Iowa’s All-Freshman Team (Class of 2021)
First Team
Freshman of the Year: Karson Sharar (Iowa Falls-Alden)
20.8 PPG, 64 3s (37 3FG%), 4.4 RPG
The Cadets rookie came out of nowhere this season and took the Iowa high school hoops scene by storm. It became evident early in the season that the season that the could score it, and he never stopped — only getting stronger as the winter wore on. He led all freshman in scoring — regardless of class — by a long shot. And he was getting it done defensively while leading his team in steals.
Angelo Winkel (Bishop Garrigan)
14.8 PPG, 63 FG%, 2.1 BPG, 6.9 RPG
The future is very bright for this very bouncy 6-foot-7 combo-forward. Just check out this freshman highlight tape. And what we like most about Winkel, is that he was able to post these big-time numbers on one of the best teams in 1A. He gets it done on both ends of the floor and could warrant plenty of Division I attention over the next 12 months.
Keaton Kutcher (Mount Vernon)
12.9 PPG, 58 3s (42 3FG%), 1.9 RPG
It was an interesting season for Kutcher. He started the season coming off the bench for the Mustangs, and quickly found himself in the starting lineup. Maybe the 10 3s he canned off the bench in a December win over Anamosa had something to do with that. He was 8-9 from deep in a January win over Central Dewitt. The point is, this kid can flat-out shoot it.
Malik Allen (Des Moines North)
5.3 PPG, 49 FG%, 1.3 SPG, 2.0 RPG
So maybe his numbers aren’t as prolific as other guys on the first team, but the fact that Allen was able to contribute majorly on one of the best 4A teams in the state speaks volumes. If you put Allen on a small-school squad, he’d average 20 per game. What we like best is the good shooting percent age and his ability to get to the line; Allen attempted 63 free-throws this season, proving that he wasn’t afraid to take it to the rack.
Trey Shearer (Montezuma)
16.0 PPG, 48 FG%, 3.9 APG, 3.2 SPG
We thought that Shearer would have a successful freshman season at Montezuma. What we didn’t know is he’s be this massively successful. The scoring is great, third-best in Iowa among freshman, but the assists and especially the steals are what are most eye-catching. It’s one thing to score 16 a game, it’s another to be extremely well-rounded as you do it.
Second Team
Ryan Blum (Glenwood)
6.1 PPG, 50 FG%, 39 3FG%, 3.3 RPG
Manny Austin (Des Moines Hoover)
6.0 PPG, 54 FG%
Layne Pryor (Woodbine)
16.5 PPG, 51 FG%, 37 3FG%, 7.4 RPG
Dominic Caggiano (Southeast Polk)
8.6 PPG, 45 3FG%, 2.1 RPG
Connor Drew (Ballard)
12.6 PPG, 53 FG%, 7.5 RPG
Honorable Mention: Jadin Johnson (Council Bluffs Lincoln), Jaron Crews (Ankeny), Caleb Schlaak (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Ryan Riggs (Dowling), Zac Rizzuti (Panorama), Justin Recker (Monticello), Cael Kralik (Creston), Bubba Schon (Harris-Lake Park), Parker Rochford (Edgewood-Colesburg), Garrett Trapp (River Valley)