Updated 2019 Rankings: Highest Debuts
There’s just half a high school season left for the Class of 2019, but there’s still guys starting to emerge as some of the state’s best players. Whether they’ve been waiting in the wings on talented teams and finally have…
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Continue ReadingThere’s just half a high school season left for the Class of 2019, but there’s still guys starting to emerge as some of the state’s best players. Whether they’ve been waiting in the wings on talented teams and finally have gotten their chance, or simply spent the past several months improving their skill-set, these eight newcomers to the rankings have solidified themselves as formidable prospects in Iowa.
UPDATED 2019 PROSPECT RANKINGS
Javonte Keck (Sioux City East) — No. 29
The Black Raiders combo-forward makes by far the highest debut of any other senior in these rankings. After a good season as a role player with last season’s state qualifier, Keck has erupted this season. He’s averaging 14.0 points on 58 percent shooting and 8.6 rebounds per game. His size (6’7), length and athletic ability make him one of the state’s best available seniors.
Micah McWell (Sioux City West) — No. 69
It’s the shooting that makes this Wolverines senior a highly-debuted player. He’s absolutely lighting it up this season, going for shooting splits of 52/44/84, rendering him one of the state’s best shooters, no question. He’s 6’3 and a sharpshooter, that’s a recipe for success.
Josh English (Davenport Central) — No. 75
We really like to reward players who are playing efficiently and prolifically on really good teams. That’s a category English falls into. He’s 6’3 guard who’s averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds for one of 4A’s best teams.
Lance Hughes (Greene County) — No. 84
Last season, the athletic 6’1 guard was pretty good for Greene County. This season, he’s been exceptional. He’s upped his scoring by nearly 12 points per game, from 9.4 as a junior to 21.1 this season. He’s also shooting it efficiency, 51 percent from the floor, and pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game.
Codey Hicks (Janesville) — No. 90
When we saw Hicks at our Top 250 Expo last fall, we knew he was a guy we needed to have somewhere in the prospect rankings; it was clear that he was a top 200 player in his class. When we saw the numbers he was posting this season for the 11-3 Wildcats, 22.7 points points on 81 percent shooting, 3.0 blocks and 10.9 rebounds per game, we knew we had to put him somewhere int he top 100.
Jang Jioklow (Carroll) — No. 113
Carroll is rolling this season, winners of eight straight and 10-1 on the season, it’s been this athletic and lengthy senior guard that’s been leading the way. His 14.2 points per game on 57 percent shooting are great. And he’s also leading the No. 6 Tigers in rebounding, assists and steals.
Jayce Goergen (Ankeny Christian Academy) — No. 116
Class 1A’s No. 4 squad, Anekny Christian Academy, has yet to lose a game this season and it’s the best scoring team in the state (1A). This 5-foot-10 point guard is what makes them go. He’s averaging 16.5 points on 55 percent shooting, 45 percent 3-point shooting, 5.2 assists and 4.0 steals per game.
Greg Hall (Linn-Mar) — No. 120
He’s the second-leading scorer on of of the state’s better 4A teams, and is one of those guys that was waiting in the wings a bit in a stacked program. Since Nolan Ruff And Jacob Robertson graduated last season, Hall has stepped in and seen his production increase in a big way.