State Tournament Preview: Class 2A Breakout Candidates
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2024 Reece Vander Zee (Central Lyon) The Lions have a trio that gets most of the attention, but Vander Zee could be a breakout player for them next week. A big, 6-4 wing who can score from all three levels,…
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Continue Reading2024 Reece Vander Zee (Central Lyon)
The Lions have a trio that gets most of the attention, but Vander Zee could be a breakout player for them next week. A big, 6-4 wing who can score from all three levels, he’s proven himself to be a capable ball-handler and decision-maker as well. With his size, he can provide some versatility on the defensive end, which will be key in this tournament.
2023 Alex Bean Alex Bean 6'1" | PG Mid-Prairie | 2023 State IA (Mid-Prairie)
Bean has been a solid role player for the only unbeaten team in 2A, averaging 8.1 points and shooting 34.8% from behind the arc. The Golden Hawks will need someone to knock down some 3s if they want to make a run in Des Moines, and Bean, who has knocked down 32 this season, is as good a bet as any.
2024 Boaz Clark Boaz Clark 6'3" | PG Roland-Story | 2024 State IA (Roland-Story)
Nearly 85% of Clark’s field-goal attempts have come from behind the arc. He’s an off-ball guard who moves extremely well, finding spaces in the defense to get his shot off, and he’s shown the ability to create for others as well by putting the ball on the floor, getting the defense to collapse, and kicking it back out. He can provide some scoring off the bench for the Norsemen.
2024 Peyton Schilling (Monticello)
With the focus of opposing game plans centering on Petersen and Ries, Schilling, a 5-11 guard will need to have a big week if the Panthers want to make a run. He’s a good shooter (38.2 3P%) who moves well off the ball and can get hot in a hurry, while also being a solid secondary ball-handler and decision-maker who is averaging 3.3 assists a game.
2024 Jack Miller Jack Miller 6'0" | PG Jesup | 2024 State IA (Jesup)
Miller is certainly the most accomplished player on this list, averaging 15.1 points and 3.1 assists a game, but this will be a chance for him to start making his name known around the state. He’s a good ball-handler and decision-maker, a heady lead guard who can handle pressure and play beyond his years. A talented shooter who can play both on and off the ball, Miller will need to be excellent if Jesup is going to make a run.
2022 Caleb Kats (Rock Valley)
The Rockets have a quartet of double-figure scorers who will garner most of the attention, but any team that makes a run deep into the tournament has someone unexpected step up at a key moment, and that may be Kats for this team. A 5-10 guard who can really shoot it, he also leads the team in assists (3.1 a game).
2024 Tysen DeVries (Pella Christian)
On a team filled with length, DeVries is just 5-8 but he makes a major impact off the bench with his ability to get to the rim, knock down shots, and facilitate. He averages 6.0 points and 2.0 assists off the bench while shooting 51.2% from the floor and 56.0% from 3.
2024 Hunter Gilleland (Red Oak)
A 5-10 guard, Gilleland is another on this list who has been fairly accomplished early in his career but will have a chance to truly break out at the state tournament. He’s averaging 11.8 points and 3.6 assists a game, leading the team in helpers and showing a penchant for jumping passing lanes on the defensive end.