State Tournament: 2A Breakout Candidates
The stage is set for the 2019 Iowa high school boys’ state tourney, and over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing the event. Here we take a…
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Continue ReadingThe stage is set for the 2019 Iowa high school boys’ state tourney, and over the course of the next two weeks, the Prep Hoops Iowa team will be flooding you with content previewing the event. Here we take a look at eight potential breakout players to keep an eye on during the Class 2A tournament.
Tanner Te Slaa, 6’3 SG (Boyden-Hull) — 2022
The freshman has already been turning heads in Northwest Iowa this season, and now he’ll get the opportunity to make his name known around the entire state. He’s got the size at guard that will certainly pique the interest of college coaches in attendance, and if his shooting numbers are any indication, he’s got the skill to match.
Dane Fuller, 5’10 G (Dike-New Hartford) — 2021
Last spring at The Proving Grounds in Minneapolis, Fuller was one of the more impressive young prospects we watched. It came as little surprise when we saw his success this season for the Wolverines. Now, the sophomore will get a chance to dazzle fans on the state’s largest stage. He could be the X-factor next week for D-NH.
Brady Hewitt, 6’4 G/F (Des Moines Christian) — 2020
Outside of star guard Curran Ingram, Des Moines Christian featured a very balanced scoring attack this season; a bevy of long and athletic guys that scored between four and eight points per game. Hewitt is one that was impressive earlier this season when we saw the Lions play Earlham. He’s got the size and length to cause trouble on the defensive end, and though his prowess may not show up in the stat-book, he’s certainly a difference-maker.
Jaxon Rus, 6′ SG (Rock Valley) — 2020
Very few shooters in the state have put up more impressive numbers than Rus has this season. That makes him a threat to go off next week at Wells Fargo Arena. A junior sharpshooter, Rus has made 72 3s this season, at a very good 43 percent clip.
Cole Berg, 6’1 G (South Hamilton) — 2019
There’s always been other stars at South Hamilton that get the headlines. Last season is was Marco Balderas, this season it’s Conner Hill and Logan Peters. Berg, though, is a guy who’s always a threat to go off and win a game for the Hawks. That’s what he did in a Substate final against New Hampton, when he went off for 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Anthony Potthoff, 6’3 G (Van Meter) — 2020
He’s always been a nice role player for the Bulldogs and this season he’s stepped it up a notch. Ryan Schmitt will certainly be the focal point of other team’s defenses next week, but Pothoff is liable to go off at any given time, too. He’ll be the primary ball-handler for the Bulldogs and could turn some heads with his scoring, too.
Austin Hilmer, 5’10 G (North Linn) — 2022
When your older brother is the state’s all-time leader in assists and steals, there’s going to be some expectation surrounding you. Austin has not disappointed. The freshman is averaging 10.9 points and three assists per game heading into the state tourney.
Ashton Cook, 6’4 F (Regina Catholic) — 2021
The sophomore has enjoyed a breakout season with the 20-2 Regals this season, and we suspect that will continue into the state tourney next week. Cook is the second-leading scorer for Regina, he’s averaging 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season.