New 2021 Rankings: Class 3A’s Best
Prep Hoops Class of 2021 rankings have recently been updated and here’s a series of what they are looking like, players to watch, and some information on each player. Here is where Class 3A’s best ended up in the overall…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Class of 2021 rankings have recently been updated and here’s a series of what they are looking like, players to watch, and some information on each player. Here is where Class 3A’s best ended up in the overall rankings:
Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA – Davenport Assumption High School, CG/Wing – #3 Player in Iowa
The athletic, multi-positional, Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , is #1 on our Class 3A list. Ellis attended Davenport Central up until this year, and will be looking to bring back a title to Assumption in the upcoming year. As has been mentioned, Ellis is ultra athletic, which he adds to a long, lanky frame that allows him to do things others cannot with the basketball. He’s always on highlight watch as you never know when he might breakout in transition or drive down the lane for a highlight dunk. Ellis is flexible positionally because of the way he can take care of the ball. He can play PG, off guard, or even take some time at the SF position. He’s a streaky shooter from the outside and if the defense allows him to get going that could be a big mistake. He’s very good off the dribble using several dribble drive moves to get his defender off balance and then uses quickness and athleticism to get by. Assumption will be looking for someone to step up and take on a big role in their offense after losing a 24 points per game scorer this past season and Ellis is more than capable of filling that. Ellis committed to the University of Texas back on July 28th.
Keaton Kutcher Keaton Kutcher 6'2" | SG Mount Vernon | 2021 State IA – Mount Vernon High School, CG – #10 Player in Iowa
Keaton Kutcher Keaton Kutcher 6'2" | SG Mount Vernon | 2021 State IA has long been held as one of the best shooters in the state. That’s what brings him in as our #10 prospect overall, and #2 prospect in Class 3A. Kutcher is not only a shooter, though he does that very well, he has the ability to run the offense. He can make plays for his teammates off the dribble, but also get to a spot to use his sweet jumpshot that he has in his bag. Kutcher can also be pesky on defense averaging 2.5 steals per game this past season by getting into passing lanes and picking pockets of ball handlers. I’m going to come back to his shooting ability as he shot 40% from three this past season on 8, 3 point attempts per game, which is impressive. Though he’s a shorter guard, he’s able to help his team on the glass as well. Mount Vernon has Kutcher to lean on in the scoring department and that can take them to Wells Fargo as he only makes his teammates better. Keaton just committed recently, August 18th to be exact, to the University of South Dakota Coyotes and continues the Iowa to South Dakota connection.
Karson Sharar Karson Sharar 6'2" | SG Iowa Falls-Alden | 2021 State IA – Iowa Falls-Alden High School, Wing – #13 Player in Iowa
The #13 overall scorer in all classes of the state of Iowa this past season also comes in at #13 in our Prep Hoops overall ranking, which puts him at #3 in Class 3A. Sharar is a do-it-all player who is especially good with the ball in his hands. He’s the kind of player you can put the ball in his hands and say go score it, and he will find a way to do it himself or he will find an open man off of his playmaking ability. He has some flair to his game as well, as he shows off good cuts and quickness to pair with his dribble drive moves to create space between him and the defender. He’s athletic as well, which helps him on both ends of the floor. Sharar is a good 3 level scorer that will be looking for some efficiency this upcoming season to go along with his team to compete for a North Central Conference Championship. As far as recruitment goes for Sharar he has a lone offer from Drake University and has been on a visit to Northern Iowa’s campus so far to go along with other DII interest.
Connor Drew Connor Drew 6'6" | PF Ballard | 2021 State IA – Ballard High School, Wing/Forward – #17 Player in Iowa
It is not a surprise that Ballard made it to the state tournament this past season with the talent they have. Connor Drew Connor Drew 6'6" | PF Ballard | 2021 State IA is leading the pack as he’s a player who can do a lot on the court. He has nice post moves on the block using spin moves, up fakes, and over the shoulder shots to score inside. Drew is also an efficient shooter from the outside, shooting it at a nearly 40% clip. Pair all of that with the fact that Drew can take defenders off the bounce and get to the hoop on straight line drives to the basket with the ability to use counter moves. Drew is a strong prospect who rebounds well for his team and he is able to start the break. Drew will continue to be a consistent playmaker for his team in hopes of making it back to the tournament this season. Drew wrapped up his recruitment on June 14th when he committed to Winona State University in Minnesota over offers from Sioux Falls, Nebraska-Kearney, Wayne State, and NAIA Mount Marty.
Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021 State IA – Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, Wing/Forward – #20 Player in Iowa
Class 3A runner-up Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s first player on this list is Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021 State IA . Layman likes to go in attack mode when he’s on offensive side of the ball. He is able to use his body size and frame to post up smaller defenders and will get his number called a lot in the post. He’s pretty crafty down low as well as he has a plethora of moves to go to when he needs a bucket. Layman can shoot it off the catch out to the 3 point line, but will have to step up his efficiency level on the perimeter. He’s good at slashing from the perimeter without the ball with back cuts, face cuts, and coming off screens to get open for a shot. Layman has a good body of work to build upon and will need to expand his game a little more as the Warriors lose their leading scorer from last season and will need someone to fill some of the scoring output. Layman was another prospect that ended his recruitment this summer, back in June, and committed to DII program Southwest Minnesota State University over offers from Augustana, Morningside, and Sioux Falls.
Luke Rankin Luke Rankin 5'10" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA – Dallas Center-Grimes High School, Point Guard – #26 Player in Iowa
Luke Rankin Luke Rankin 5'10" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2021 State IA is an intriguing prospect who has a chance to show he may be higher on these rankings in the next update. Rankin is a playmaker with the ball, and runs the offense well. HIs strongest attribute is his ability to get the defense on their back heels. He’s an efficient shooter from the perimeter shooting around 35% from the 3 point line this past season, but he is good about drawing the defense out and attacking the close out to get into the lane. He’s a good passer when he gets there and is able to make the right pass to his teammates when they’re open. Rankin is a tough competitor on both ends of the floor and is able to get into passing lanes and poke the ball loose exemplified by his 3 steals per game. Rankin is capable of playing off the ball as well and can score by coming off screens and slashing to the hoop. Dallas Center-Grimes has the roster make-up to make a run deep into the season and part of that will fall onto Rankin’s shoulders. Rankin shut down his recruitment on September 3rd when he committed to NAIA Dordt University over an offer from DII Upper Iowa.
Kieren Nichols Kieren Nichols 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2021 State IA – Knoxville High School, Guard – #30 Player in Iowa
The #8 scorer in the state of Iowa in all classes is Kieren Nichols Kieren Nichols 5'11" | PG Knoxville | 2021 State IA from Knoxville posting 25.9 points per game. Nichols is best categorized as a playmaker for his team where he is very capable of dropping 20-30 points, but he also can spread the wealth to his teammates. He’s good on the drive and is able to score the ball at any level of the floor. He can shoot it from 3, but also has a nice pull-up game to go along with his ability to finish at the hoop through contact. Nichols is an athletic guard who likes to get out in transition and looks to turn the offense over whenever he is able to. He is also able to run in transition without the ball filling the lanes well to get easy bucket. Knoxville lost out in the substate quarterfinals this past season and they will look to build upon that, and if Nichols can have the same production offensively and expand his game in other ways, that could take them to another level. Nichols recruitment consist of a lone offer from NAIA Morningside College at the moment, but I think he has the capability to challenge up to the DII level.
Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021 State IA – Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, Forward – #32 Player in Iowa
A prospect with a high ceiling who is growing and developing his game as his high school career carries on is Majok Majouk Majok Majouk 6'7" | SF Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021 State IA . The first thing that stands out about Majouk is his length. With that length he is able to block shots at a high rate, rebound, get into the passing lanes and score in the paint. Majouk also has a nice developing stroke from all points on the floor. He shot it from the perimeter at a 33% clip and his free throw percentage stood at 68%, where there is also room to improve on those numbers, he demonstrated that he has the ground level to build on with his shot. Majouk is best in transition when he can run the floor and show off his athleticism and length. The Warriors finished as runner-up’s in Class 3A this past year, and they will look to take a step forward and Majouk will have to improve some facets of his game to do so. Majouk committed, along with teammate Jake Layman Jake Layman 6'7" | SF Sergeant-Bluff Luton | 2021 State IA , to Southwest Minnesota State University back on July 14th over offers from Sioux Falls and Morningside.
Ryan Blum Ryan Blum 6'4" | SF Glenwood | 2021 State IA – Glenwood High School, Guard/Wing – #38 Player in Iowa
Ryan Blum Ryan Blum 6'4" | SF Glenwood | 2021 State IA is the most important piece for the Glenwood Rams because of his scoring ability and the way he rebounds. Blum is able to do a lot of things on the offensive end of the floor. He is an efficient shooter, shooting 35% from the perimeter this past season, he’s able to handle the ball and is a pretty good-decision maker with the ball, but he also has an inside game that he can take smaller defenders into the post and score over the top with his length. Blum holds a good pull-up jumper in his bag and will go to it when the defense gives it to him. The Rams did end up falling to Harlan in the substate semifinal stage this past season but Blum will look to take his team further in the tournament this season. Blum’s recruiting is an interesting one as well as he is a good football player and holds an offer from Iowa Western. For basketball he holds offers from Dordt and DII Wayne State.
Kyle Kelley Kyle Kelley 6'3" | SG West Delaware | 2021 State IA – West Delaware High School, Guard/Wing – #39 Player in Iowa
Kyle Kelley Kyle Kelley 6'3" | SG West Delaware | 2021 State IA is a very fluid scorer and he truly makes it look easy when you’re watching him. Kelley’s ability to handle the ball and change speeds is a good attribute to have and allows him to score at the rate that he does. He has a nice, high release of the basketball on his jumpshot that makes it difficult to defend for opposing teams. On the catch Kelley is really good about surveying the court to see his teammates and where the defense is setting up at. Off of that he gives good jab steps, set up dribbles, and uses a quick first step to glide passed defenders. He gets good elevation on his jumpshot, and if he can up his efficiency, it could be really hard to stop. West Delaware will look to Kelley to put the offense in motion again this season and lead the team. Kelley has no known offers at the moment, but a DIII, NAIA school should definitely take a look at him.