STATE TOURNAMENT: Elite All-Tournament 3rd Team
Joe Wieskamp, Muscatine (2018)
Stats: 29 points (13-24 FG), 11 rebounds, three steals
The recently named Mr. Basketball was only around for one game, but he made the most of the opportunity, scoring 29 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in a tighter than expected game against top-seeded Iowa City West. At one point, he was just putting his head down and getting to the rim on every possession, no matter how much length the Trojans were throwing at him with the constant double and triple teams. He nearly single-handedly delivered a massive upset, and despite just playing a single game, he made a massive impression, as he was also named to the all-tournament team in 4A.
Xavier Foster, Oskaloosa (2020)
Stats: 13.3 points (72.7 FG%), 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 blocks
The star sophomore struggled at the free throw line throughout the tournament, going just 2-13 at the charity stripe, but that’s really the only place he had any difficulties throughout the week. The 6-11 standout showcased a beautiful stroke from the 3-point line, going 6-10 from behind the arc in the Indians’ three games, and the lengthy, athletic forward also blocked 11 shots during the week. He showcased just about everything in his repertoire that has high-major coaches across the country clamoring for his signature.
Jack Kelley, Don Bosco (2019)
Stats: 16.3 points (45.9 FG%), 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Kelley led the Dons to a third place finish and led the team in scoring throughout the week. He was at his best in the consolation game, when he scored 24 points on 8-14 shooting to lead Don Bosco past St. Mary’s, but he was also really good in their quarterfinal win over George-Little Rock. The straw that stirs the drink for the Dons, his ability to get to the rim and finish was a constant throughout the year for Don Bosco, and it’s where he excelled again at the state tournament.
Patrick McCaffery, Iowa City West (2019)
Stats: 14.7 points (46.7 FG%), 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 blocks
The 6-8 junior wing led the Trojans in scoring, helping lead them to their sixth state championship game appearance in the last seven years, and a runner-up finish. He showed off his stat-sheet stuffing abilities in their quarterfinal win over Muscatine, when he finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal (with 13 of those points coming in the second half when West needed him to take over the game). The future Hawkeye showed a little bit of everything he’s capable of, scoring effectively from all three levels and contributing across the board.
Derrick Schorg, Remsen, St. Mary’s (2018)
Stats: 15.0 points (58.6 FG%), 9.0 rebounds
The 6-4 forward was really solid all week for the Hawks, but his standout performance was a 20-point, 12-rebound outing in their quarterfinal win over Lynnville-Sully. He was the team’s fourth leading scorer throughout the regular season, but he led the team in scoring, and was second in the 1A tournament field in rebounding (behind only Issa Samake), during the tournament in helping lead the Hawks to their second straight fourth place finish.