Block’s Week 5 Roundup-Sophomore Performers
After a busy week of high school basketball, here are my top sophomore performers from the week: Travaughn Luyobya, Clear Lake High School (2023) I have written about Luyobya before after watching him play against Mason City earlier this…
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Continue ReadingAfter a busy week of high school basketball, here are my top sophomore performers from the week:
Travaughn Luyobya, Clear Lake High School (2023)
I have written about Luyobya before after watching him play against Mason City earlier this year, but I really feel like he continues to impress when I watch him play. He’s not a big scorer for his team but he just does several things correct. He’s a patient PG, who isn’t a big mistake guy, and knows where to go with the ball. In the game this past Monday, Luyobya posted 3 points but had 5 assists and leads the team this season in assists per game. A solid glue guy for this Lion’s team.
Asa Newsom, Waverly-Shell Rock High School (2023)
To keep up with Clear Lake, Waverly-Shell Rock needed big games out of their big guys. Well they got that from Newsom as the sophomore had 11 big points and 6 rebounds. The guard play wasn’t clicking for the Go-Hawks but Newsom had good success taking the ball to the rack from about 15 feet out and finishing well amongst the trees downlow. Go-Hawks will need Newsom to continue his surgance for them to be successful going forward this season.
Brandt VanDyke, Sioux City East High School (2023)
The 6’7 sophomore shows good potential for the Black Raiders and the coach showed quite a bit of confidence in him when he was defending Matthew Mors (Wisconsin Commit) from Yankton. The size alone has it’s own potential, but VanDyke shows the skillset to be able to build upon that. His shooting stroke is repeatable and smooth when it comes off of his hand. He also showed good ball skills a few times throughout the game getting his shot off the dribble. VanDyke had 10 points and 6 rebounds against Yankton.
Tate Haughenberry, North Linn High School (2023)
In a top tier Class 1A matchup North Linn would come out on top, and with the leading scorer Hilmer struggling from the field Haughenberry stepped up in the scoring department with 15 points on 6/13 shooting from the field. What I was most impressed with from Haughenberry was his rebounding numbers and his intensity on defense. The Lynx like to put intense pressure on the opposing offense and Haughenberry leads that up top on a full court pressure with his 6’3 length. He would come up with 7 rebounds and 6 steals for his team on Friday and proved an important piece for a top team in Class 1A.
Sam King, Des Moines Roosevelt High School (2023)
The sharpshooter, Sam King, has already shown what he can bring to the table for the Roughriders for years to come. Against DSM North, King had 12 points on 5/9 shooting and 50% from 3 point land. Having seen King in the Fall, I was expecting him to be a good sharpshooter but he does bring other elements to the game in the way he competes defensively and helps on the boards. King is well on his way to becoming a well-rounded player for the Roughriders.
George Williams, Des Moines Roosevelt High School (2023)
Another player who showed beyond his years for the Roughriders was Williams. The 6’5 post man has the potential to be a load inside in the post. He’s good at absorbing contact inside and that’s where he did most of his damage on Friday against the Polar Bears as he went 8/9 from the free throw line. Williams is also a good passer out of the post as he added in 5 assists and 4 rebounds for his team.
Kirby Schmitz Kirby Schmitz 6'6" | C Charlotte | 2023 State FL , Urbandale High School (2023)
The big post player for the J-Hawks came into the game in the 1st quarter off the bench and every time after that and stamped his name on the game in one way or another. He gets good positioning downlow by the bucket and when he catches in the post with that good positioning he’s able to use either hand to finish. He showed a nice turnaround move in the post and hit a jumper from the free throw line throughout the game. He will run the floor and has good length. Schmitz finished the game with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists against Lincoln.