Iowa’s All-Junior Team (Class of 2020)
FIRST TEAM
Junior of the Year: Bowen Born (Norwalk)
27.8 points (48.3 FG%, 85.5 FT%), 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, 3.0 rebounds
What a season for the small but tremendously effective Norwalk lead guard. It was predictable that he’d have a breakout season; after co-piloting with current Drake guard Luke Vaske the past two seasons, the Warriors were Born’s to solely lead this season — and he did so emphatically. Born led Norwalk all the way to the state title game and was showing out all week at Wells Fargo Arena while doing so. He outscored the entire Ballard Bombers squad 40-39 in a quarterfinals shellacking, we won’t soon forget that.
Xavier Foster (Oskaloosa)
14.4 points (53.6 FG%), 6.2 blocks, 11.8 rebounds
Uh, 6.2 blocks per game, that’s crazy talk. The blocks are what make the nationally sought-after forward so dominant, the rest of the stuff is gravy. Very few players in the history of Iowa high school hoops have averaged more than six blocks per game. Expect Foster’s numbers to balloon next season with seniors Rian Yates and Cole Henry graduating. Maybe he’ll average a triple-double in 2020.
Ty Anderson (North Scott)
13.7 points (59.1 FG%, 38.7 3FG%), 1.2 blocks, 8.2 rebounds
What’s not to like about the future Northern Iowa Panthers forward? He’s a rangy 6-foot-7 and very versatile with his skill set. He’s as efficient of a player as there was in Class 4A, and he scored from all over the court. He defends and cleans up on the glass. The Panthers certainly knew what they were doing when they offered Anderson; we think he’ll be a good one for them in two years.
Hunter Dekkers (West Sioux)
22.5 points (53.4 FG%, 46.3 3FG%), 5.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 6.5 rebounds
He’s known more for his football prowess as a quarterback than he is for basketball, but man can he hoop. His 22.5 points per game was the best among all juniors in Class 2A, and he did it with such great efficiency. The 5.7 assists were among the best in Class 2A also, and he was an exceptional rebounder from the guard spot for good measure. It looks like he’ll pursue football at the next level, but he’ll have one more year to dazzle Falcons hoops fans first.
Nick Reid (Central City)
32.5 points, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 13.1 rebounds
Nobody in the state of Iowa, regardless of grade level and regardless of class, scored it better than Reid did this season. Having an insane 76-point game helps boost that per game average, as does a 57-point game, which he did earlier in the season. If all of that wasn’t enough, the 6’6 forward’s 13.1 rebounds per game ranked fifth-best in the state, again regardless of class and grade. Reid will play with the Iowa Barnstormers this spring and summer, and could pick up a slew of offers.
SECOND TEAM
Jack Wetzel (Cedar Rapids Kennedy)
17.8 points (81.5 FT%), 1.5 steals, 6.6 rebounds
After a stellar sophomore season, Wetzel followed it up with another outstanding campaign at Kennedy. At 6’4 and with some sharpshooting ability, he’s becoming a highly sought-after prospect.
Easton Darling (Winterset)
20.2 points, 3.0 assists, 2.6 steals, 4.2 rebounds
A dynamic athlete who can score in bunches, Darling was outstanding all season and especially in February and March during a Winterset state tourney run.
Goanar Biliew (Denison-Schelswig)
18.2 points (68.0 FG%), 3.2 blocks, 10.8 rebounds
This 6-foot-8 big-man burst onto the scene this season and lit up opponents on both sides of the ball. He’s certainly a breakout candidate this spring and summer.
Bryce Coppock (Newell-Fonda)
28.2 points (49.5 FG%, 41.6 3FG%), 4.1 assists, 2.9 steals, 4.6 rebounds
For three years now, Copock has been one of the more prolific scorers in Iowa’s 2020 class, and he took it up a notch this season, coming up just shy of 30 points per game.
Michael Keegan (Beckman Catholic)
18.2 points (53.2 FG%, 41.1 3FG%), 4.6 assists, 3.3 steals, 2.7 blocks, 7.0 rebounds
Truly one of the best stat-stuffers in Iowa, there’s really nothing that Keegan can’t do on the floor. The 6’4 point guard will look to turn some heads this offseason with Martin Brothers 17U.
THIRD TEAM
Daniel Wright (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)
15.1 points (55.2 FG%, 83.8 FT%), 3.5 assists, 9.6 rebounds
Jaleque Dunson (Sioux City East)
15.8 points (38.1 FT%), 2.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds
Braxton Bayless (Ankeny)
15.2 points (53.0 FG%, 46.9 3FG%), 3.2 assists, 2.3 steals, 5.8 rebounds
Masen Miller (Regina Catholic)
20.4 points (43.0 3FG%), 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals, 4.5 rebounds
Zack Lasek (Highland)
20.5 points (55.6 FG%, 43.6 3FG%), 1.9 blocks, 11.1 rebounds
Fourth Team
Even Brauns (Iowa City West)
Jake Hull (Grinnell)
JD Stout (Keota)
Braden Gibbons (Madrid)
Cameron Soenksen (Camanche)
Honorable Mention:
Christian Heilbuth (Siouxland Christian), Josh Ollendieck (Cedar Falls), Jackson Louscher (South O’Brien), Brennan Sefrit (Bedford), Alex Van Kalsbeek (MOC-Floyd Valley), Andre Brandon (Iowa City Liberty), Caleb Delzell (Camanche), Cody McCullough (Centennial), Matt Stilwill (Dowling Catholic), Jaxon Smith (Ankeny), Tyler Andrews (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Jake Schockemoehl (Wahlert), Logan Shetterly (Pella), Tyler Sansgaard (Nevada), Matt Ockey (Gilbert), Charlie Wiebers (Denison-Schleswig), Zach Carr (Glenwood), Will Henricksen (Marion), Sean Peeters (Assumption), Cael Schmitt (Wahlert), Baxter Walsh (West Sioux), Brady Berkey (Colfax-Mingo), Zane Neubaum (South Central Calhoun), Curran Ingram (Des Moines Christian), Jon Schwarte (Treynor), Frank Bierman (Tipton), Noah Beck (BGM), Nick Coble (WACO), Keyton Moser (Boyden-Hull)