Summer Rewind: 10 Utility Players from Summer Season; Class 4A
Though the summer season was not what anyone expected heading into the year 2020, high school basketball players still got to participate in a summer season. I wanted to give a rundown of players from the state of Iowa that…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThough the summer season was not what anyone expected heading into the year 2020, high school basketball players still got to participate in a summer season. I wanted to give a rundown of players from the state of Iowa that got to play this summer and showed well. To kind of explain what a “utility player” means to me in this way, is someone who is positionally flexible, and can play/projects to maybe 2-3 positions on the court. Here is the class 4A utility players that stood out to me.
Elijah Vos Elijah Vos 6'4" | SF Hoover | 2023 State IA , 2023 – 6’4 Wing/Stretch PF – Kingdom Hoops 15U & Des Moines Hoover High School
I’ve said it more than once, and will continue to say it about Elijah and that is that his mid-range shooting game is elite is already. Only going to be a sophomore this upcoming school year and I already highly rate his shooting ability from 15-18 feet in. Vos holds a nice looking, high released shot that is hard to block but still gets good rotation and seems to go in more times than not. He does a good job defensively going straight up and this summer had a plethora of blocks down low. Elijah has a really nice step back jumpshot that he uses effectively when a defender beats him to a spot. Other parts of his game that I liked was a strong right hand hesitation move that he liked to go to on the perimeter. Vos is a good outside shooter, with a 35% 3 point percentage his freshman season, and it’s what brings his game together. Elijah is probably projecting to be a wing at the next level, though that’s a ways down the road, but I do like his game and think it fits the stretch power forward position if he were to grow a few inches. One to be on the lookout for throughout the next 3 years.
Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA , 2021 – 6’4 Guard/Wing – Iowa Barnstormers Gold 17U & North Scott High School
Landon Eiland Landon Eiland 6'4" | SF North Scott | 2021 State IA was a big surprise this summer season for a lot of people. The recent DII Truman State commit, is a really nice 3-and-D projection with room to grow even more than that at the next level. I think the only question on Eiland is what position he may play, though basketball is going more positionless than ever before, Eiland fits more on the wing but with more development on his all-around scoring he could be a factor at the 2 guard position. Eiland showed us his athleticism out in transition and on the fastbreak this summer getting to the hoop and finishing a crafty reverse layup or dunking on someone. He’s a solid rebounder, and plays good on-ball and help side defense on that end of the floor. Eiland’s scoring ability is efficient, as he shot 41% from the 3 point line, and 43% from the field. Landon picked up not only an offer from Truman State this summer, but a top Junior College program in DMACC, though he decided last week to pull the trigger on Truman State. There’s one thing I do know, Jeff Horner and the Bulldogs got a steal in the rising senior.
Emarion Ellis Emarion Ellis 6'4" | SF Assumption | 2021 State #141 Nation IA , 2021 – 6’5 PG/CG/Wing – Iowa Barnstormers Gold 17U & Davenport Assumption High School (3A)
This is a list of 4A flex players, but Ellis has been apart of the Davenport North squad before this season, so I’m going to put him in here. Ellis is a super bouncy perimeter player who has the attributes to play any position 1-3. Whenever Ellis drives past his defender on the perimeter he’s a threat to put it on someone’s head coming down the lane. With the athleticism he possesses, he brings a good pace in changing direction and he uses his length and long legs to get by defenders. One area that stood out to me is his defensive attributes as he’s a really good on-ball defender who with his athleticism and length effects the game with his shot blocking ability and frame to stay in front of opponents. The Texas commit is an efficient 3 point shot away from being a problem at the next level where he’ll be playing in one of America’s most premier basketball conferences, the Big 12. Ellis will have quite the platform to show off to the state this upcoming winter in his first year with the Knights.
Pryce Sandfort Pryce Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee Northwest | 2023 State #123 Nation IA , 2023 – 6’6 PG/CG/Wing – Kingdom Hoops 15U & Waukee High School
The brother of top 2021 player, Payton Sandfort Payton Sandfort 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State #138 Nation IA , Pryce is a little different player who I saw really start to grow into his game this summer season. Similarly to Payton, Pryce is an advanced shooter off the catch, eclipsing the 45% mark from the 3 point line this past season as a freshman on varsity. Pryce’s skillset is quite good for a sophomore and arguably one of the best in this class in the state. He shows a good understanding of where the ball needs to go throughout the offense to get the best shot, and can put that into motion as the PG, or he can come off the ball and run off of screens or move to get the ball. He likes to takes defenders off of a right hand hesitation move, or an effective spin move that he can pull-up or get to the basket with. This summer he showed he could use his length inside 15 feet whether that be a little on the block against smaller defenders using a post move, or shooting over the defense with soft touch. Pryce will be on a loaded Waukee team this winter, and will look to build on a confidence building summer that he had. I wouldn’t expect this recruitment to continue with no offers for too much longer.
Dallas Bear Dallas Bear 6'8" | SF Cedar Falls | 2023 State #276 Nation IA , 2023 – 6’8 Wing/Stretch PF – Iowa Barnstormers Gold 15U & Cedar Falls High School
Yet to play a High School varsity minute yet, Bear has received quite the college attention already garnering offers from DI transitioning Augustana and DI Bryant University. What college coaches see in Bear is a nice, long frame who’s only scratched the surface of what his potential could be. Dallas possesses a nice touch from the 3 point arch, especially the corner three, but can also take a defender in the post or off the dribble. Right now, he’s more of a catch and shoot 3 point shooter, but he no doubt has the mechanics and intangibles to come off of screens, ball screens or dribble moves and shoot the three ball. His post moves consist of a nice right handed hook shot that he uses often and a good spin back to his right hand. His best dribble drive move is an in-and-out crossover move that he can use to get to the basket or he will/can pull-up from about 15 feet. Once Bear starts filling out his big frame more with muscle and adapts to varsity ball, as early as this season, that potential coaches see will start being filled because there’s a lot there.
Trae Schwartz, 2021 – 6’6 PF/C – Iowa Barnstormers Gold 17U & Ottumwa High School
Trae Schwartz has picked up a lot of interest from colleges for his abilities on the gridiron lately, but his basketball talent is nothing to scoff at either. Schwartz is a player for the Barnstormers who provides a spark off the bench for his team with his pick-and-pop ability and his strength defensively. Schwartz plays good low post defense and what he may lack in height he provides in muscle against bigger opponents. Trae shows off a nice looking shooting stroke, and eclipsed nearly 48% from the 3 point line this past school season for his team so he’s an efficient shooter. It also goes to show how good the Barnstormers team is when a player who averages 23 points per game for his high school team comes off the bench for the team. I expect to see Trae playing in the Fall at the DII/FCS level next year, but a basketball coach may see if he’s interested in being a dual sport athlete because he has something to offer a collegiate program.
Wyatt Heston Wyatt Heston 6'7" | SF Waukee | 2021 State IA , 2021 – 6’7 Wing/PF/C – Kingdom Hoops 17U & Waukee High School
Heston is a long shooter, who went off this summer when teams lost track of him. If an opponent loses track of Heston he will make them pay two fold exemplified by his 50% 3 point shooting mark for Waukee this past season. Heston is a player who really wasn’t on my radar going into the summer season, but every time I watched his team live I came away more impressed with his ability to shoot the ball at a high level. He hit clutch shots to either swing momentum, bring them close or pull them away in a close game. He’s mainly a catch shooter right now, but he adds elements to his game on the defensive end with his length. He effects opponents shots and shows good timing when blocking shots. If a college program is looking for a tall shooter who will only help your team compete, Heston should be a guy who gets a look.
Kir Diew Kir Diew 6'8" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA , 2022 – 6’7 Wing/PF – Kingdom Hoops 16U & Des Moines Hoover High School
Kir Diew Kir Diew 6'8" | PF Valley | 2022 State IA is another Hoover product that will add a dimension to their team this upcoming winter. Playing with the Kingdom Hoops 16U team this summer, Kir was a player you noticed by his athleticism and length in the post. He has an improving jumpshot, and can shoot it off the catch from the perimeter. If he can fill out his frame a little more, he could be a solid post product. Post moves are raw, but he does show an ability to crash the boards and get put backs. Diew can be effectively used in pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop situations and with greater strength comes better finishing inside through contact. I’ll be interested to see if Diew can take his game up a notch for the Huskies this winter and springboard a nice summer into production.
Martez Wiggley, 2023 – 6’4 Wing/Post – Martin Brothers 15U & Waterloo East High School
Another young one who will be a sophomore this upcoming season, coming back as the third leading scorer for a good Waterloo East team is Martez Wiggley. Wiggley is a bouncy player who finishes around the rim well with good soft touch and strength to push through contact to convert baskets. He has a nice, expanding post game where he can use either hand and likes to use a quick spin move to get towards the hoop. Wiggley is quite quick and can guard just about any position on defense. He didn’t show off too much of his shooting stroke this summer, and will need to start developing an efficient jumpshot to take his game to the next level, but he has laid good groundwork to move forward with so far in his high school career. If defenses don’t watch out this upcoming winter, Wiggley will put some numbers.
Jack Groeteke Jack Groeteke 6'9" | C Dowling Catholic | 2021 State IA , 2021 – 6’10 Stretch PF/C – Beyond Ball 17U & Dowling Catholic High School
A player who has come off the radar and put himself on the map this summer playing with Beyond Ball. Groeteke is a nice framed, shooting big man who can get up and block shots defensively and crashes the board with his length. His shooting motion is good and has nice rotation on the ball that shows he’s a going to be able to shoot it efficiently. His wingspan is something that helps Jack effect the game in a positive way as he is able to get over to help side defensive positions better than others, and he’s able to rebound over smaller defenders. I would like to see him fill out his frame with some muscle and grow into a nice center prospect that is able to step out and shoot it and grow a nice post game that will be enticing to college coaches. Looking to see Jack take the next step this winter season.