Pangos Best of Iowa League (Week 1): Minnesota vs. Creighton 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…
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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. Next up is the Minnesota vs. Creighton game from Thursday, June 11.
Rosters can be found here, and the schedule for the league can be found here.
G Sean Murphy (Decorah, 2023)
The sophomore-to-be is a well-built, 6-1 guard who does a great job absorbing contact around the bucket and finishing through it. He’s a good ball handler and decision maker who keeps the ball moving on the offensive end, and he does a nice job changing speeds to help him beat his defender. He finished with eight points, seven rebounds and two assists in the game, showing his ability to contribute on the glass against bigger players as well.
PF Padraig Gallagher (Beckman Catholic, 2023)
Following the graduation of a lot of talent in the Blazers system, look for this sophomore-to-be to have a huge season for Beckman. The 6-4 forward had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in his “Best of Iowa” debut, showing great hands and the ability to run the floor at a high level. He knocked down a 3, showing off a bit of range and a nice, smooth stroke, and he has a great frame to continue adding strength to. Perhaps his most impressive play, however, came when he pulled down a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for a finish, showing the ability to handle the ball fairly well. He is going to be very productive over the next three years.
C Jack Groeteke Jack Groeteke 6'9" | C Dowling Catholic | 2021 State IA (Dowling Catholic, 2021)
In seeing stats pop up on Twitter from games after this one, I know Groeteke has better games than he had here, and I’m looking forward to watching those, because he was pretty strong in this game too, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds. The 6-10 stretch-five has a feathery stroke from behind the arc and extended range. With his ability to stretch the floor at his size, he’s a very intriguing prospect for the next level. He’s rail-thin and needs to add a lot of strength to his frame, but there aren’t many players in the country with the type of size and length that Groeteke has, and that can shoot it at the level he can.
SF Tyler Andrews Tyler Andrews 6'3" | SF Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2020 IA (Cedar Rapids, 2021)
Andrews transferred to Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire before the start of last season after spending a year at Kennedy, where he was the second leading scorer as a junior. Andrews is listed at 6-4, but plays bigger with his overwhelming athleticism and length. He’s a freak athlete who is looking to dunk everything, both in transition and when he’s attacking in the halfcourt. He can cover a lot of ground with his size, length and athleticism, and has the ability to be a high-level defender. He struggles to shoot with consistency, but the form and rotation on his shot looks good, so it could be improved with more repetition. With his athletic ability and size, he’s an intriguing prospect at the next level, and will warrant looks from mid-majors. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in this game.
PG James Glenn James Glenn 6'2" | PG Sep | 2021 State IA (Southeast Polk, 2021)
Glenn was the player of the game, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The 6-1 guard showcased some impressive athleticism and bounce, and is one of the best shooters in the state. He’s an absolute flamethrower when he gets it going and is shooting in rhythm. He’s equally adept shooting off the dribble or the catch, and he moves well without the ball in his hands. He’s always looking ahead in transition, trying to find an open man for an easy bucket, and he contributes on the glass. An all-around great showing for the Southeast Polk senior-to-be.
SF Grant Veenstra Grant Veenstra 6'2" | SF Des Moines Christian | 2021 State IA (Des Moines Christian, 2021)
Veenstra didn’t put up the numbers that the rest of the standouts did in this game, but he was impressive nonetheless. The 6-4 wing has a good feel for the game and is very comfortable with the ball in his hands. He threaded the needle on a couple of bullet passes to cutters for finishes, contributed on the glass and found a number of different ways to impact the game.
PG Trey Lewis Trey Lewis 5'10" | PG Johnston | 2022 State IA (Johnston, 2022)
Lewis has long been thought of as one of the better players in Iowa’s 2022 class, and he showed why again in this game. He was in constant attack mode early, getting to the bucket and the free throw line, and he showed a bit of his fantastic shooting ability in the second half. He finished with 11 points and four assists. He’s a dynamic playmaker who handles the ball extremely well and has great court vision. He’s supremely skilled, the only thing holding him back right now is his size.
PG Andrew Keith (Bondurant-Farrar, 2023)
Another sophomore-to-be that stood out was Keith, a 5-11 guard who is part of a strong 2023 class at Bondurant-Farrar. Keith came on late in the game, finishing with 10 points, routinely showing the ability to get to the bucket and finish through contact.