bijiek (Des Moines North) — 73 to 39
The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter’s game continues to speak for itself, and maybe nobody has seen his stock rise in the last year more than Bijiek. He’s lighting it up on a nightly basis, and is averaging 18.4 points per game for the No. 9 Polar Bears. What’s better, is he’s making 44 percent of his 3s and leads 4A — by a wide margin — with 50 of them.