2023 Rankings Update: Newcomer Wings
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Preston Gillespie Preston Gillespie 6'3" | SF Dunkerton | 2023 State IA | SF | Dunkerton (72) Gillespie is an athletic, 6-3 wing with plenty of length, and he has emerged as a big-time scorer for the Raiders this year,…
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Continue ReadingPreston Gillespie Preston Gillespie 6'3" | SF Dunkerton | 2023 State IA | SF | Dunkerton (72)
Gillespie is an athletic, 6-3 wing with plenty of length, and he has emerged as a big-time scorer for the Raiders this year, averaging 24.6 points a game while shooting 67% from the floor. A large number of his buckets come in transition, or from excellent feeds from the Raiders’ terrific point guard Casey Gardner Casey Gardner 5'8" | PG Dunkerton | 2023 State IA , but Gillespie has shown the ability to stretch the floor from 3 (38.1%) and create a bit on his own as well. As he continues to improve his ball-handling and shot creation for himself, he could see himself rise in the next update.
Jaxson Fried Jaxson Fried 6'6" | SF Bondurant- Farrar | 2023 State IA | SF | Bondurant-Farrar (77)
Fried has outstanding size at 6-6 and is armed with a dynamic three-level scoring ability, averaging 13.3 points on 53-45-81 shooting splits. We’d like to see him become a more assertive scorer, as he’s only third on the team in shot attempts and he has the ability to be a dominant three-level scoring threat alongside the Jays fantastic wing, Colby Collison Colby Collison 6'4" | SF Bondurant-Farrar | 2023 State IA .
Preston Dobbs Preston Dobbs 6'5" | SF Sioux City East | 2023 State IA | SF | Sioux City East (78)
Dobbs has great size at 6-5, and he’s a versatile three-level scorer who has posted impressive 50-46-82 shooting splits coming off the bench to provide an offensive spark for the Black Raiders. He averages 13.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game and has emerged as a real offensive threat for East.
Jacob Birch Jacob Birch 6'1" | SF Harlan | 2023 State IA | SF | Harlan (98)
A 6-1 slashing wing, Birch leads the undefeated Cyclones in scoring, averaging 16.1 points and 7.1 rebounds a game while posting impressive 53-46-72 shooting splits. He’s at his best when he’s playing downhill and attacking the rim, but he has shown a really nice stroke from behind the arc as well. His ability to put pressure on the defense from all three levels is a huge reason why Harlan has had such a successful start to the year.Â
Lane Harmon Lane Harmon 6'1" | SF North Mahaska | 2023 State IA | SF | North Mahaska (121)
A 6-1 do-it-all wing, Harmon is averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.9 steals a game for the Warhawks with impressive efficiency. He plays bigger than his listed 6-1, using his length to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His ability to stretch the floor, get others involved, and jump passing lanes on the defensive end warranted him getting added to the rankings.Â
Merquiche Lewis Jr. | SF | Burlington (125)
Among the new entrant wings, Lewis is probably the most athletic of the bunch and may have the highest upside. A 6-4 wing with length, he has done an excellent job using his athleticism to get to the rim routinely for the Grayhounds, shooting nearly 52% from the floor while averaging 12.3 points a game. He’ll need to continue to iron out his jumper as he continues his development, but he has shown the ability to handle the ball and get others involved in addition to his slashing.Â
Landon Blatchford Landon Blatchford 6'6" | SF West Monona | 2023 State IA | SF | West Monona (152)
A 6-4 wing who has been a standout for the Spartans this year, Blatchford is averaging 20.6 points and 12.1 rebounds a game, responsible for about a third of the team’s totals in each category. He has the ability to stretch the floor, and his length can create issues at the small-school level on the defensive end.Â
Rylan Barnes Rylan Barnes 6'3" | SF West Hancock | 2023 State IA | SF | West Hancock (173)
Barnes is another small-school standout, averaging 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists a game for the Eagles. A 6-3 do-it-all wing, he’s the team’s leader on both ends of the floor.
Riley Hawkins Riley Hawkins 6'1" | SF Moravia | 2023 State IA | SF | Moravia (188)
Moravia is off to an impressive 10-1 start, and Hawkins is a major reason why averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds a game for the Mohawks. A 6-1 wing who can score from all three levels, he has also been a pest on the defensive end, showing a propensity for jumping passing lanes and turning defense into offense in a hurry.