Iowa All-State Teams: Class 3A
FIRST TEAM
Player of the Year: Austin Phyfe, Waverly-Shell Rock (2017)
Stats: 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 67.4 FG%
The future Northern Iowa big man was highly efficient and helped lead the Go-Hawks to the top of the Class 3A rankings for a large majority of the season. A 6-9 forward who has worked on expanding his range, he knocked down 14 3s on the season (at a 35% clip), led the team in assists while at times playing a point-forward role, and was his usual sensational self on the low block. Armed with fantastic footwork and touch, to go with his still developing perimeter skill set, Phyfe looks like he’s going to be the next in a line of very good Panther bigs.
Garrett Franken, Atlantic (2017)
Stats: 23.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 50.8 FG%
This 6-7 point-forward was a stat-sheet stuffer for the Trojans, helping lead them to the state tournament. He led them in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks, while ranking second in assists and posting a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor, can make plays with the ball in his hands and has the length and athleticism to make an impact on the defensive end. He’s headed to North Dakota.
Brady Sartorius, Mount Pleasant (2018)
Stats: 21.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.8 steals, 58.6 FG%, 46.6 3P%
One of the state’s best mid-range shooters, Sartorius used that ability to shoot a scorching 58.6% from the floor while finishing fifth in the class in scoring at just under 22 points a game. He’s able to stop on a dime and elevate into his 15-footer with ease, routinely knocking that shot down and making him really tough to defend. He’s worked to extend his range out to the 3-point line, and he was very successful there as well, shooting 46.6% from the arc. He tied for the team lead in assists, posting a 3.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and also led the Panthers in steals while leading them to state. They’ll be one of the top contenders again next season.
Matt Mims, Cedar Rapids Xavier (2018)
Stats: 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists
The best player on 3A’s best team, Mims helped lead the Saints to a second consecutive state championship, delivering the game-winning shots in both the semifinals and championship games. An extremely talented point guard blessed with lightning quickness and a great first step, he’s at his best when he’s playing downhill and getting to the rim, where he finishes well and can drop passes off to teammates. He competes on the glass, plays passing lanes well on the defensive end and also has a killer mid-range game. He’ll look to lead Xavier to a 3-peat next year.
Elijah Hazekamp, Sioux City Heelan (2018)
Stats: 17.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 87.1 FT%
A versatile 6-6 combo forward, Hazekamp was second in 3A in rebounding, pulling down 12.4 boards a game en route to a big-time double-double for the Crusaders. He’s worked on adding range to his arsenal, and was successful this year, making 44 3s and shooting them at a 39.3% clip. He led Heelan in assists and shot 87% from the free throw line, which was second among 3A players with at least 100 free throw attempts on the year. He’s primed for a big summer with one of the country’s best grassroots programs, the Iowa Barnstormers, where he should add to his current North Dakota offer.
SECOND TEAM
Ryan Van Wyk, Pella (2017)
Stats: 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 65.7 FG%
A steady force for the Dutch for the last four years, Van Wyk has been one of the state’s most efficient scorers for a long time now. He plays with a non-stop motor, runs the floor extremely well and finishes around the rim with the best of them. His rebounding numbers dropped a bit, but he still averaged over three offensive rebounds a game, an area in which he has always excelled. A relentless player, he’s been a key contributor during each of Pella’s three runs to the state tournament.
Cade McKnight, Grinnell (2017)
Stats: 20.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 65.6 FG%, 128 FTM
The Grinnell big man may have been the single most dominant player in one of the state’s best conferences, the Little Hawkeye. He’s a highly efficient scorer who attempted the second most free throws in 3A and made the most. A great athlete who runs the floor well, he’s capable of scoring on the low block, by attacking off the dribble or by getting out in transition. He’s an animal on the glass, protects the rim and does a good job hedging ball screens as well. He’s mulling several different options, both for basketball and football, for the next level.
Luke Vaske, Norwalk (2018)
Stats: 20.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 41.6 3P%, 62 3PM
Vaske led the Warriors in scoring and finished 12th in 3A in 3-pointers made, knocking them down at a 41.6% clip. He also proved that he’s capable of getting to the rim seemingly at will, finishing fifth in the class in free throws made. With the development of freshman guard Bowen Born, look out for Vaske and the Warriors next season if they’re able to stay a 3A school.
Chris Kroll, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2017)
Stats: 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.2 steals
The leading scorer for the 3A runners up, Kroll proved throughout the week at the state tournament that he was capable of stuffing the stat sheet every night, like he did during the season. In addition to leading the Warriors in scoring, he also led them in assists, steals (led 3A in this category) and blocks, while finishing third in rebounding. He knocked down 53 3-pointers, got to the free throw line a ton and played a very good all-around floor game all season for SB-L. Like Trenton Hilbrands, he’s headed to NAIA Northwestern College (Orange City).
Derek Krogmann, West Delaware (2019)
Stats: 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 57.6 FG%
We pegged the sophomore big man as an all-state candidate before he even stepped foot in a high school classroom, back in the summer of 2015 (here.) He’s lived up to those expectations, averaging a double-double for a West Delaware team that was the last remaining undefeated team in 3A. Armed with a 7-foot wingspan, he uses his length effectively on both ends of the floor, allowing him to finish at the rim and pull down rebounds that he doesn’t have any business reaching. A skilled, athletic and mobile big man, he’s a second teamer this year, but as long as he continues to develop, he seems like a pretty safe bet to be a first teamer the next two seasons.
THIRD TEAM
Austin Ash, Mount Vernon (2017)
Stats: 23.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 52.0 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 126 FTM (82.4 FT%)
The future Iowa walk-on didn’t have a ton of help around him this year, but he still took carried the Mustangs to 17 wins and a district final where they lost to eventual champion Xavier. Ash is one of the most deadly shooters in the state, as he proved with his 42.6% from behind the arc. Where he really improved this year was with his ability to get to the rim and the free throw line. His 126 made free throws tied for second in Class 3A.
Nate Mohr, Glenwood (2018)
Stats: 19.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.6 steals, 76 3PM, 87.1 FT%
The leading scorer for a Rams team that fell a point shy of a state tournament appearance, Mohr led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He was second in the class with 76 3-pointers made, and he shot them at just under 39%. One of the best free throw shooters in the state, he’s someone the Rams could rely on late in games to ice it away. With him, Andrew Blum and Christian Stanislav all back next year, the Rams should be considered one of the early favorites in 3A.
Trenton Hilbrands, LeMars (2017)
Stats: 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 54.2 FG%, 43.8 3P%
Hilbrands scoring and rebounding numbers dropped significantly from last season, but the senior power guard had far more help around him this year, and the team was much more successful. He still led the team in scoring, assists and steals, and finished second in rebounding, while leading the Bulldogs to a six-win improvement. He’s highly efficient, shooting over 54% from his guard spot, and his 3-point shooting improved drastically, netting nearly 44% of those attempts. He’ll play at NAIA Northwestern College (Orange City).
Sam Allen, Grinnell (2017)
Stats: 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 40.8 3P%
There were times throughout the year where the future Upper Iowa Peacock looked like perhaps the best player in 3A, like the game we saw against Oskaloosa when he went for 37 points (12-20 shooting), eight assists, six rebounds and five steals. Long known as a sharpshooter, Allen has steadily improved his all-around game, and he was able to use his handle and length to get to the rim frequently this year, improving his effectiveness. A long and skilled playmaker capable of torching teams from the arc, Allen is going to be a very good D2 player for UIU.
Jackson Molstead, Charles City (2019)
Stats: 19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 40.4 3P%
Molstead helped lead the Comets to their first winning season since the 2009-10 year, winning 15 games. He led the team in scoring, assists and steals while posting a 3.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He finished fourth in 3A in assists, dishing out six a game, was a potent scorer from the arc and has the ability to get to the rim with his great ball handling and change of pace.
Honorable mentions: Trevor Grove, Dallas Center-Grimes (2017); Trenton Wallace, Davenport Assumption (2017); Trey Tucker, Greene County (2017); Jackson Wright, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2017); Tajen Ross, ADM Adel (2017); Lim Chuol, Chariton (2017); John Nagel, West Delaware (2017); Will Pottebaum, LeMars (2018); Owen Coburn, Spirit Lake (2019); Grant Dirks, Center Point-Urbana (2018); Sam Snyder, Forest City (2018); Andrew Blum, Glenwood (2018)