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)
PG Jacob Runyan Jacob Runyan 5'9" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2022 State IA – Johnston High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Ranking: #22 in Class of 2022
The first player I want to talk about in my top 40 is Jacob Runyan Jacob Runyan 5'9" | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2022 State IA . In particular at the Expo, he couldn’t seem to miss from the outside and took what the defense gave him. He didn’t force his own shots like it seems can happen many times at a showcase like this. I was impressed with the way he led a successful team on both sides of the ball.
PG Trovary Cavil – Des Moines Lincoln High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Ranking: Class of 2024 not yet ranked
Trovary Cavil has kind of exploded onto the prep scene this Fall for me, and he didn’t stop at the Expo either. Cavil can shoot the ball from the perimeter or in the mid-range. He was effective driving to the basket but will need to develop that ability when forced to go with his left hand. Cavil will have 4 full years to continue development but he has good groundwork already laid, where he doesn’t show his age even against older players.
PG Trey Shearer Trey Shearer 5'10" | PG Montezuma | 2021 State IA – Montezuma High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Ranking: #15 in Class of 2021
The Expo was a good event for Trey as he was on a successful team and led by his play. He shot the ball very effectively off the catch and off the dribble, but also seemed to find creases in the defense to make plays. He passed the ball well to open teammates and finished around the hoop through contact. A true PG, who can play off the ball showed off his offensive repertoire this past Saturday.
CG Ty Walker Ty Walker 5'11" | PG Valley | 2021 State IA – West Des Moines Valley High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Ranking: #27 in Class of 2021
With little exposure to Walker before Saturday, I have come away impressed. Walker showed how well he can shoot the ball from the perimeter off the catch, and in the mid-range off the bounce. Walker will normally play PG for his high school team, but I liked the way he slid off the ball this weekend and showed his ability to effect the game offensively. He also showed a good ability to defend the ball effectively on the other end of the floor.
PG Ra’Mir Scott – Waterloo East High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #34 in Class of 2021
Ra’Mir’s best scoring game was game #1 where he was scoring from the perimeter even when his shot was contested well. In the other games he was really good at initiating the offense by penetrating the defense with his speed, and either kicking the ball to an open shooter or moving the ball which led to a open shot. Scott showed well defensively, and did everything on the court well on Saturday.
PG Chase Henderson Chase Henderson 6'0" | PG Hoover | 2023 State IA – Des Moines Hoover High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #7 in Class of 2023
Probably the best player in the whole Expo was Henderson, who was scoring at will from all three levels of the court. Opponents did not have an answer for Henderson, as he was shooting the ball at a high rate from 3, but when defenses closed down space he has the speed and explosiveness to get around and weave in between the defense to make plays going at the hoop. He also effected the game in the defense and rebounding categories as he was able to get the ball and lead the break.
PG AJ Wegener AJ Wegener 5'10" | PG Dike-New Hartford | 2021 State IA – Dike-New Hartford High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #174 in Class of 2021
Wegener has always been known as an athletic PG who can score inside the perimeter, but he showed at the Expo that he was very capable of becoming an efficient perimeter shooter. He was shooting it off the catch and dribble well from both 3 and the mid-range. Wegener is a pesky defender who was really good with the ball as well as a decision-maker. Wegener was impressive on Saturday.
PG Samuel Akins – Dubuque Senior High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #62 in Class of 2022
A player who literally exploded onto the scene this weekend was Sam Akins Sam Akins 5'11" | PG Senior | 2022 State IA . He was really impressive with his explosive first step which leaves defenders in mud. Off of that he’s able to create shots from 15 feet and in for himself, dump pass, or kick out. He didn’t shoot it from the outside too much but showed a repeatable shooting stroke. With his quickness he’s an effective on-ball defender who is productive in transition.
PG John Miller John Miller 5'10" | PG Davenport Central | 2021 State IA – Davenport West High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #37 in Class of 2021
Miller was a competitive player this weekend on a competitive team. He was dishing out to his teammates and was doing so effectively. A heady PG who knows where to go with the ball in order to get the ball in the hoop. He has a developing jumper and he showed off his production a little bit, but will need to continue to do so. His best attribute he showed off was his defensive prowess, where he uses his low center of gravity to stay in front of opponents and he won’t be someone you’re going to bully around to the basket.
PG Blaise Porter Blaise Porter 6'1" | PG New London | 2023 State #298 Nation IA – New London High School
Prep Hoops Iowa Player Rankings: #3 in Class of 2023
Porter was playing on a loaded squad at the Expo, so he didn’t need to score though he did and did a good job of finding ways to effect the game. He was good at probing the defense off of ball-screens and finding the right play. In the third game he shot the ball well from the perimeter and if he can continue that he will only take his game to another level. He’s a solid rebounder from the guard position and does a nice job running the offense. He used his quickness to get into the lane and finish around the rim through contact.