Class 1A Top 10 Poll

The Top 10 teams in the IAHoops.com high school boys basketball poll with win/loss record and previous ranking in parentheses. Also included is the teams who dropped out of the Top 10 and also those who just missed being ranked. We will update the poll again in about a month.

1. Rock Valley 5-0 (Previous: #1)
2. Cedar Falls NU High 6-0 (Previous: #2)
3. Council Bluffs St. Albert 5-0 (Previous: #3)
4. Keota 6-0 (Previous: #4)
5. Ankeny Christian 7-0 (Previous: #7)
6. Iowa Mennonite School 6-0 (Previous: #9)
7. Bedford 8-0 (Previous: NR)
8. NE Hamilton 8-0 (Previous: NR)
9. Storm Lake St. Mary's 6-0 (Previous: NR)
10. Clinton Prince of Peace 6-1 (Previous: NR)

Dropped Out: Clay Central-Everly, Boyden Hull, Colo-Nesco and Elk Horn-Kimballton.

Watch List: Boyden Hull, George-Little Rock, Algona Garrigan, Burlington Notre Dame and Colo-Nesco.

Class 2A Top 10 Poll

The Top 10 teams in the IAHoops.com high school boys basketball poll with win/loss record and previous ranking in parentheses. Also included is the teams who dropped out of the Top 10 and also those who just missed being ranked. We will update the poll again in about a month.

1. Des Moines Christian 4-0 (Previous: #1)
2. West Fork 7-0 (Previous: #7)
3. IKM-Manning 6-0 (Previous: #10)
4. Grundy Center 6-0 (Previous: NR)
5. Ft. Dodge St. Edmond 6-0 (Previous: NR)
6. Orange City Unity Christian 6-1 (Previous: NR)
7. Pella Christian 6-1 (Previous: NR)
8. Prairie City-Monroe 6-1 (Previous: #5)
9. Western Christian 5-1 (Previous: NR)
10. Danville 7-0 (Previous: NR)

Dropped Out: Panorama, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Cascade, South O'Brien, Pekin and Davis County.

Watch List: Pekin, Solon, Emmetsburg, Davis County, Panorama, Sumner-Fredericksburg, State Center West Marshall, Wapsie Valley and Underwood.

Class 3A Top 10 Poll

The Top 10 teams in the IAHoops.com high school boys basketball poll with win/loss record and previous ranking in parentheses. Also included is the teams who dropped out of the Top 10 and also those who just missed being ranked. We will update the poll again in about a month.

1. Carroll 5-0 (Previous: #1)
2. Mount Pleasant 8-0 (Previous: #5)
3. Harlan 5-0 (Previous: #6)
4. Norwalk 5-0 (Previous: #10)
5. Washington 5-0 (Previous: NR)
6. Dallas Center-Grimes 5-0 (Previous: NR)
7. Charles City 7-1 (Previous: #2)
8. Sioux City Heelan 4-1 (Previous: #3)
9. Davenport Assumption 6-1 (Previous: NR)
10. Pella 5-1 (Previous: NR)

Dropped Out: Forest City, Le Mars, Ballard and Marion.

Watch List: MOC-Floyd Valley, Western Dubuque, Forest City and Le Mars.

Class 4A Top 10 Poll

The Top 10 teams in the IAHoops.com high school boys basketball poll with win/loss record and previous ranking in parentheses. Also included is the teams who dropped out of the Top 10 and also those who just missed being ranked. We will update the poll again in about a month.

1. Ames 5-0 (Previous: #1) USA Today has the Little Cyclone ranked #7 in their Super 25 national rankings.
2. Des Moines Hoover 6-0 (Previous: #3)
3. Johnston 6-0 (Previous: #5)
4. Sioux City East 5-0 (Previous: #7)
5. Cedar Falls 5-0 (Previous: NR)
6. Bettendorf 5-1 (Previous: NR)
7. Linn Mar 6-1 (Previous: #2)
8. Waukee 4-1 (Previous: #9)
9. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 5-1 (Previous: #4)
10. SE Polk 4-1 (Previous: #6)

Dropped Out: Davenport Central and North Scott.

Watch List: Marshalltown, Pleasant Valley, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, North Scott and Sioux City North.

Pre-season 4A Top 10

1. Ames: Led by the nation's #1 player, Harrison Barnes, there is no doubt that this is the top team in the state and probably one of the Top 25 teams in the country. Nobody could stop them last year and it will be tough to keep them from winning back-to-back titles.

2. Linn-Mar: They lost some talent to graduation, but as usual, the Lions simply reload and get right back after it. They lost to Ames in the championship game last year and it could come down to the same two teams again in March.

3. Des Moines Hoover: The Huskies have a lot of talent in guards Quincy King, Kelly Madison, Dwight Sistrunk and forward Reggie White. However, the team will be breaking in a new coach, so it's hard to really know what to expect out of this squad in the early going.

4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy: The Cougars are always tough and have their fair share of talent back again this winter. They have great defense, but can they score when it matters.

5. Johnston: This team surprised many by making a nice run at the state tournament. They have the 1-2 punch back in guard Corey Schaefer and post Nick Smith, so they will be dangerous again this winter.

6. Southeast Polk: The Rams return a talented core of veterans from last year's squad, but they will have to adjust to the loss of point guard Tyler Stumme who graduated. If they find a capable replacement this team has as good of shot as any to be there in the end.

7. Sioux City East: This team made it to the state tournament last year and should be able to get there again. They have a nice pair of seniors in Jordan Thomas and Jeff Sponder, but they also have emerging talents in Quinton Behlers , Adam Woodbury and Dillion Godfrey.

8. Davenport Central: This team has plenty of good athletes and is led by junior Tavian Pomlee. If they play together and get some help out of transfer Zach Burnham this team could be back in Des Moines in March.

9. Waukee: They have a new coach, but they also return the inside/outside combo of Will Artino and Jonny Getting. If they can get a lift from the young talent in the program these guys could be a very good.

10. North Scott: Brandon Voss had a breakout season last year. This winter he hopes to repeat that performance and get some help from the younger guys. If he gets that help they could be a state tournament qualifier.

Watch List: Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Washington, Des Moines Dowling, Des Moines Roosevelt, and Iowa City West.

First Team All-State
G-Kody Ingle (Southeast Polk)
G-Wesley Staten (Sioux City West)
F-Harrison Barnes (Ames)
F-Doug McDermott (Ames)
C- Will Artino (Waukee)

Second Team All-State
G- Corey Schaefer (Johnston)
G-Marcus Paige (Linn-Mar)
G-Josh Oglesby (Cedar Rapids Washington)
F- Chanse Creekmur (Marshalltown)
F-Jarod Uthoff (Cedar Rapids Jefferson)

Third Team All-State
G-Taylor Bontrager (Iowa City West)
G- Brandon Voss (North Scott)
G-Kelly Madison (Des Moines Hoover)
G-Creon Reed (Des Moines North)
C-Adam Woodbury (Sioux City East)

We will update the team rankings every other week throughout the season, so keep checking back to see where your school or alma mater is ranked.

Pre-season 3A Top 10

1. Carroll: The duo of Kasperbauer and Haluska look to lead their team back to Des Moines in March. They got there last year, but this year they want to bring home a title.

2. Charles City: This team has returning all-state performer Nathan Buss leading the charge, but he has a few other guys on the team who can really play. Don't be surprised to see them challenge for the 3A crown.

3. Sioux City Heelan: Heelan cruised to the championship last year, but they also lost a lot of talent to graduation. That said they still have two really good returners in Zach McCabe and Alex Malloy. If the Crusaders get some quality play in the back court this team could repeat.

4. Forest City: High-scoring guard Tyler Putz returns for his senior year. He has help from the Rosacker brothers, but will it be enough to make a run at the title?

5. Mount Pleasant: The coaches have been waiting for the class of 2011 to arrive. The class features four talented players who showed promise last year led by post Henry Krieger-Coble.

6. Harlan: Every single year you know that the Cyclones will be good. This year is no different as they should have enough talent to make a run in Des Moines.

7. LeMars: The bulldogs return 4 of their top 5 players. They are led by the duo of Sam VanWettering and Paxton Strub. They will face some tough competition which will give an indication if this team has what it takes to get to the state tournament.

8. Ballard: The Bombers are led by Austin Vier, but he's not alone as there is enough talent on the roster for this team to win a lot of games this winter.

9. Marion: The Indians lost a huge weapon in Amry Shelby to graduation. So, this winter Kasey Semler and Corey Kramer will need to step it up in a big way if they want to get back to Wells Fargo again this season.

10. Norwalk: They were runner-up last season, but took major hits due to graduation. If they want to get back to state they need a few guys to emerge this winter.

Watch List: Carlisle, Denison-Schleswig, Jefferson-Scranton, Pella, and Washington.

First Team All-State
G-Tyler Putz (Forest City)
G-Casey Kasperbauer (Carroll)
F-Nathan Buss (Charles City)
F-Zach McCabe (Sioux City Heelan)
F-Henry Krieger-Coble (Mt. Pleasant)

Second Team All-State
G-Chad Malloy (Williamsburg)
G-Michael Kaufmann (Harlan)
G-Isaac Gardner (Washington)
F-Austin Vier (Ballard)
F-Joe Daniel (Davenport Assumption)

Third Team All-State
G-Casey Semler (Marion)
G-Blake Haluska (Carroll)
F-Alex Malloy (Sioux City Heelan)
F-Paxton Strub (LeMars)
C-Patrick Burmester (Central Clinton-DeWitt)

We will update the team rankings every other week throughout the season, so keep checking back to see where your school or alma mater is ranked.

Pre-season 2A Top 10

1. Des Moines Christian: These guys are absolutely loaded! Brandon Stubbs has been stellar throughout his career and this just might be the year they take it all the way.

2. Panorama: The Panthers have some fire-power in Zach Brehmer and juniors Austin Johnk and Kyle Muyskens. They should be a major player when it comes to who takes home the 2A title.

3. Sumner-Fredericksburg: The Cougars were one of the top teams in the state last year and have enough returning talent to be in the mix again this season.

4. Cascade: They basically return the entire team who went 20-4 last season. It's probably safe to say these guys will improve this season and be a team who could challenge for the title.

5. Prairie City-Monroe: The Mustangs are led by the duo of Scott Bruxvoort and Jake Fosenburg. They return a wealth of talent to give them a good shot to make a run at the title come March.

6. South O'Brien: The Wolverines have the whole team back and look like they have what it takes to be a title contender. It won't be easy, but they should make it to Des Moines in March behind the stellar play of high-scoring senior Jarod Syndergaard.

7. West Fork: The War Hawks took some hits due to graduation, but they still have stud forward Seth Tuttle and should get a boost from 6-7 freshman Payton Plagge. If they get some support in the backcourt these guys will be a tough out.

8. Pekin: This team returns a solid nucleus of players who should be more than capable of earning a trip to the state tournament.

9. Davis County: Much like Pekin, the Mustangs return a core group of players from a pretty tough team. If these guys step it up they could be a threat to make a run in March.

10. IKM-Manning: The Hawks lost some key members from last year's squad, but they have a ton of experienced seniors returning. This team can make some noise if these guys come together and provide some steady production throughout the season.

Watch List: Battle Creek-Ida Grove, Dyersville-Beckman, Mid-Prairie, Pella Christian, Underwood, and Western Christian.

First Team All-State
G-Brandon Stubbs (Des Moines Christian)
G-Tyler Woltersdorff (Western Christian)
F-Trevor Hook (Grundy Center)
F-Seth Tuttle (West Fork)
F-Kyle Nikkel (Pella Christian)

Second Team All-State
G-Jarod Syndergaard (South O'Brien)
G-Tanner Miller (Mid-Prairie)
F- Alec Crawford (Wilton)
F-Zach Brehmer (Panorama)
C-Tommy Yackle (Eagle Grove)

Third Team All-State
G-Trevor Harris (Sumner-Fredericksburg)
G-Alex Warnke (Battle Creek-Ida Grove)
F-Trey Sathoff (Pekin)
F-Austin Katje (Unity Christian)
F-Scott Bruxvoort (Prairie City-Monroe)

We will update the team rankings every other week throughout the season, so keep checking back to see where your school or alma mater is ranked.

Class of 2013 - Players to Watch

Although we feel it is too early to “rank” the Class of 2013 (Current 9^th Graders), this class looks to be another very deep and talented group. We expect several talented freshman to be impact players at the varsity level for their high school teams this winter. One player, Peter Jok of Des Moines Roosevelt, deserves a special mention: he was recently ranked as the top player in the country by Antonio Curro of NY2LA Sports.

As the players in this class continue to develop their games, there is no doubt that we’ll add many more names to this list until we update (and rank them) over the Holiday break.

10 Players to Watch (In Alphabetical Order):

Dondre Alexander (6-0, Iowa City West)

Dallas Ennema (6-5, Sheldon)

Jace Hanna (6-0, Cedar Rapids Prairie)

Peter Jok (6-4, Des Moines Roosevelt)

Jared Jones (6-0, Des Moines Christian)

Chance Miller (5-11, Iowa Mennonite)

Jeremy Morgan (6-1, Iowa City West)

Payton Plagge (6-6, West Fork)

Brandt Van Roekel (6-3, Boyden-Hull)

Josh Weeber (6-4, Dubuque Senior)

Pre-season 1A Top 10

1. Rock Valley: The twin towers of Heemstra and Dykstra will attempt to win consecutive state titles this season. They knocked off defending state champs NU High last year and it wouldn't be a surprise if it came down to the usual suspects again this time around.

2. Cedar Falls NU High: The Panthers are laced with talented players. They came up short in their bid to repeat, but they certainly have the talent to try to attempt to avenge their loss in a rematch in the 1A finals.

3. Council Bluffs St. Albert: This team lost two key performers to graduation, but they have their leading scorer Jake Waters back to try to lead them back to the state tournament.

4. Keota: The Eagles were one of the top teams in the state last year and they return enough talent that they should be right in the thick of things when March rolls around.

5. Clay Central-Everly: The Mavericks bring back their top three players from a very good team. This team has high expectations, but shouldn't have too much trouble living up to them.

6. Boyden-Hull: This team has a ton of talent coming back and is led by senior Josh Vander Maten. They play a tough schedule which should prepare them for the rigors of the post-season.

7. Ankeny Christian: Tim Olejniczak is one of the state's leading scorers, but just about everyone else from last year is back too. Expect these guys to make it to the state tournament this time around.

8. Colo-Nesco: They came up a little short last year in their quest to make it to the state tournament. This year Brandon Eley and Travis Guy should be able to guide their team to Wells Fargo for a shot at the 1A title.

9. Iowa Mennonite School: Each year it seems like IMS reloads and makes another run at the state title. This year shouldn't be any different. Keep an eye on junior Ethan Gingerich and freshman Chance Miller.

10. Elk Horn-Kimballton: The Danes bring back the entire squad led by guard Carson Smith. This team is poised for a breakout season and perhaps a trip to the state tournament.

Watch List: Bedford, Central City, Don Bosco, East Buchanan, Treynor and Villisca.

First Team All-State
G-Brandon Wood (Rockford)
G-Ryan Powers (Calamus-Wheatland)
G-Josh Vander Maten (Boyden-Hull)
F-Marcus Heemstra (Rock Valley)
C-Jordan Dykstra (Rock Valley)

Second Team All-State
G-Matt Knake (Lisbon)
G-Jake Waters (Council Bluffs St. Albert)
F-Aaron Berberich (Clay Central-Everly)
F-Tanner Cooke (NU High)
C-Eddie Diemer (NU High)

Third Team All-State
G-TJ Van Dyke (Madrid)
G-Tim Olejniczak (Ankeny Christian)
G-Carson Smith (Elk Horn-Kimballton)
F-Tim Schweitzer (Bedford)
C-Matt Lowe (Seymour)

We will update the team rankings every other week throughout the season, so keep checking back to see where your school or alma mater is ranked.

Class of 2012 Rankings

There is some movement in our rankings, but the one that everyone will be talking about is the change at the #1 spot. That's right, Marcus Paige has taken over the throne after having a stellar summer leading his team to a ton of victories and looking very good against some of the best players in the country. On the other hand, Wesley Staten was not seen or heard from much. We still like his size and athleticism, but out of sight, out of mind.

Ultra-quick point guard, Dwight Sistrunk, moved up a few spots after having a very nice run this summer. He is still small, but he is the real deal. Kale Abrahamson also jumped up a few spots by proving he has a knack for making the jumper. Another riser is guard Darren Stringfellow.

We aren't sure what to make of this class just yet, but there is certainly some very good talent from top to bottom. We are excited to see what happens this winter when they play for a shot at the state tournament. Remember, this is the last time we will update the rankings until after the high school season is over.

1. Marcus Paige 5-11 Linn-Mar
2. Wesley Staten 6-1 Sioux City West
3. Adam Woodbury 6-8 Sioux City East
4. Dwight Sistrunk 5-6 Des Moines Hoover
5. Casey Kasperbauer 6-0 Carroll
6. James Harrington 5-10 Cedar Falls
7. Taylor Olson 6-0 Cedar Rapids Jefferson
8. Teyshawn Campbell 5-8 Cedar Rapids Jefferson
9. Corey Meyers 5-10 Ankeny
10. Anthony Shaw 6-2 Iowa City High
11. Kale Abrahamson 6-3 West Des Moines Valley
12. Amarra Darboh 6-2 West Des Moines Dowling
13. Jerel Moore 6-3 Iowa City High
14. Jeremy Johnson 5-11 Iowa City High
15. Sam Skogen 5-10 Mason City
16. Trey Sathoff 6-3 Pekin
17. Cole Pedersen 6-3 Waukee
18. Kade Olson 6-0 Iowa Falls
19. Darren Stringfellow 5-11 Davenport West
20. Austin Stubbs 6-2 Des Moines Christian
21. Jordan Hay 6-5 North Cedar
22. Louie Ingoli 6-2 Des Moines East
23. Jordan Stotts 6-2 Waukee
24. Dillon Godfrey 6-6 Sioux City East
25. Conner Schabel 6-3 Ankeny
26. Zach Burnham 6-5 Davenport Assumption
27. Josiah Coleman 6-4 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
28. Nick Hughes 6-1 Bettendorf
29. Scott Bruxvoort 6-3 Altoona
30. Elliot Christians 6-7 Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Just missed: JC Abrahamson, Kyle Rosacker, Austin Perry, Andrew Fritz, Carter Valentine, Michael Carney, Connor Coleman, Luke Schafer, Dan Amelon, Austin Vaske, Cole Meyers, Adam Paulsen, Gabe Summerhays, Griffin Gaeta.

Paige Ranked in ESPNU's "Terrific 25"

Marcus Paige, the outstanding guard who led Linn Mar High School to a runner-up finish in the Iowa High School State Tournament has been ranked #17 in ESPNU's new "Terrific 25" for 2012. Paige hasn't stopped since the high school state tournament, having an outstanding summer with Martin Brothers Select, including a 15U Iowa State Championship, and making the 17U State All-Tournament team while playing up with their 17U Squad.

Class of 2011 Rankings

The biggest shake up in this class is the removal of electric guard Rasham Suarez. We have been informed that he will not be moving back to Iowa, but instead has moved to Gatlinburg, TN, where he has enrolled in a public school. With him no longer living here in Iowa we have removed him from our rankings.

So, now Josh Oglesby is the top dog. The funny thing is he would have taken over the top spot even had Suarez stayed in Iowa. He really looked good this summer. Forward Seth Tuttle made a move up, but Jared Uthoff is our biggest mover jumping into the Top 10. Also new to the Top 10 is the athletic Reggie White.

There was also a few other slight changes to include both Jon Getting and Paxton Strub cracking the rankings as Tim Olejniczak dropped off our list. So, here's our final rankings update until the conclusion of the high school season. Take a look and let us know what you think.

1. Josh Oglesby 6-5 Cedar Rapids Washington
2. Grant Lang 6-4 Ankeny
3. Matt Bohannon 6-1 Linn-Mar
4. Seth Tuttle 6-8 West Fork
5. Tavian Pomlee 6-5 Davenport Central
6. Kelly Madison 6-2 Des Moines Hoover
7. Corey Schaefer 5-10 Johnston
8. Jarod Uthoff 6-7 Cedar Rapids Jefferson
9. Reggie White 6-5 Des Moines Hoover
10. Alex Savage 6-0 West Des Moines Dowling
11. Wesley Washpun 6-0 Cedar Rapids Washington
12. Travis Perry 6-3 Urbandale
13. Kyle Lamaak 6-3 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
14. Brandon Voss 5-9 North Scott
15. Zach Twedt 6-3 Benton Community
16. Josh Montague 6-5 Linn-Mar
17. Jake Guenther 6-5 SE Polk
18. Patrick Burmester 6-9 DeWitt Central
19. Zach Otting 6-3 Western Dubuque
20. Alex Malloy 6-4 Sioux City Heelan
21. Shane Benton 6-3 Linn-Mar
22. Nick Wuebker 6-8 Emmetsburg
23. Henry Kreiger-Coble 6-4 Mt. Pleasant
24. Kasey Semler 5-9 Marion
25. Kyle Nikkel 6-6 Pella Christian
26. Tyler Wolterstorff 6-4 Hull Western Christian
27. Darreus Caston 5-11 Ft. Dodge
28. Brock Meis 6-5 Treynor
29. Jon Getting 6-2 Waukee
30. Paxton Strub 6-6 LeMars

Just missed: Christian French, Tim Olejniczak, Quinton Behlers, Nate Wells, Lincoln Vorba, Brock Dagel, Trent Washington, Ricky Torres, Jacob Logan, Luke Norville, Neil Bryant, Seth Nutting, Brandon Eley, Jamison Lalk, Jordan Holdsworth, Austin Christiansen, Isaiah Miller.

Class of 2010 Rankings

This spring we revealed our player rankings and took some hits for some of the picks. Some folks thought that we were off the mark, but others liked the way things looked. In the end, it appears we weren't very far off the mark as only two new faces cracked the Top 10. Our biggest mover was Waukee big man Will Artino as his stock went off the charts this summer. Joining the fast moving big man in the Top 10 is dynamic athlete TrayVonn Wright. All things said, our Top 10 is chalk full of D-I talent so check it out and let us know what you think. Also, this will be the last time we update the rankings until the conclusion of the high school season.

1. Harrison Barnes 6-6 Ames
2. Zach McCabe 6-7 Sioux City Heelan
3. Will Artino 6-10 Waukee
4. Doug McDermott 6-6 Ames
5. Nate Buss 6-8 Charles City
6. Jordan Dykstra 6-8 Rock Valley
7. Chanse Creekmur 6-5 Marshalltown
8. Marcus Heemstra 6-9 Rock Valley
9. TrayVonn Wright 6-6 Waterloo West
10. Branden Stubbs 6-0 Des Moines Christian
11. Kody Ingle 6-2 SE Polk
12. Isaac Gardner 6-4 Washington
13. Quincy King 6-0 Des Moines Hoover
14. Tyler Putz 6-0 Forest City
15. A.J. Derby 6-5 Iowa City High
16. Trevor Hook 6-5 Grundy Center
17. Max Martino 6-5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
18. Tayler Bontrager 6-0 Iowa City West
19. Dau Jok 6-2 Des Moines Roosevelt
20. Josh Vander Maten 6-1 Boyden-Hull
21. Michael Kaufman 5-11 Harlan
22. Will Roth 6-6 Linn-Mar
23. Michael Weber 5-8 Ames
24. Chad Malloy 6-0 Williamsburg
25. Blake Haluska 6-4 Carroll
26. Creon Reed 6-0 Des Moines North
27. Nick Wilson 6-9 Iowa City West
28. Nick Smith 6-7 Johnston
29. Austin Katje 6-4 Unity Christian
30. Ryan Powers 6-2 Calamus-Wheatland

Just missed: Jon Keller, Alex Vogel, Tim Bennett, Andrew Wirth, Tyler Ellerman, Jared Stogdill, Jody Henton, Ryan Coon, James Humpal, Jordan Thomas, Bryce Irlbeck, Michael Wetrich, Zach Brehmer, D.J. Stokes, Damek Tomsha and T.J. Van Dyke.

End of Summer Travel Team Rankings

Last month, the top teams and players from the state of Iowa took to the road to participate in some of the top summer basketball tournaments in the country. Many players impressed enough to land scholarship offers while younger players put their name on the recruiting map for the future.

Now that the travel team season has come to an end we have decided to take a look back at how the teams performed. After our review we came up with team rankings based upon how they did this past season. That said, here's a look at how we thought they stacked up.

17U Team Rankings
1. All-Iowa Attack Red – They started off the season a little erratic and even lost Harrison Barnes, but since then they have performed very well and even won the Next Level Invitational to go along with an earlier title at the Jayhawk Invitational. They are a nice looking bunch led by Iowa commitment Zach McCabe and TrayVonn Wright.

2. Iowa Barnstormers – This team has been solid, but not spectacular this season. They never won anything big, but they always competed well against top level competition. They are led by the dynamic duo of Will Artino (Creighton) and Nate Buss (UNI).

3. Martin Brothers – This group is hard to put a finger on. They lost to the Barnstormers, but defeated Attack Red. They looked good at times, but then would look merely average at others. They have been led all season by Doug McDermott and Jordan Dykstra.

Just missed: Iowa Mavericks Black and All-Iowa Attack Black

16U Team Rankings
1. Iowa Barnstormers – Consistently good is the best way to describe this team. They went deep in everything they entered and proved that they could compete with anybody. They never played against AIA Red, but they did face Martin Brothers in a game they easily rolled to victory. They are led by Josh Oglesby and Seth Tuttle.

2. All-Iowa Attack Red – This team is a close second as they proved they could also compete with anyone this summer. They weren’t as consistent as the Barnstormers, but when they clicked they were special to watch. They were led by sharp-shooter Kelly Madison and Grant Lang.

3. Martin Brothers – It’s hard to describe this team. On paper they look great, but on the court they never really put it all together. Something seemed to be missing. However, they did make a nice run to win the Gold bracket in Milwaukee. Leading the way was Matt Bohannon and Tavian Pomlee.

Just missed: Iowa Mavericks Blue and Bound 4 Glory

15U Team Rankings
1. Martin Brothers – They are the top team in this age group and it isn’t even close. These kids are fun to watch as they go out and win game after game. The trio of Marcus Paige, Mike Gessell and Adam Woodbury are fantastic in just about every way imaginable. Expect big things out of this team in the future.

2. All-Iowa Attack Red – This team was good throughout the season. Most years, this team would be ranked #1, but being #2 on this list isn’t so bad. This squad is led by Cory Meyers and Amarra Darboh.

3. Iowa Barnstormers – Sometimes this team looked very, very good and at other times looked very, very bad. They have some talent, but just don’t seem to have the maturity or leadership to keep them focused on playing to win. If they figure things out this team might surprise next season. They are led by Taylor Olson and Anthony Shaw.

Just missed: Iowa Stars and Bad Boys

14U Team Rankings
1. Iowa Barnstormers Gold – They have a talented squad and it showed all season long as they won a bunch of games. They also notched a couple victories over the other top programs in the state to include our #2 and #3 ranked teams. They won the USSSA Midwest Showdown and the Iowa 8th grade AAU state championship. They are led by nationally ranked power forward Josh Weeber.

2. All-Iowa Attack Red – This team was a close second to our #1 ranked team. Led by Peter Jok, who one service has ranked #1 in the nation, this team was very successful and won their fair share of games and tournaments. They are talented group and it will be fun to see how these guys fair this winter with their high school teams.

3. Iowa Storm – Over the last few years this has been the team to beat. This year, the pack finally caught up them and passed them just a little. Though they didn’t win as often as they did in the past, they went deep in most tournaments and had chances to win them. They were led by guard Jared Jones.

Just missed: The Pack and All-Iowa Attack Black

Now that you have seen our rankings, share your thoughts with us.

Impressions From The July Evaluation Period

The month of July is huge when it comes to the recruiting process and player evaluations. It's the only time of the year that college coaches can view dozens and dozens of prospects in a short period of time. So, this month the top basketball programs in the state hit the road to compete in front of the college coaches with hopes of gaining scholarship offers. Here's who we thought made the biggest impressions on the coaches and scouts in attendance.

Class of 2010
Zach McCabe – He is a strong forward who can grind it out in the paint or stick the jumper. He's white hot right now and really looked good in both Milwaukee and Chicago. (Recently gave verbal commitment to Iowa)

Doug McDermott – He did a nice job rebounding and scoring the ball in the paint or off the catch and shoot. He's one to keep an eye on.

Chanse Creekmur – This kid can really shoot the rock. He's not that quick and not that big, but his stroke is lethal. (Recently gave verbal commitment to Santa Clara)

Will Artino – A long and bouncy post that runs the floor and scores the ball. He has tremendous upside and drew a large following. Watch him explode in the coming weeks and months.

Trayvonn Wright – Dunking machine who is active around the glass at both ends. He's rail thin, but a very athletic post player.

Class of 2011
Josh Oglesby – He is fun to watch as he just knows how to play. He is a good shooter and even better passer. He looks like he will blow up in the near future.

Rasham Suarez – Powerful guard who likes to score, but also makes great passes. He looked good playing up an age group. Rumor has him attending school back in Iowa this fall.

Seth Tuttle – Skilled big man with a mean streak. He just keeps getting better and better.

Kelly Madison – Strong guard who can fill it up from distance. He is money if you give him an open look.

Reggie White – Appears to be done growing at about 6-6, but he is athletic and really rebounds and defends well.

Matt Bohannon – He displayed nice handles and jumper. He is another kid who is just fun to watch.

Jarrod Uthoff – He's a skinny kid, but he can flat out play some ball. He proved he could hit jumpers and get to the rim off the bounce.

Class of 2012
Dwight Sistrunk – He has crazy handles and change of direction. His ability to break defenders down and create is uncanny. Wait until he hits his growth spurt!

Taylor Olson – He has always been good off the dribble, but he displayed an emerging jumper. He's also a tough kid.

Marcus Paige – Smooth, really smooth. The lefty hits the jumper, gets to the rim and creates for others.

Adam Woodbury – He runs the floor well and does work in the paint. He hit a few short jumpers and does a nice job on defense too.

NY2LA Invitational Preview- 17U Pools E through I

Earlier today, we took a look at the NY2LA Sports Invitational's Pools are picked who we thought would advance to Platinum bracket play in Pools A-D. Now, we take a look at Pools E through I and give you our picks!

Pool E (ECI West N. Dakota, Team Nebraska, Grand Rapids Blue, and SW IL Jets Orange): ECI West N. Dakota has a talented big man in 6-9 Bryan Kielpinsk, and Team Nebraska counters with 6-10 big man Kyle Schlake. I like Team Nebraska and Schlake in that match-up, and but that will be ECI W. ND's only loss, and those are the two teams that will advance.

Pool F (Team NLP, Iowa Mavericks Black, Full Package White, ECI South Dakota): Team NLP has had a good season so far, and are by Dickey Simpkins, the former Chicago Bull. The Mavericks Black team put together a suprising run in the spring, and are led by guard Tayler Bontrager and sharpshooter Andrew Wirth. I take those two as #1 and #2 in the pool.

Pool G (RBS All-Stars, Wisconsin Blaze, Grand Rapids White, SW IL Jets Black): RBS has a strong team this year, and the Wisconsin Blaze had a nice run the last NY2LA event. I pick those guys from this pool, in that order.

Pool H (Rising Stars Blue, Midwest Stars White, All Iowa Attack Black, ECI Minnesota): Rising Stars has a nice program going in Chicago, and they've got a couple guys from their program playing for the Hawkeyes. I like them to win this pool, and give the Attack's Black squad the nod for second... look for Chad Malloy from Williamsburg to have some coaches watching for him in Milwaukee. He can really shoot it.

Pool I (MN Comets White, ECI East N. Dakota, Illinois Magic, Iowa Mavs Blue, HLC): In the last pool, I like the Minnesota Comets white team to prevail, with Mavericks Blue team coming in second. Watch out for Chris Norton from Bondurant-Farrar on the Mavericks Blue team... he could catch on fire and carry them at times.

Later today we'll fill out the bracket play (based on our predictions), and pick a final winner!

NY2LA Sports Invitational Preview- 17U Pools A-D

NY2LA Sports Invitational Preview- 17U Division

With the NCAA ruling earier this year to eliminate the April “Live” period, the recruiting period starting on July 6 will be the first time this year that Division 1 coaches will be allowed to watch potential recruits play with their AAU teams. For the first event of this all-important month, most of the top Iowa teams (and players) will be participating in the NY2LA Sports Invitation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin next week. IAHoops.com will be in Milwaukee to watch the action, and we’re going to do a series of previews leading up to the tournament. Today, we’ll take a look at the 17U Division.

For purposes of this article, we’ll look at the pools and pick the teams that will advance to “Platinum” bracket play, and pick the winners. There are 9 pools of 17U teams in the tournament… Pools A, B, C, and D have the top 3 teams advance to the Platinum tournament, and Pools E through I only advance two.

Pool A (SYF Players, Milwaukee Spartans, All Iowa Attack Red, Buffalo Storm): This loaded pool features some great talent, including Vander Blue from the Spartans, who might be the best player in the tournament, Xavier Jones and Jesse Berry from the SYF Players, and our local All Iowa Attack's top team, which will feature Zach McCabe, TrayVonn Wright, etc. This is a tough pick, but I'm going to go with the Attack as the winners here, with the Spartans (2) and SYF Players (3) also advancing to Platinum bracket play.

Pool B (Net Gain Sports, Iowa Barnstormers, Wisconsin Scholars, Illinois Wolverines): Another loaded pool, with the headline for Iowa fans being the Net Gain Sports and Chanse Creekmur against the Barnstormers on day 1. The best player in this pool, though, is Flavian Davis, the wing from the Wisconsin Scholars who already holds a Marquette offer. The Scholars won another NY2LA event earlier this year, and I pick them to win this pool, too... with the Barnstormers (2) and Net Gain (3) also advancing.

Pool C (Howard Pulley, Meanstreets, Martin Bros Select, Illinois Heat): Lots of talent again here, with Howard Pulley featuring 6-11 Chad Calcaterra and 6-3 guard Jacob Thomas, along with the always strong Martin Bros who will feature Jordan Dykstra and Doug McDermott. Meanstreets and the Illinois are great programs, too, making this the hardest pool to pick. Harrison Barnes is not expected to be at the tournament for HP... he'll be at the LeBron camp this week. I'm going to go with Howard Pulley as the pool champions, with Martin Brothers (2) and Meanstreats (3) advancing.

Pool D (Playground Elite, MN Comets Blue, Midwest Stars Blue, Illinois Kings): This is the last pool that advances three to tournament play, and this is a little harder pick... no Iowa teams, and not quite as much of the top talent as "Super Pools" in A-C. We'll pick Playground Elite #1 here, with MN Comets (2) and Midwest Stars Blue (3) also Platinum-bound.

We'll take a look at pools E through I later this afternoon.

IAHoops Stock Report

The recruiting process is a major part of summer basketball. Players can have a big tournament and suddenly receive a ton of attention from both scouts and college coaches. On the flip side, if someone struggles at one of these events they can suddenly see interest fall off. It’s safe to say that prospects playing on the summer circuit are kind of like stock. So, let's take a look at another installment of our IAHoops Stock Report.

Name	Pos.	School	Stock
Will Artino He is a very long and athletic post with tremendous upside. Already holds Mid-Major offers, but July will certainly bring more.	C/F	Waukee
Doug McDermott Steadily improving forward who has some offers on the table and will likely snag more in the next month.	SF/PF	Ames
Isaac Gardner Big time shooter who should open some eyes if he plays well this month.	SG	Washington
Grant Lang Slick wing with a nice skill set. Keep an eye on this guy.	SG	Ankeny
Tavian Pomlee He has a great frame and is athletic, but struggles big time going to his left.	SF	Davenport Central
Zach Burnham He had some buzz going this winter, but has been non-existent on the travel team circuit. Is he done growing???	PF	Davenport Central
Anthony Shaw He's the new kid on the block as he recently moved into the state, but he's already proved to be an explosive athlete with lots of raw ability.	SG	City High

Check back with us soon as we will continue to provide updates to the IAHoops Stock Report.

What's Hot & What's Not

It's time to take a look at what's hot & what's not. That's right, we will take a look at a few prospects to see if they are currently on our hot list or if they are sliding down to the not list.

Hot	Not
Nate Buss: Created buzz with his play this spring and decided to accept an offer from UNI before he hits the road for the July evaluation period.	Jon Keller: At one time he was arguably the best shooter in the state, but over the last year it appears his interest in the game has dwindled. That said he appears to be one of the top 2-3 baseball prospects in the state.
Marcus Paige: He has played well this spring and earned himself a reputation as one of the best prospects in the country.	James Harrington: He was the freshman with the most buzz heading into the last few weeks of the high school season, but has been basically MIA since.
Josh Oglesby: All reports on him this spring have been glowing. In fact, one scouting service has him ranked in their class of 2011 Top 100 national player rankings.	Cody Ingle: Was anyone hotter during the final month of the high school season? He was a one man scoring machine for SE Polk, but has been merely average on the summer circuit.

Top 30 Prospects Regardless of Class

Earlier this spring, we brought you our rankings of the Top 30 players in the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 classes. Now, we will take a look at who the top players regardless of their class. These rankings are based upon what the player did for his high school team, how they have performed with their summer team and their potential to play at the collegiate level.

1. Harrison Barnes (2010) 6-6 SF Ames
Easily the top prospect in Iowa!
2. Brennan Cougill (2009) 6-9 C SC Heelan
Big bodied post with great hands and soft touch.
3. Eric May (2009) 6-4 SF Dubuque Wahlert
Strong wing who loves to attack the rim.
4. Seth Van Deest (2009) 6-9 C Bettendorf
Late bloomer with a lot of potential.
5. Matt Morrison (2009) 6-1 PG Solon
Lefty who can stroke it or run the show efficiently.
6. Zach Bohannon (2009) 6-7 PF Linn-Mar
Skilled forward who has a very high hoops IQ.
7. Zach McCabe (2010) 6-6 SF SC Heelan
Does a little of everything and does it well.
8. Gabe Knutson (2009) 6-8 PF Waukee
A force on the blocks, but can take it outside too.
9. Nate Hutcheson (2009) 6-7 SF Linn-Mar
Great frame and athletic ability.
10. Malcolm Moore (2009) 6-7 C IC High
Powerful presence in the paint.
11. Rasham Suarez (2011) 6-3 PG Findlay Prep (NV)
Dynamic guard who can score and defend.
12. Wesley Staten (2012) 6-1 PG SC West
Terrific athlete who thrives on the dribble drive.
13. Reece Uhlenhopp (2009) 6-7 PF Urbandale
Blue-collar athlete who just gets it done.
14. Marcus Heemstra (2010) 6-9 SF Rock Valley
Skilled forward with a lot of upside.
15. Tucker Wentzien (2009) 6-7 SF Solon
Has the frame, game and potential to be very good.
16. Amry Shelby (2009) 5-9 PG Marion
Runs the show & score in bunches, if he were only taller.
17. Marcus Paige (2012) 5-11 PG Linn-Mar
Silky-smooth lead guard who has a bright future.
18. Jordan Dykstra (2010) 6-8 PF Rock Valley
Skilled face up post with nice jumper.
19. Josh Oglesby (2011) 6-5 CG CR Washington
Big guard who can handle, pass and shoot.
20. Chanse Creekmur (2010) 6-5 SF Marshalltown
Good shooter with nice size.
21. Cliff Warner (2009) 5-10 PG Pella Christian
Small, but quick lead guard who brings it.
22. Trevor Woltersdorff (2009) 6-5 SG Hull W. Christian
Big guard who can score.
23. Doug McDermott (2010) 6-6 SF Ames
Can shoot, but brings energy with gritty play at hoop.
24. Grant Lange (2011) 6-4 SG Ankney
Lanky wing who can handle, shoot and attack rim.
25. Adam Woodbury (2012) 6-8 C SC East
Best young big man in state... tons of potential.
26. Alex Dorr (2009) 6-6 SF Norwalk
When he gets it going he can put up points in a hurry.
27. Nate Buss (2010) 6-8 SF Charles City
Long and skilled, but just scratching the surface.
28. Shawn Keizer (2009) 6-3 SG Hull W. Christian
Tough as nails kid who hits shots.
29. John Puk (2009) 6-9 C Waterloo West
Late bloomer who has lots of room to improve.
30. Matt Bohannon (2011) 6-1 SG Linn-Mar
Nice looking guard who has great bloodlines.

Note: We pride ourselves on having seen each and every player we have ranked in order to make the best possible evaluation of their abilities and potential at the college level.

IAHoops Stock Report

The recruiting process is a major part of summer basketball. Players can have a big tournament and suddenly receive a ton of attention from both scouts and college coaches. On the flip side, if someone struggles at one of these events they can suddenly see interest fall off. It’s safe to say that prospects playing on the summer circuit are kind of like stock. So, we have decided to take a look at where some of the players with D-I potential stand in the latest IAHoops Stock Report.

Name	Pos.	School	Stock
Harrison Barnes Vaulted to top of national rankings and holding steady.	SF	Ames
Jordan Dykstra Lacks explosion and mean streak, but has nice face up skills.	C/F	Rock Valley
Nate Buss Long and skilled wing with tremendous upside.	SF	Charles City
Josh Oglesby This kid can really make plays and shoots it at a high level.	PG	CR Washington
Corey Schaefer Solid all-around guard, but a little on the small side.	PG	Johnston
Reggie White Has ideal frame for high major wing, but is still raw.	SF	DSM Hoover
Marcus Paige Really smooth lefty who has nice hoops IQ.	PG	Linn-Mar
Adam Woodbury A little stiff, but he is big and can finish with both hands.	C/F	SC East
Wesley Staten We know the kid can play, but nobody sees him because he plays in Kansas.	PG	SC West

Check back with us soon as we will continue to provide updates to the IAHoops Stock Report.

What's Hot & What's Not

In this day and age it's all about tends. Everyone is playing the hottest new jams, rocking the latest sneakers, etc. So, we decided to feed into this "what have you done for me lately" attitude and created this feature that will track the latest trends. So, let's take a look at what's hot & what's not.

Hot	Not
Harrison Barnes: He is the #1 ranked prospect in the country! He has been invited to every major elite level national camp in the country where he is certain to be the headliner.	Chanse Creekmur: The buzz on him was big time last summer, but in recent months he the buzz has quieted and he just isn't making the same waves as he did a year ago.
Summer Camps: June is a big month for basketball team camps and individual elite camps. The top players from around the state will likely participate in many of these this month.	Summer School: After spending the last 9 months in school the last thing anyone wants to do is take summer school courses. This is the time of the year when kids want to hang out with friends at the pool, play baseball and attend sports camps.
A.J. Derby: He is one of the hottest prospects in the country - football prospects that is. He has a who's who of colleges who have offered him a scholarship and he has already accepted an invite to play in the US Army All-American game in January.	A.J. Derby: It wasn't that long ago that he was considered the top hoops prospect in the state as well as a top nationally rated prospect. He's still pretty darn good, but it's obvious that he is a much better football prospect who has potential to earn a paycheck some day on the gridiron.

Mid-Term Report: Iowa Mavericks Black

The travel team circuit is at the midway point of the season, so we thought we would take a look at some of the top 17U teams from around the state and see how they have performed and where they will be later on this summer.

Iowa Mavericks Black (18-7)
Results so far:
Knickerbocker/Cornshark Shootout: 5-0 (Champions)
Pump-N-Run Spring Showcase: 0-4
Mid-America Classic: 4-1 (Runner-up)
17U AAU: 4-1 (Runner-up)
Spiece Memorial Day Run-N-Slam: 4-1

Upcoming events:
Schoolers Summer Classic
Next Level Invitational
Chicago Summer Classic
Nike Main Event

Key players: Tayler Bontrager, Andrew Wirth, Kyle Rodgers, Alex Vogel

Say What… Who are these guys? Seriously, most people would guess that the Attack, Barnstormers or Martin Brothers would have strong seasons going up against top regional and national competition, but the Iowa Mavericks? Well, say what you want to about these guys but they have gone out and taken care of business this spring. They have yet to have a signature win over a big program, but they have beaten all others. From all accounts, Taylor Bontrager and Andrew Wirth have been deadly from behind the arc almost all spring long. If these guys get hot they can beat anyone. Looking ahead, the team faces a very tough schedule. We will find out how good these guys are in the coming weeks.

Last Words… Nobody expects these guys to keep up their wining ways, but if they can even come close they will solidify their position as one of the top teams in Iowa.

Mid-Term Report: All-Iowa Attack Red

The travel team circuit is at the midway point of the season, so we thought we would take a look at some of the top 17U teams from around the state and see how they have performed and where they will be later on this summer.

All-Iowa Attack Red (16-11)
Results so far:
Swish & Dish: 2-3
Real Deal in the Rock: 3-1
String Music Showcase: 3-3
Jayhawk Invitational: 5-0 (Champions)
Sabes Invitational: 1-2
Festival of Teams: 2-2

Upcoming Events:
Manhattan Classic
Next Level Invitational
Chicago Summer Classic
Summer Jam
Hoops City
Price Chopper

Key players: Branden Stubbs, Zach McCabe, Donivine Stewart, TrayVonnWright

Say What… The Attack hasn't lived up to the hype so far this spring, but did manage to get into a groove in Kansas City when they rolled through the field at the Jayhawk Invitational capturing the title there. The #1 prospect in the country, Harrison Barnes, was probably the biggest reason for their success in KC as he was very good all tournament long. Reports say that McCabe has also been playing very well for the Attack as he has had to be the "go-to" guy more often than not since Barnes has missed time to play with Howard Pulley. From the way it looks McCabe better get used to it because it appears Barnes has left the Attack program! Without Barnes, this is still a talented team who is capable of winning a lot of games. TrayVonn Wright is with his third team in as many years, but is playing well in his new surroundings. Also, don't forget that these guys also have a nice prospect from Illinois, Donivine Stewart, running with them this summer. If this group can gel they will be tough to stop.

Last Words… Did Barnes quit because of a busy schedule, because Howard Pulley is better, or because of a falling out with Coach Sullivan??? No matter the reason, it's just too bad Barnes won't be playing for an Iowa team as it would do nothing but help improve outsiders view on the talent within our borders.

Mid-Term Report: Iowa Barnstormers

The travel team circuit is at the midway point of the season, so we thought we would take a look at some of the top 17U teams from around the state and see how they have performed and where they will be later on this summer.

Iowa Barnstormers (18-8)
Results so far:
19U AAU: 2-1 (Champions)
Badger City Classic: 3-2
Pump-N-Run Spring Showcase: 4-1
Spiece Hensley Memorial Classic: 3-2
Mid-America Classic: 5-0 (Champions)
Nike Eagles Invitational: 1-2

Upcoming Events:
Next Level Invitational
Chicago Summer Classic
Nike Main Event
Price Chopper

Key players: Quincy King, Isaac Gardner, Nate Buss, Rasham Suarez (2011)

Say What… This team has been somewhat of a surprise considering they lack the star power that others have. That said this group of kids have quietly put together a nice run so far this spring. Suarez was reportedly very good in helping to lead the team to the semifinals at the Pump-N-Run Spring Showcase. Then at Spiece, Gardner used his marksmanship to help the team to a solid run before running into a Boo Williams team laced with all sorts of D-1 talent. Then, Buss performed well in being named all-tournament at the Nike Eagles Invitational. So, it appears these guys are taking turns with the hot hand. They have a pretty tough road ahead of them, but if they do well they can finish with a bang!

Last Words… King has been slowed by a bum ankle, but we hear he's back to 100%. If this kid learns to manage the game and play hard at both ends he can attract some D-1 interest this summer.

Mid-Term Report: IBCA Select

The travel team circuit is at the midway point of the season, so we thought we would take a look at some of the top 17U teams from around the state and see how they have performed and where they will be later on this summer.

IBCA (9-6 overall)
Results so far:
Knickerbockers/Cornshark Classic: 3-3
IBCA Classic: 4-1 (Champions)
17U AAU: 2-2

Upcoming Events:
Mr. Basketball Minnesota Showcase
Dakota Showcase
Price Chopper

Key players: Bryce Irlbeck, Brock Dagel, T.J. Van Dyke

Say What… This program is a shadow of what it used to be in years past. However, they have kept it going and still have a few nice players. This year, they won their own tournament and have been competitive in other events. They have some tough events on the schedule, so if they can finish strong it will be really good summer for them.

Last Words… Rumor has it that IBCA might have Marcus Heemstra play with them this summer. That would be huge for them.

Mid-Term Report: Martin Bros.

The travel team circuit is at the midway point of the season, so we thought we would take a look at some of the top 17U teams from around the state and see how they have performed and where they will be later on this summer.

Martin Brothers Select (13-10 overall)
Results so far:
19U AAU: 1-2
Real Deal in the Rock: 3-2
Spiece Hensley Memorial: 3-3
17U AAU: 5-0 (Champions)
Manhatten Classic: 1-3

Future Events:
Rumble in Bronx
Hoosier Shootout
Chicago Summer Classic
AAU Nationals

Key players: Tyler Putz, Cody Ingle, Doug McDermott, Jordan Dykstra

Say What… It wasn't long ago that this was clearly the top program in Iowa. However, that was then and this is now. This year's team might only be the third best team in the state. That said, they still went out and dominated a watered down 17U tournament and have also competed quite well against some very good national competition. From all accounts, McDermott has been nothing short of spectacular. This kid gives this team a chance to win almost any game they play. Iowa State recruit, Jordan Dykstra, has also had some nice moments this spring. The road ahead has some tough competition, but if these guys can get on a roll they can finish the summer in impressive fashion.

Last Words… Freshman phenom, Marcus Paige, suited up for the 17U tournament and performed well. Don't be surprised to see him join this group on a more regular basis this summer!

Weekend Recap- May 2-3, 2009

Last weekend was a great weekend for AAU action! Two of the biggest spring tournaments in the Midwest... the Jayhawk Invitational and the Spiece Hensley Memorial... were held, and the top Iowa AAU programs were in attendance.

We've been able to hear how many of the teams in action fared over the weekend, but we know many of you reading were in attendance at one or the other... please feel free to add results that we missed, or comment on what you saw!

On another note, I wish all tournaments posted their results and brackets like Spiece Fieldhouse, the National AAUs, etc. It makes it really fun to follow the Iowa teams along and see how they do.

Jayhawk Invitational

Harrison Barnes put on a show, and lead the All Iowa Attack to the 17U crown. Zach McCabe also looked very solid hitting jumpers and being able to get some work done inside too. According to Scout.com, Barnes lived up to the hype of being named #1. The AIA knocked off KC Pump-N-Run who had won the event 4 previous times. They beat Compton Magic and Atlanta Celtics to get to final. Of note... most of the Kansas University men's basketball team came to a game to show Barnes some love! Harrison was selected as the MVP of the tournament, and Zach McCabe made all-tourney.

We haven't heard how the 16U and 15U Attack teams did at the Jayhawk, but we know they had two teams playing at each age division last weekend. Hopefully, someone can fill us in.

Spiece Hensley Memorial

The Barnstormers 17s won their pool, going 2-1 but winning the tie-breaker. In tournament play, they beat Randolph Boys Club (WI) in the first round, only to meet a loaded Boo Williams squad with several ACC committments in the Sweet 16. They kept it close, only being down 1 at the half, but Boo Williams pulled away at the end. They finished 3-2.

The Martin Brothers Select 17s went 1-2 in their pool, which put them in the Silver (consolation) bracket. They made the most of their time out there, though, and won two tournament play games to make it to the Elite 8 of the Silver bracket, before losing a close game to a very good Michigan Hurricanes team. They finished 3-3.

The Barnstormers 16s won their pool, finishing 3-0, including a forfeit over the Michigan Hurricanes, who didn't show up on Friday night. They advanced to the all the way to the Final 4 of the tournament, beating the Milwaukee Spartans, Florida Elite, and Spiece Indy Fast Break, before losing to the eventual champions, Indiana Elite, in the semi-finals. They finished 6-1.

The Martin Brothers 16s went 2-1 in their pool, finishing in second place after a tough opening loss to the Illinois Titans. They lost in the first round of the Gold bracket to the Peoria Irish, who made it to the Sweet 16. MB 16s finished 2-2.

The Martin Brothers 15s had a great tournament, finishing 3-0 in pool play and advancing to the Final 4 of the tournament with wins over the Playground Warriors (WI), Full Package (IL), and the Illinois Warriors, before losing to the Spiece Indy Heat in the semis. They finished 6-1.

The Barnstormers 15s went 2-1 in their pool, advancing to the Gold bracket, but lost in the first round of tournament play to the Grand Rapids Storm, who went on to the Final 4 of the tournament. They finished 2-2.

IBCA Classic

We haven't seen results from the IBCA Classic yet, but the IBCA 17s and 16s were involved, as well as the Western Iowa Knickerbockers and Iowa Cornsharks. If anyone knows what happend in Fort Dodge last weekend, let us know!

Bound 4 Glory Invitatonal

Bound 4 Glory also hosted their own tournament in Cedar Falls over the weekend... we haven't seen any results yet from that.

We'll update the article as soon as we hear how everyone did!

How Does Barnes Rank Among the All-Time Greatest?

At IAHoops, we often wonder where Harrison Barnes ranks among the greatest players in the state of Iowa's history. So, we compiled a list of the greatest players who have played high school ball here in Iowa during the last twenty years and see how Barnes stacks up. The following list will count down the Top 20 players over the past twenty years. Please keep in mind that this list features only those who played high school ball in Iowa and the rankings are based upon the players HS career, but also some bonus points go to those who performed well at the college and professional levels.

Rank	Name	Height	Town/School	Awards/Honors	Accomplishments
#20.	Mike Davis	6-5	Waterloo/ East	Mr. Bball, All-State, Gatorade POY	Helped lead East to the title in 1990. Until Barnes came along he was the only non-senior to win the Gatorade POY award when he did so in 1998.
#19.	Brooks McKowen	6-2	Fairbank/ Wapsie Valley	Mr. Bball, All-State	Only player in Iowa HS history to score more than 1,000 pts in a season. Finished with 2,831 career pts which is the most in state history. Went on to have a solid career at UNI.
#18.	Justin Wessel	6-9	Cedar Rapids/ Prairie	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Scored nearly 2,000 pts in HS and led his team to a title. He then went on to be part of a national championship team at the University of Arizona.
#17.	Ryan Bowen	6-9	Ft. Madison	All-State	Scored over 1,500 pts, grabbed more than 700 rebounds in HS. Was good at Iowa and been able to play in the NBA for 10+ years.
#16.	Matt Gatens	6-4	Iowa City/ City High	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Scored nearly 2,000 pts and lead his team to a 4A title. Named to Big Ten All-Freshman team.
#15.	Adam Spanich	6-7	Cedar Rapids/ Regis	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-Sate	Prolific scorer who is among those in the "50-pt Club." Went on to star at USC.
#14.	Jason Bohannon	6-2	Marion/ Linn-Mar	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	He wins everywhere he goes. Scored nearly 1,700 pts & helped Linn-Mar to win two state titles. Has had a good career at Wisconsin.
#13.	Chris Street	6-8	Indianola	All-State, Gatorade POY	Was a big timeplayer in HS, but was doing even better at Iowa and likely onward to the NBA. His legacy lives on with the "Hustle Award" given a deserving player at Iowa.
#12.	Loren Meyer	6-10	Ruthven/ Ruthven-Ayrshire	All-State	He put up video game like stats in HS with nearly 2,000 pts, more than 1,000 rebounds and almost 400 blocks. He starred at Iowa St and played a handful of years in the NBA.
#11.	Ricky Davis	6-7	Davenport/ North	All-State	Blew up in final two seasons at North. Played in Magic Johnson Roundball Classic and then spent one season at Iowa before going to the NBA where he's had an up and down career.
#10.	Greg Brunner	6-7	Charles City	All-State	Selected for Jordan Brand All-Star game before going on to have a terrific career at Iowa.
#9.	Glen Worley	6-7	Iowa City/ West	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Was one of the top players in the country after leading his team to a title as a frosh. Never lived up to the hype, but had a solid collegiate career at Iowa.
#8.	Jeff Horner	6-3	Mason City	Mr. Bball, All-State	Committed to Iowa as a frosh and then had fantastic HS career. Turned out to be one of the top players to put on an Iowa jersey.
#7.	Dean Oliver	5-11	Mason City	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Stellar HS player who helped team win a couple titles and then went on to be a four year starter at Iowa. One of the all-time Hawkeye greats.
#6.	Fred Hoiberg	6-4	Ames	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	The Mayor exploded his junior and senior seasons at Ames and then stayed at home to star at Iowa State. He went on to have a steady, but good, NBA career.
#5.	Harrison Barnes	6-6	Ames	Gatorade POY	One of only two juniors to win the Gatorade POY, helped his team win a state championship as a junior and is the highest rated prospect to ever come out of Iowa.
#4.	Kirk Hinrich	6-3	Sioux City/ West	Mr. Bball, All-State	Helped Sioux City West win a state title before being an All-American at Kansas and has a nice thing going with the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Was also a member of Team USA in 2006.
#3.	Jess Settles	6-8	Winfield/ Winfield/Mt. Union	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Scored nearly 2,200 pts to go with over 1,000 rebounds in HS. Was Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Iowa and had a solid career despite chronic back problems. Had his career not been derailed by injuries how good would he have been?
#2.	Nick Collison	6-10	Iowa Falls	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Helped lead his HS team to a 101-1 record and 4 straight state titles. Was a McDonald's All-American in HS. Then starred at Kansas where he was All-American and NABC National POY as a senior. He was a member of the 2003 Team USA World Championship team that won Gold. He is currently having a good career with the NBA's Oklahoma Thunder.
#1.	Raef LaFrentz	6-11	Monona/ MFL-Mar-Mac	Mr. Bball, Gatorade POY, All-State	Scored more than 2,100 pts and grabbed more than 1,000 rbs in HS. Was a Parade, McDonald's, and USA Today All-American. He starred at Kansas and was named First Team All-American as a junior and senior and was Big 12 POY his last two years as a Jayhawk. He was selected #3 in the 1998 NBA Draft and has had a pretty good professional career despite numerous injuries.

Right now, we have Barnes checking in at #5 on our list. Through his junior season, he has compiled nearly 1,000 points and over 400 rebounds. That might not sound impressive compared to others on the list, but he only played 3 quarters during most of his games this season as his team went 25-0 (margin of victory was about 30 ppg) and captured a state title. Just taking ball park figures it is our guess that Barnes will finish his career with about 1,600 points and nearly 700 rebounds… and a shot at a second straight state title.

However, there is some speculation that Barnes may attend a boarding/prep school next year in order to better challenge himself on the court while also preparing him for what it's like to live away from home and balance school with travelling across the country to compete. If goes this route it won't diminish the fact that he will go down as one of the all-time greats in Iowa HS hoops history.

In fact, if he goes onto experience similar levels of success in college as those on the list above him and eventually have a career in the NBA he could jump to the top spot. However, we will let the young man put in the work and see if he lives up to his and everyone else's expectations. This is often easier said than done, but Barnes seems like the type of kid who will exceed expectations and blaze his own trail.

So, support this young man no matter where he goes because this is a kid who will make all Iowans proud. Good luck HB… we'll be watching.