Border Battle Team Camp: Iowa Standouts (Part 1)
Council Bluffs — Teams from Iowa, Nebraska and one from Missouri converged on Iowa West Field House Thursday for a morning and early afternoon filled with what were deemed border battles. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the…
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Continue ReadingCouncil Bluffs — Teams from Iowa, Nebraska and one from Missouri converged on Iowa West Field House Thursday for a morning and early afternoon filled with what were deemed border battles. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the Iowa guys that stood out.
Jadin Johnson
Jadin Johnson, 6’4 G (Council Bluffs Lincoln) — 2021
It wasn’t the best we’ve seen Johnson play this offseason, he was dominant at times in the spring with Martin Brothers, but it was the most clutch we’ve seen him. He scored the final six points for the Lynx against Dowling, including four straight free-throws at the end of regulation and the tough, slashing game-winning bucket at the rim in sudden death OT. His tenacious defense on Dowling’s Matt Stilwill was also a highlight for Johnson.
Zach Carr, 6′ G (Glenwood) — 2020
It’d been over a year since we’d seen this Glenwood guard take the floor. That was back at the 2018 state tournament when he was a key figure as a sophomore in leading the Rams to a 3A title. He was good then, he’s much better now. He’s bigger, more athletic and has a nice head on his shoulders. Seldom will he make mistakes, and he’s got a strong first step that he uses to get to the rim and finish effectively. Carr likes to push and has a good feel for when to do so. He’ll be the main man for Glenwood next season.
Ryan Blum, 6’4 G/F (Glenwood) — 2021
The rising junior is no stranger to playing among the Nebraska guys, he plays with Omaha-based Team Factory 16u, one of the best teams in the Midwest. Today, he was back with his Iowa crew, and ended up leading the Rams in scoring with 17 points during a narrow loss to Creighton Prep. He didn’t shoot particularly well, especially in the first half, but with his size and ability, he’s just one of those guys that’s going to get his points no matter what.
Ryan Riggs, 6’8 C (Dowling) — 2021
The Dowling big man has been touted by more than just our publication as a top prospect in Iowa’s Class of 2021. His ability to move so fluidly at his size is a cut above the rest, and his ability to finish at and above the rim renders him a guy that could become a dominant center in the CIML over the next two seasons. He even flashed a running floater that he banked in. It seems Riggs, a rising junior, is still just scratching the surface.
Matt Stilwill
Matt Stilwill, 6’1 G (Dowling) — 2020
The more we see of of rising senior Maroons guard, the more we like him. He’s relentless on both ends of the floor, and he largely held in check Council Bluffs Lincoln star Jadin Johnson. Offensively, he’s got a little bit of the Russell Westbrook mentality in him; he’s athletic and attacks the glass from the guard spot, he flat out gets after it. Stilwill was the leading scorer for the Maroons last season (13.3), and he could be the best scorer again this season.
Tre Knobbe, 6’1 G (Kuemper) — 2020
Kuemper’s team was a bit depleted at this event, injuries and baseball took away some guys. But that opened the door for guys like Tre Knobble to showcase what he can do. The rising senior guard scored a team high 13 points against Missouri squad Milan, and was doing so from deep and at the rim. He could have a breakout season for the Wildcats next winter.
Jake Layman (GameTime Photography)
Jake Layman, 6’7 G/F (Seargeant Bluff-Luton) — 2021
This was an interesting showing for the highly regarded 2021 prospect. Layman was a key scorer for the Warriors last season, going for 9.8 points per game; we came into this one thinking he might go off for 20 points, especially since Daniel Wright wasn’t there. But Layman was very much a distributor in this one, not looking for his own shot, but rather working hard to set his teammates up for success. The 6’7 wing could be preparing himself for a point guard role down the road. He took just three shots and scored just three points in our viewing.