STATE TOURNAMENT: Ten Who Impressed on Friday
SF Will Carius, Pleasant Valley (2016) — 34 points (8-14 FG, 7-9 3P, 11-13 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Carius put on a performance for the ages in the Spartans’ semifinal loss, scoring 34 of their 48 points, including 24 second half points and a flurry of 3-pointers from well beyond the NBA line. The forward has generally been more of a physical force, doing much of his damage in the interior and on the glass, but he showed a different side of his game in the semifinals, a silky smooth stroke, quick release and the ability to get his shot off with limited space. He saved arguably his best high school performance for his last (meaningful) one, and there is no doubt that Division II Northern Michigan is getting an absolute steal.
GF Carlo Marble, West Des Moines Valley (2016) — 16 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3P, 3-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
The Register’s Chris Cuellar noted in the pre-game that Marble would need to have a big game, and he did. He scored 14 points in the second half, including a stretch in which it seemed as though he was matching each big Carius bucket with one of his own. The athletic wing also did a great job of slowing Carius down late in the game when Valley went into a man defense, after the zone started getting torched. He chased him through screen after screen and got a hand in Carius’ face to at least contest the red-hot shooter. He’s turned himself into a pretty reliable three-point shooter, and he’s very good when attacking the rim.
PG Turner Scott, West Des Moines Valley (2016) — 17 points (4-18 FG, 1-5 3P, 8-11 FT), 2 steals
Scott may have had the worst shooting game of his career, routinely struggling to finish against the trees of Pleasant Valley. That said, his constant attacking helped collapse the defense for his teammates, and he made the game-winner after dribbling out the entirety of the 4:00 overtime nearly by himself.
G A.J. Green, Cedar Falls (2018) — 24 points (8-12 FG, 5-8 3P, 3-3 FT), 2 assists, 1 steal
A crazy ending to the game overshadows a tremendous effort from the sophomore guard, who scored 14 points in the final 4:01 of the game to give his team a chance to win. He’s one of, if not already the best, shooters in the state off the dribble, with the ability to stop on a dime and elevate into his shot. The son of a UNI assistant is a special, special player who will be torturing defenses for the next two seasons with his smooth handles and insane shooting ability.
G Taylen Alexander, Cedar Falls (2016) — 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-4 3P), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
It wasn’t so much how much Alexander scored, it was when those points came. He scored eight second half points, including five in the final 1:12 to cut into the West lead and give the Tigers a chance late. The physical off-guard wasn’t afraid of the moment, never hesitant to take his shots. In what was in final (meaningful) high school game, he may have played his best ball.
G Devontae Lane, Iowa City West (2017) — 13 points (6-12 FG, 1-3 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
The physical combo guard picked up where he left off in the quarterfinals, scoring the first four points of the game for the Trojans, on a pair of mid-range jumpers, an area of his game that he has greatly improved. He’s a strong, physical guard who excels around the rim, using his physicality to power through the defense. He also made the key steal of the game, swiping the outlet pass that led to the eventual game-winner.
F Wali Parks, Iowa City West (2016) — 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Parks’ athleticism and finishing ability shined in the Trojans’ semifinal win over Cedar Falls. He’s routinely the quickest jumper, beating everyone off the floor to get rebounds, and his length and athletic ability cause problems on the defensive end. In addition, his dunks always ignite the Trojans, and he had four of them in this one.
F Peyton Brasser, South O’Brien (2018) — 9 points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3P, 1-3 FT)
Brasser may be an outlier on this list, as he probably doesn’t project as a college prospect, and he wasn’t his team’s leading scorer. But the five point a game scorer hit the biggest shot of the game for 1A champion South O’Brien, a 3-pointer with 3:07 left to give his team a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish. His effort off the bench, and that shot, impressed us this evening.
PF Devin Green, Cascade (2016) — 17 points (6-13 FG, 5-5 FT), 7 rebounds
Displaying his strength, Green kept the Cougars in the game against Western Christian, routinely powering through big-time contact from the Wolfpack bigs. He displayed some great footwork and soft touch around the rim, something he’s always had. Where he excelled in this one was in the mid-range, showcasing a turn-around jumper with a soft, high arc that he used to score over the big trees in the paint. A fantastic effort from Green, who will have a great career at Division II Sioux Falls.
GF Jesse Jansma, Western Christian (2017) — 15 points (4-8 FG, 2-3 3P, 5-7 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist
The leading scorer for the Wolfpack in their state title win, Jansma showcased a little bit of everything. He stepped out behind the arc and knocked down a pair of triples, showing good form and a quick release. He put the ball on the floor and made plays with his penetration, and he was active on the defensive end, getting his hands on a number of passes. He’ll be one of the catalysts for next year’s Wolfpack team.