Iowa’s All-Sophomore Team (Class of 2021)
FIRST TEAM
Sophomore of the Year: Trey Shearer (Montezuma)
22.4 points (49.9 FG%, 40.2 3FG%), 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 3.8 rebounds
What wasn’t to like about Shearer’s season? He did a lot everything, and led his team to the state tournament in the process. Not only was he among the state’s best scorers, but he was efficient in doing so, and he was excellent on the defensive end, too, going for two steals per game. It’s not often you see sophomores lead elite teams, but Shearer, whose Braves advanced to the 1A semifinals, led his team in scoring, assists and steals this season.
Michael Duax (Dubuque, Hempstead)
14.8 points (54 FG%, 50 3FG%), 2.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 5.3 rebounds
The Duax family has churned out its fair share of talent overt he last five years, and Michael looks to be the best of the bunch. He came on strong this season, leading Hempstead in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and rebounding. He’s an athletic 6’5 guard who could emerge as a majorly sought-after college recruit this summer.
Cooper DeJean (OABCIG)
23.3 points (50.9 FG%), 5.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 11.3 rebounds
Very few people in the state, no matter what grade they were in, had a more impressive season that this athletic 6-foot guard. Aside from Karson Sharar, who only played seven games this season, DeJean led all sophomores in scoring. And was still able to dish out five assists per game. What’s most impressive, though, is his ability to rebound from the guard position, DeJean’s 11.3 boards per game was tops in the state among sophomores.
Angelo Winkel (Bishop Garrigan)
16.6 points (58.7 FG%), 2.6 blocks, 9.5 rebounds
The 6-foot-9 power forward’s high school career got off to a great start last season as a freshman and he continued to shine as a sophomore. He played on a state-qualifying Golden Bears squad and was a prolific and efficient scorer for the squad. Where he really separated himself was on the glass and his hot-blocking; Winkel’s 9.5 rebounds were fifth-best among sophomores, his 2.6 blocks was the best among sophomores.
Connor Drew (Ballard)
17.2 points (50.4 FG%), 1.2 blocks, 9.6 rebounds
The 6-foot-6 big-man was a beast this season for the Bombers, and was able to get them to the state tourney while leading the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks. Drew will spend his spring and summer playing with a very talented All Iowa Attack 16U unit, and could emerge as a sought-after college prospect by summer’s end.
SECOND TEAM
Keaton Kuthcer (Mount Vernon)
20.5 points (41.7 3FG%, 87.8 FT%), 2.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds
A flat-out scorer, Kutcher’s 20.5 points per game was tops among sophomores in Class 3A (minimum of 10 games played). And we really like that he’s a sterling 87.8 percent from the line.
Ryan Riggs (Dowling Catholic)
12.2 points (58.5 3FG%, 42.9 3FG%), 1.6 blocks, 5.3 rebounds
The Dowling Catholic big-man’s stock continues to rise, and after missing much of his freshman season, he proved he was one of the best young prospects in Iowa this winter.
Marcus Morgan (Iowa City West)
7.4 points (52.2 FG%), 3.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds
The offensive numbers are a bit more modest than other guys on this list, but we love that Morgan was a starter on a 4A state-qualifier, and it was on the defensive end where he stood out most.
Kieren Nichols (Knoxville)
19.8 points (41.1 3FG%), 4.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds
The Panthers guard was the state’s sixth-best sophomore scorer, yet still managed to dish out 93 assists, which was 13th-best among all Iowa sophomores.
Blake Chance (Albia)
21.0 points, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 5.4 rebounds
A 6’3 guard, Chance was able to do a little bit of everything this season for the Blue Demons. The stat-stuffing sophomore led his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.
THIRD TEAM
Hunter Caves (Alburnett)
13.8 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 6.9 rebounds
Trae Swartz (Ottumwa)
14.9 points (51.7 FG%), 5.9 rebounds
Jadin Johnson (Council Bluffs Lincoln)
11.9 points, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 6.2 rebounds
Tucker DeVries (Waukee)
9.9 points (41.1 3FG%), 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 4.8 rebounds
Jake Layman (Sergeant Bluff-Luton)
9.8 points (52.0 FG%, 39.8 3FG%), 2.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds
Fourth Team
Bryce Phelps (Denver)
Reid Grant (Johnston)
Malik Allen (Des Moines North)
Jayden Houston (Davenport North)
Parker Rochford (Edgewood-Colesburg)
Honorable Mention: John Miller (Davneport Central), Payton Sandfort (Waukee), Ashton Cook (Regina Catholic), Nate Mueller (ADM), Manny Austin (Des Moines Hoover), Ty Walker (Des Moines Roosevelt), Chase Courbat (Cedar Falls), Justin Recker (Monticello), Layne Pryor (Woodbine), Kaleb Cornilsen (Easton Valley), Garrett Trapp (River Valley), Trey Baker (Martensdale-St. Marys), Kyler Matthias (Denver), Noah Miller (Forest City), Karson Sharar (Iowa Falls-Alden), Spencer Mackey (LeMars), Kyle Kelley (West Delaware), Ryan Blum (Glenwood), James Glenn (Southeast Polk), Quincy Wiseman (Davenport North)