2018 RANKINGS: The Final Countdown (10-6)
This is first class of players that Prep Hoops Iowa has seen over the course of their high school careers; meaning the 2018 group is one that we’ve observed more than any other. After several tweaks and adjustments, the final prospect rankings have been released — you can view them here. This is the fourth in a five part series highlighting the best 25 players in the class.
10 Luke Vaske (Norwalk)
It was a remarkable career at Norwalk for the this 6-foot combo-guard. He’s one of those guys who we remember the first time we saw him. It was at the first-ever Norwalk Team Camp we attended, and he was an eight-grader, the summer heading into his freshman season. Vaske was easily one of the best players on the court that day; we weren’t the least bit surprised when he found himself starting as a freshman for the Warriors. He spent the next two seasons putting up some big scoring numbers, and then his senior season his assist numbers exploded. Vaske averaged 19.5 points on 56/46/86 shooting clips, 8.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game as a senior, pretty remarkable.
9 Nathan Johnson (Waukee)
This athletic wing was arguably the most valuable player on a Waukee team that played Iowa City West tough in a 4A state semifinal game. His 6’6 frame has filled out well over the last three years, and he’s a big and bouncy small forward who can get up and slam with the best of them. If we could pick five guys to compete in a slam-dunk contest, Johnson would be likely be on the list. He can shoot it, too, and is big enough to guard multiple positions on the floor. D1 Air Force had offered Johnson, but that roster spot was later filled. After missing much of his 17U season with nagging injures, his recruitment slowed. As it is, he’s headed to prep school next season in Virginia (Hargrave Prep), and it could be a Jal Bijiek scenario: change of scenery, big-time explosion in recruitment.
8 Hunter Strait (Ankeny Centennial)
It was an interesting career for Strait. He was a small and skilled point guard as an incoming freshman when he attended out first-ever Prep Hoops Iowa Combine in 2014. He grew, and got better and better, and became one of the state’s most promising young point guards in no time. After some soul-searching, he decided to leave his home in Cedar Rapids, and his school, CR Washington, and headed to Ankeny Centennial, where he played his last two seasons with some success. It’s always been clear that the 6’2 point guard was one of Iowa’s most skilled, smooth and electric; and one of the Midwest’s best D2s, Truman State, nabbed him before his senior season began.
7 Sam Ingoli (Dowling)
Another guy who’s has an interesting career. He, too, was at out first-ever Prep Hoops Iowa combine in the fall of 2014, and was so dominant that we ranked him the first No. 1 player in the 2018 class; yes, even ahead of Joe Wieskmap (who was No.2). Ingoli was held out of Dowling’s varsity lineup as a freshman and instead played with the sophomore team. As a sophomore, he started at point guard, and averaged 9.4 points and 3.2 assists on a state-tourney team. He got better the next season, and was masterful as a senior, going for 14.6 points while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 43 percent from deep; also team-bests 4.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds. The 6’4 point guard has great size and even better basketball IQ, so the lack of recruitment was baffling to us (only North Dakota offered). He’s electing to play wide-receiver at Northern Iowa instead of pursuing hoops in college.
6 Elijah Hazekamp (Bishop Heelan)
This 6’6 forward has likely always been a bit underrated. He’s not flashy, but more workmanlike, maybe that’s it; regardless, the proof is in the numbers, and he put up some big ones over the past three seasons with the Crusaders. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. The next season, Hazekamp went for 17.7 points and 12.4 rebounds. He really stepped it up this season, averaging 21.5 points on some very good 51/45/84 shooting clips, and 13.0 rebounds per game. He’s big and athletic enough to bang in the post, and shifty and quick enough to play and guard on the perimeter. Hazekamp accepted a scholarship offer to to play at North Dakota next season. He’ll join fellow Iowans; Billy Brown, Cortez Seales, Marlon Stewart and Garret Franken on the Fighting Hawks’ roster.