The Final Countdown: 2017’s 30-21
21. Ben Dentlinger (New London)
One of two Dentlinger’s to finish among the top-25 in 2017 (Matt’s coming), this New London standout was one of the more versatile guys in the state last season. Defensively, he’s a game-changer, at 6-foot-6 and with length. And offensively, he averaged 15.1 points on 59 percent shooting while helping his team qualify for the state tournament. He’ll play at D2 Wayne State next season.
22. Connor Kasperbauer (Ankeny Centennial)
One of the best pure shooters in Iowa, we’ll never forget Kasperbauer’s torrid start to his junior season. Through the first six games he was 18-25 from deep, that’s a glimpse into what the 6-foot-4 shooting guard might be able to do at D2 Truman State the next four seasons.
23. Dawson Jones (Johnston)
Big and versatile, Jones may not have put up huge numbers with a well-balanced and defensive-minded Johnson Dragons squad, but his ability to bang in the paint, and score from all three levels was appealing to D2 Central Missouri, where he’ll spend his next four seasons. He picked the Mules over a D1 offer from Air Force.
24. Lim Chuol (Chariton)
We’ll remember this future Chadron State wing as a triple-double machine. It was midway through his junior season with the Chargers when he was moved into a point-forward role, and from then on the assist numbers started to spike. At 6-foot-3 and with great length, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.2 assists, 10.1 rebounds as a senior, and added 2.8 blocks per for good measure.
25. Austin Roetman (Pocahontas Area)
This versatile 6’7 stretch-four had one of the finer four-year varsity careers in the entire class, and after a stellar freshman season in which he averaged 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, he debuted high in the initial rankings. Three stellar seasons seasons later, and and the Briar Cliff signee can be considered a Pocahontas Area legend.
26. Trenton Hilbrands (LeMars)
After starting his career at Remsen Union, Hilbrands made the move to 3A LeMars and put together three solid seasons, including a state tournament berth as the starting point guard during his sophomore season. As a junior he had one of the better seasons we’ve seen; 23.9 points (57 FG%), 4.5 assists, 9.0 rebounds per game. NAIA Northwestern took notice and offered him; he accepted.
27. Max Techau (Xavier)
First and foremost, this 6-foot-7 power forward is a champion, he was essential to the Saints winning back-to-back state titles during his junior and senior seasons. The reason he was able to be so successful, is his great length which makes him menacing defensively. He averaged just shy of two swats per game during those title years.
28. Austin Ash (Mount Vernon)
Simply put, he’s one of the best shooters in the state, with any space at all he was firing, and when he fired, opponents held their breath. We saw him drop 40 in a game once at the 2016 Drake Team Camp, and the Iowa Hawkeyes walk-on will keep his future teammates on their toes in practice everyday.
29. Kyle Arrington (Lewis Central)
A 6-foot-11 center, Arrington made a meteoric rise in the rankings over the past nine months. He was plagued by injury his junior season, but was off-the-charts good his senior season, averaging a double-double offensively and swatting 3.4 shots per game. He’ll play at Kirkwood next season, and could land at a D1 after that.
30. Kyle Lang (Mason City)
Another guy who made a meteoric rise in the past nine months. Lang was sensational his senior season with the Mohawks. A highly skilled scoring guard, his handles were among the best in the state, and he was quick enough to get to the rim at will. Did we mention he’s lethal from deep too. Dordt got a steal with this 5-foot-11 guard.