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.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, October 9, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Class of 2013 - Players to Watch
Although we feel it is too early to “rank” the Class of 2013 (Current 9th 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)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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.
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.
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