Prep Hoops Top 250: Top 2024 Performers
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The annual Prep Hoops Top 250 took place in Des Moines on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best players in the gym, in a series of articles breaking down the top…
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Continue ReadingThe annual Prep Hoops Top 250 took place in Des Moines on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best players in the gym, in a series of articles breaking down the top scorers, defenders, passers, etc. In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the top performers from the 2024 class that Tony Roe saw.
PF Gage Kampman Gage Kampman 6'7" | PF Iowa City Liberty | 2024 State IA (Liberty)
The young big man stood out early on during gameplay with his activity level on both ends of the floor. The 6-6 forward is constantly moving offensively, crashes the glass on both ends of the floor, and is a long and versatile defender who doesn’t get lost when switched onto the ball and does a good job scrambling back to his man. He’s a mobile big man who runs the floor and has good hands. He’ll need to add some strength to his frame, but he has a nice skillset to continue to build upon.
PG Joseph Bean Joseph Bean 6'3" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (Xavier)
Bean has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now, and he keeps getting better. A well-built 6-3 lead guard with a tremendous feel for the game, he’s equally content scoring or getting others involved. He’s a good ball-handler with excellent court vision, and he does a really nice job playing with pace. He’s a long defender who moves his feet well defensively and has a knack for jumping passing lanes. A high-level perimeter shooter who can shoot it both off the dribble or catch at a high clip, he does a great job keeping the ball high on his release and he gets great rotation on his shot.
SG Caleb Mattes Caleb Mattes 6'0" | SG Newton | 2024 State IA (Newton)
Mattes had a really strong day on the offensive end, showing the ability to score from all three levels efficiently. He has a smooth stroke both from the mid-range and the arc, and the ability to shoot it both off the dribble and the catch. He used his shooting to open up the rest of his offensive arsenal, and showed the ability to get to the rim and kick out to open shooters, showing good court vision and awareness. He looks to push the tempo when the opportunity presents itself and is content working the offense when it doesn’t. A high IQ player who can score, pass, and is a solid team defender.
SF Cade Courbat Cade Courbat 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA (Cedar Falls)
One of the best 2024s in the state, Courbat showed why he’s so highly regarded on Saturday. He’s a rangy 6-7 wing who covers a ton of ground on both ends of the floor. He has a smooth offensive game with a nice mid-range jumper and expanding range. He can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, using his long strides and subtle movements to keep the defense off-balance, and he’s a powerful finisher at the bucket both in transition and in the halfcourt. A lefty with good touch around the bucket, he’s an effortless athlete with explosive leaping ability.
SF Kareem Earl Kareem Earl 6'5" | SF Iowa City West | 2024 State IA (Iowa City West)
Earl had a really good freshman year for the Trojans shooting the ball, but he was in constant attack mode during the Expo on Saturday. A long and athletic 6-5 wing who seems to keep growing every time we see him, he’s tough to stop when he gets a head of steam going and is playing downhill. He was looking to attack the rim constantly in transition and showed the ability to use ball-screens and turn the corner to get to the rim. He finishes with authority around the rim and doesn’t shy away from contact. He has great footwork on his drives, showcasing a pretty Euro step on a few occasions. He’s also a great shooter from the arc with a quick release and plenty of range. He has the size to get his shot off whenever he wants, and with his ball-handling improving, his ability to create his own looks is rapidly improving as well.
Other top performers written about in other articles: SG Redek Born Redek Born 6'3" | PG Norwalk | 2024 State IA (First Team All-Expo), PG Kyle Lamonte Kyle Lamonte 6'3" | SF Rock Island | 2024 IL (First Team All-Expo)