Prep Hoops Iowa Top 250 Expo: Top 40
With over 150 athletes coming out to the Prep Hoops Iowa Top 250 Expo and making it an awesome event, I’ve watched back every game of the event and want to highlight the top 40 players in four different article…
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Continue ReadingWith over 150 athletes coming out to the Prep Hoops Iowa Top 250 Expo and making it an awesome event, I’ve watched back every game of the event and want to highlight the top 40 players in four different article segments. When I was watching these games I was watching players in different ways such as a shooting, scoring, rebounding, defending, effort, and decision-making. Coming up with this list was hard, and there were a lot of players on the fringes, but ultimately these are the 40 players who I felt played the best on Saturday during the Expo:
(This list is in no particular order)
CG Manny Hammonds Manny Hammonds 6'2" | SG Grand View Christian | 2022 State IA – Grand View Christian High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #76 in Class of 2022
Having watched Hammonds all summer and having a good idea of his game going into the Fall, he’s really shown me another gear to his game. In the Exclusive and Expo Hammonds showed a determination and skill to attack the basket off the dribble and do so successfully. He shot the ball well from the perimeter as was expected, but seeing him doing it efficiently was good to see. I want to see more development in his decision-making, but he did show an ability to find his teammates and make a good pass.
PG Jayden Mackie Jayden Mackie 6'2" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2022 State IA – Aplington-Parkersburg High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #39 in Class of 2022
If Henderson was the best player on the courts, Mackie was near the top of that list as well. Mackie showed a real playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. Has athleticism to finish above the rim, and explosion to get by defenders, but also the ability to shoot it from the perimeter making him a true three level scorer. He’s good at poking the ball loose on defense with his quickness and athleticism. Mackie is good at impacting the game in many different ways, and offered things that others didn’t last Saturday.
CG Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA – Marion High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #11 in Class of 2023
As I’ve highlighted a few times throughout the summer and fall, Laube has one of the quicker releases on his shot there is in all classes. He not only gets his shot off quick, but shoots it at a high rate. The ability to get on fire from the perimeter helps Laube’s offensive game open up as he’s able to find driving lanes and hit difficult floaters and shots inside with his touch. Laube possesses a competitive edge that allows him to be a tough defender, rebound from the guard position and produce on and off the ball.
Guard Sean Murphy Sean Murphy 6'0" | PG Waukon | 2023 IA – Decorah High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #17 in Class of 2023
Sean Murphy Sean Murphy 6'0" | PG Waukon | 2023 IA is another player who’s opened up his offensive game this Fall. At the Expo he showed off his shooting touch from the outside off the dribble and off the catch. That was a little known commodity of his game, but what I hadn’t seen from Sean is the way he was breaking down his defender and starting the offense off of his moves. He’s a smart decision-maker, though would like to see some cleaning up of turnovers but that will come with time. Murphy is a solid defender and rebounds well with his physicality.
PG James Glenn James Glenn 6'2" | PG Sep | 2021 State IA – Southeast Polk High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #35 in Class of 2021
A talented scorer of the ball Glenn showed off his shooting touch time after time as defenses didn’t have an answer. Glenn was another top performer overall offensively that efficiently shot the ball from the field. He’s a crafty ball handler, who can also make good decisions with the ball when the defenses focuses on him. He’s a good on-ball defender who has room to grow for the next level. What stands out about Glenn is the way his teammates play off of him, as he’s such a good scorer it opens up other ways of scoring for his teammates.
Wing Vance Katzfey Vance Katzfey 6'3" | SG Spirit Lake | 2022 State IA – Spirit Lake High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #27 in Class of 2022
In the first two games of the showcase, Katzfey was everywhere on the floor. Ran the lanes well, scored around the basket through contact, shot the ball well, and was forcing turnovers. Katzfey teamed up well with Chase Henderson Chase Henderson 6'0" | PG Hoover | 2023 State IA , and played off his high level of play with the way he slashed towards the basket with the ball or on cuts into space. If Katzfey can efficiently shoot the outside shot he will be a problem going forward as he impacts the game in many other ways.
Wing Matthew Riedl – Dowling Catholic High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #171 in Class of 2021
Due for a major bump in our next rankings update, Riedl impressed with his ability to put the ball in the hoop in every way possible. He was a menace on the break, finishing at the hoop well, and really shot the basketball well from the perimeter. He’s an athletic wing as well who is more than capable of living above the rim. With those physical traits he showed that he can defend on the wing at a high level using length and athleticism. He’s a solid rebounder who can push the pace when he pulls it down and transitions into the fastbreak.
Guard/Wing Ashton Hermann Ashton Hermann 6'4" | SG Ballard | 2022 State IA – Ballard High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #18 in Class of 2022
One of the most efficient players at the Expo had to have been Hermann. His shooting stroke started from the perimeter but was not limited to that as he had it going from the mid-range as well. He was making contested shots off the catch, off the dribble, and around screens. An athletic player who impresses me more every time I see him. Effort is not something you ever have to question when watching Ashton as he works hard on both ends of the floor.
Wing Quincy Underwood Quincy Underwood 6'5" | SF Cedar Rapids Washington | 2021 State IA – Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #75 in Class of 2021
Playing on a talented team with Trey Shearer Trey Shearer 5'10" | PG Montezuma | 2021 State IA , Quincy Underwood Quincy Underwood 6'5" | SF Cedar Rapids Washington | 2021 State IA found ways to impact the game in his own way. In the last game of the day for his team, Underwood shined from the 3 point arch off the catch where he pretty much couldn’t miss. He has a nice looking shooting stroke, but his game doesn’t end there. He can take smaller defenders into the post and score on the block or he can use his physicality to get a defender on his hip while driving to the basket. Solid defender and rebounder who is really versatile.
CG Jaxson Young Jaxson Young 6'0" | SG Linn-Mar | 2022 State IA – Linn-Mar High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #15 in Class of 2021
I know it’s been said multiple times, but it’s so hard to believe Young hasn’t played a minute of varsity basketball yet for the Lions. Young understands how to score the ball, and doesn’t backdown on defense either. I like the way he looks to post up smaller defenders with confidence in scoring on the block. He has a nice dribble pull-up and perimeter jumper, but I want to see him use his athleticism more in getting to the basket rather than settling sometimes. He can play either guard position and runs the offense well when he is leading the team.