Pangos Best of Iowa League (Week 1): Illinois vs. Iowa Standouts
National brand Pangos has branched out to Iowa with the creation of the “Best of Iowa” League, with games taking place over the next several weeks in Urbandale. Eighty of the best players from around the state (also some from…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNational brand Pangos has branched out to Iowa with the creation of the “Best of Iowa” League, with games taking place over the next several weeks in Urbandale. Eighty of the best players from around the state (also some from Nebraska and other states) will be on display, with games available to watch on BallerTV. As I won’t be able to make it over to Des Moines to watch the games on Tuesday and Thursday nights, I’ve subscribed to BallerTV to catch the games, and will be writing about what I see throughout the next several weeks. We kick things off with a look at the Iowa vs. Illinois game from Thursday, June 11.
Rosters can be found here, and the schedule for the league can be found here.
PG Diondre Taylor Diondre Taylor 5'10" | PG North | 2021 State IA (Des Moines North, 2021)
A lightning quick guard with a good feel for the game, Taylor uses a quick first step to get by his defender and into the paint, where he’s a creative finisher. He also showcased an improved jumper, knocking down three 3s in this game. At 5-10, he’s a bit small, but he’s feisty, competes on the glass and doesn’t back down from anyone. A strong showing for the Polar Bears guard, scoring 15 points with four rebounds and two assists.
PG Jaren Marshall Jaren Marshall 6'1" | CG Omaha Central | 2021 State NE (Omaha Central NE, 2021)
One of the top players in Nebraska’s 2021 class, Marshall got off to a quick start, scoring 12 first half points. He’s a strong lead guard who absorbs contact and finishes through it at the rim. He changes speeds well, and uses his strength and quickness to get by defenders. He’s a capable 3-point shooter, but is at his best when he’s playing downhill and using his dribble penetration to open things up for himself and others. He provided one of the highlights of the game with a beautiful pocket pass in the pick-and-roll with Knutson, leading him straight to the bucket for an easy finish. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.
SG Landon Wolf Landon Wolf 6'5" | CG Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA (Cedar Falls, 2021)
The 6-5 guard was primed to blow up this summer on the grassroots circuit, but took this chance seriously and really performed. After a quiet first half in which he scored just two points, Wolf exploded with 18 second half points to score a game-high 20, including four 3-pointers. He’s got a quick release with picturesque form on his jumper, and he is starting to expand his all-around scoring skillset. In addition to his scoring, he’s got great size and length for the wing position and can defend multiple spots. He also competes on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds to go with his 20 points. He holds Division I offers from South Dakota, Western Illinois and Bryant.
PG Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | PG Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA (Cedar Falls, 2022)
Campbell is a skilled lead guard with great size at 6-4. He’s a fantastic athlete who competes with the bigs on the glass and is among the fastest players in the state from end-to-end with the ball in his hands. He’s a crafty scorer who excels when he’s playing downhill and getting to the bucket, using his length to finish effectively against bigger defenders. He finished with 16 points and five rebounds.
PF Chase Courbat Chase Courbat 6'9" | C Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA (Cedar Falls, 2021)
Courbat has long been one of the best players in Iowa’s 2021 class, and he’s really starting to show why he’s been so highly regarded. He’s a fantastic defender, both as an individual and as a team defender. He protects the rim, can switch onto smaller ball handlers and not get lost and he communicates on that end of the floor. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but his footwork looked much more fluid, and he continues to improve athletically and with his body. He’s adding bulk to his shoulders, which will allow him to play more physically. There are times where he doesn’t seem to know where he’s at on the floor when he has the ball in his hands, especially after pulling down an offensive rebound, and his touch gets a little out of control, but he’s improving as an offensive player, even showing the willingness to step out to the arc and attempt a 3. He’s got a solid stroke from the free throw line, and could develop a solid jumper. But where he’ll earn his scholarship is on the glass and the defensive end, where he’s on of the best bigs in the Midwest. He holds an offer from Northern Iowa.
PF Joe Knutson Joe Knutson 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2021 State IA (Cedar Falls, 2021)
Courbat’s teammate in the paint during the high school season, Knutson is a big, physical forward with great hands. He sets good, hard screens and rolls to the bucket, making himself available to the passer. He does a nice job keeping the ball high on offensive rebounds, and he uses his huge frame to establish solid position on the block. He’s improving his athleticism and stuffed Courbat a few times around the rim. He’s not as fluid an athlete as Courbat is, but he’s stronger and plays with a lot of physicality. He finished with six points and seven rebounds in the game.
SG Keaton Kutcher Keaton Kutcher 6'2" | SG Mount Vernon | 2021 State IA (Mount Vernon, 2021)
Few players in the state can go shot-for-shot with Kutcher, who is an absolute flamethrower when he gets it rolling, as he did in the first half, knocking down three straight 3s. He was quiet for the rest of the game, but his shooting is what will draw college coaches to him, and he didn’t disappoint in that regard, showing a quick release both off the dribble and the catch, with beautiful form and great touch.
SF Alejando Aguirre (Ankeny Centennial, 2022)
Aguirre, a 6-3 wing, was a pleasant surprise in this opener, showing the ability to stuff the stat sheet by putting up 12 points, four rebounds and two assists. A wing with good size, he showed the ability to get to the bucket for finishes, and also a nice looking stroke from the arc. On a Jaguars team that is graduating nearly 67% of their scoring, he’ll have a chance to make a major impact as a junior.
SG Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA (Assumption, 2021)
Ellis, a 6-6 wing, was another player who was primed to explode this summer with the Iowa Barnstormers. He currently holds offers from Bryant and UW-Milwaukee, and is fielding interest from much bigger schools (Iowa, Texas, Creighton, to name a few). A big, athletic wing, he creates his own shot at a high level and is one of the best pure scorers in the state. With his length and athleticism he can provide some versatility on the defensive end as well. He had a somewhat quiet opening game, scoring 10 points with five rebounds, but provided the highlight of the game with a play in which he caught on the left wing, took two strong dribbles to the hole and threw down a powerful dunk.
PF Trey Kriener (South Winneshiek, 2022)
One of the more pleasant surprises of this first game was Kriener, a 6-7 junior-to-be from South Winneshiek. A mobile forward who runs the floor well and can finish at the rim, he contributed in a big way on the glass as well, pulling down six rebounds to go with his six points. He has soft hands and appears to be a switchable defender. He’s a player we’ll be sure to keep an eye on during the next several weeks of games.