Most Intriguing Prospects from Boone (75) at Norwalk (87)
Norwalk — After a 4-0 start to the season with wins averaging 22 points, we were expecting to see a dominant performance from the Warriors in this one. What we got was a gritty, upset-minded Boone squad which started out hot and was in the game until late.
As expected, Norwalk guards Luke Vaske and Bowen Born were dominant, they make up one of the best backcourts in Iowa, and combined for 44 points and a handful of assists/steals. The Boone combo of Trevor Van Pelt and John Herrick, though, was formidable itself, those two combined for 43 points and had the Toreadors within striking distance throughout.
Though the game was relatively close, the Warriors always held a 6-12 point cushion in the second half. Boone played very well, but Norwalk is an elite 3A squad. Look for Warriors to win a ton of games this season,and they could very well be down at Wells Fargo Arena come March.
Team Scoring
Boone — 25 13 19 18 — 75
Norwalk — 22 24 22 17 — 87
Individual Scoring
Boone: Trevor Van Pelt 25, John Herrick 18, Dresden Wilson 10, Matej Vukic 8, Justin Aspengren 7, Casey Hutchings 6, Tyler Casotti 4.
Norwalk: Bowen Born 27, Luke Vaske 17, Blake Johnson 15, Daniel Geistler 11, Tyler Endres 10, Tyler Johnson 3, Drew Rosonke 2.
THE PROSPECTS
Bowen Born, 5’10 G, 2020 (Norwalk)
Iowa’s 3rd-ranked 2020, Born justified his high ranking in this one while turning in a remarkable 27 point effort, 18 in the first half. Simply put, he’s just a cut above the rest, and is quicker, more athletic, more skilled and smarter than the competition. He’s small, but still looks to be a D1 prospect. He’s got plenty of time left for his recruitment to kick into full gear.
John Herrick, 6’6 SF, 2018 (Boone)
When engaged, Herrick can be dominant, and that’s what took place in the second half of this one. Herrick was timid in the first half, but came our aggressive in the second; with his size and ability to put the ball on the deck, he was causing fits for the Warriors en route to 16 second half points. With the right circumstances and a the right motivator, Herrick could be a scholarship-level hoops player.
Luke Vaske, 6′ PG, 2018 (Norwalk)
We’ve seen Vaske a ton now, and his ability to score has always been a strong suit; but tonight, it was his passing that was on full display. He was dishing and diming all over the floor, fancy passing his way to a game-high nine assists. Vaske is a fiery competitor with a knack for putting the ball in the hoop, but his passing is certainly a strength, too.
Trevor Van Pelt, 6′ G, 2018 (Boone)
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, Van Pelt started the game red-hot, almost single-handedly keeping Boone on top throughout the first quarter, and he never really cooled down. He’s a crafty lead guard, capable at getting to the rim and scoring or raining in 3s. He finished with a team-high 25 points, 15 of those from five made 3s. He’ll be bumped up in the next installment of 2018 rankings.
Blake Johnson, 6’4 F, 2018 (Norwalk)
What a game this under the radar forward pieced together. The key to his performance was versatility, there’s really not much this kid can’t do on the floor. He started off by making a couple tough passes through traffic, then he canned a couple of 3s, and he’s big enough to adeptly handle the post. He may not set the world on fore every game, but he’s the X-factor for this 5-0 Norwalk squad.
Daniel Geistler, 6’6 F, 2018 (Norwalk)
Another tall and versatile prospect on the Norwalk roster, Geistler was a menace defensively, he’s got great D instincts and quick hands, and he anticipates well; his four blocks were a game-high. He stepped out and attempted a couple 3s, and he has a decent looking shot, although neither of his tries dropped. Small colleges should be taking notice.
Matej Vukic, 6’4 SG, 2018 (Boone)
A nice surprise off the bench for the Toreadors was this very rangy, tall and skilled sharpshooter. Vukij canned two of his three 3-point attempts and the miss wasn’t by much. He’s wiry, and a bit of a specialist, but opponents should not be letting this marksmen shoot it from deep.