Introducing Mr. Basketball Candidate #7: Van Rees
As part of our preseason content, we’re counting down the top dozen candidates for this year’s Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. The list continues with our No. 7 player, Sioux City East power forward Van Rees, a walking double-double who recently re-opened his recruitment after having previously committed to Division II Wayne State.
Name: Van Rees
Height: 6-6
Position: PF
School: Sioux City East
2016-17 stats: 540 points (20.8/game), 306 rebounds (11.8), 39 assists (1.5), 37 steals (1.4), 57.0 FG%, 80.7 FT%
Career stats: 946 points (14.6/game), 606 rebounds (9.3), 79 assists (1.2), 69 steals (1.1), 58.4 FG%, 74.6 FT%
About Rees: A strong, physical interior presence for one of 4A’s best teams, Rees was one of just five players in 4A last season to average a double-double. An efficient scorer who does a great job getting to the free throw line (and converting those opportunities), he’s a nightly threat to put up 20+ points and 12 rebounds. He attempted the second most free throws in the class last season, trailing only Muscatine’s Joe Wieskamp, and he’ll likely be among the leaders again this season as he looks to lead the Black Raiders, our preseason No. 2 team in 4A, back to the state tournament and potentially a state championship. After having been committed to play at Division II Wayne State, he recently re-opened his recruitment.
Why he can win Mr. Basketball: He’ll post huge numbers this season for a team that is going to win a lot of games and will likely be back in Des Moines. He performed well on the big stage at state last season, and he’s able to lead the Black Raiders back, he could get into the discussion.
Odds he wins Mr. Basketball: Just about any other year, Rees would be among the top few candidates for the award, as he’ll likely end up averaging a strong double-double for his career with strong shooting splits and a winning reputation. Alas, with the players still to come on the list ahead of him, it’ll be very difficult for him to gain enough traction to garner serious consideration.