Hoops Roundup: Iowa Edition 1

We’ll take some trips around the state as the playoffs start to look at some impact players on different teams. Our first stop is at: Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, and Iowa City Liberty.

Des Moines Hoover

Chase Henderson is a 6’0 Sophomore point guard developing into an elite decision-maker. He can shoot off the dribble or catch. His offensive versatility keeps the defense on its heels. Chase makes his teammates better and already shows tremendous leadership capability. He is currently averaging 17 points and 5 assists per game.

Manny Austin is a 6’3” shooting guard who competes on both ends of the court. Manny is as an aggressive a guard as you can find. He relentlessly attacks the basket. His efforts do put him in foul trouble at times which can cause major trouble for Hoover as he is their best defender. He has improved as a shooter with current splits of 44/41/80. 

Jaden Loveless is a 6’3” Senior stretch four. He excels in catch-and-shoot situations. Jaden has a strong frame which helps him be a great defensive rebounder. He can guard the 3-5. He is a player that can spark a team back in the game. 

Des Moines Lincoln

Trovary Cavil is a 5’9” freshman floor general that can shoot from 28 ft out. He had a ton of assists in the games we watched but failed to get much scoring momentum. Trovary is quick but can struggle with guards with huge wingspans as he lacks the size right now as a freshman. He should overcome this as he grows and develops over his HS career. He is averaging 14.7 PPG which is good for first on the team. His development will be fun to watch as 4 years of CIML ball usually irons out a star.

Ja’Vion Bell is a 6’4” Freshman forward with crazy upside. He has been developing a post game and is already great at finishing from anywhere off the catch. He’s currently averaging 7 points and 6 rebounds a game.

Jaryen Graham is a 6’0” Senior Combo Guard. He is one of the vets on the team that provides hustle plays all game long. Jaryen has the ability to bring the ball up the court and can switch to the 3 to attack from the wing. He currently shoots 48% from the field. This team lacks shooting and if Jaryen could hit a couple threes each game that would be a major help. 

Iowa City Liberty

Ethan Odonell is a 6’5” power forward who is very versatile offensively. He is able to get the defense off their feet with fakes and finishes through contact. One way Liberty may look to win games is by Ethan getting opposing bigs in foul trouble. A college weight program could really make a difference for him. 

Ira Hazeltine is a 6’0 shooting guard. He is an elite shooter that hits threes at a 40% clip. He is a shifty player that can make players miss on the way to the basket. His quick release makes it hard for defenders to close out in time. 

Basil Aldoss is a 6’3” point guard that always makes the right play. He has the ability to score more than he does, but Liberty’s offense has been slow as of late. He leads the team in assists and steals. He’s also averaging 9 points a game. Basil has the tools to play college basketball.