Class 2019: Top Posts

The game has evolved into a guard’s game with the 3 point shot.  Post play is still a valuable part of the game, and height can help a team dominate a game.  Class of 2019 has some top  prospects, with commitments to Minnesota, UNI, South Dakota State, Minnesota State Mankato and Truman State.  Here are six of our top posts for Class of 2019.

Grace Cumming – Des Moines Roosevelt

Nagging tendinitis and back problems sidelined Grace Cumming in January of her sophomore year.  Rest and an off season strengthening program brings her back to great health to start her junior year.  Before junior year starts, Cumming commits to University of Minnesota.  Future was looking bright for this 6’3″ post.  Then six games into the season, she is injured and has to have knee surgery.  Grace Cumming has seen her share of adversity, and came back to play with Kingdom Hoops in July.

Knee is fine and she is playing as well as she did when she grabbed attention from D1 college coaches.  She is  a tall strong post, but also possesses great mobility.  Mobility that not only allows her to make great moves in the paint, but also get up and down the floor.  Her freshman year she led her team in scoring and rebounding, and we expect her to be right on track leading Roosevelt this year.

Sara McCullough – Ankeny 

Sara McCullough enters her senior year just 301 points shy of that illustrious 1000 career point mark.  After averaging 16.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg last year, she should surpass that mark.  She will be leading a much more experienced Ankeny Hawk team this year, so look for those numbers to increase this year.  This UNI commit is a long lankey 6’1″ post who does great job positioning herself to score.  With ability to get open and post moves to finish, McCullough should post some big numbers this year.  Very quick on her feet, and long reach aids her on the defensive side as well. Averaging 30.0 blocks each season she has played for Ankeny, opponents should be aware when entering the lane against McCullough this season.

Emily Holterhaus – Pella

Emily Holterhaus may be committed to UNI for volleyball, but she is a force on the basketball court also.  She has been in the varsity lineup all three years for Pella, and has two trips to State under her belt.  This 6’1″ center is strong, but very quick feet for her size.  She uses her size on the offense, posting her defender up with text book form.  With her strong frame, she not only finishes in the lane, but positions herself well for the boards.

If you stop her from the inside, watch out because this post has an outside game as well.  Able to knock down the open 3, and just as efficient off the dribble.  Last year she averaged a double double with 16.8 ppg and 11.3 rpg.  With long wind span and quick feet, she helps Pella on the defensive side as well.  In their full court press, she often is at top of their press causing opposing guards fits with her long arms on the trap.  She had 52 steals on the season last year, but also caused many turnovers that did not end up on her stat line.

Regan Nesheim – Johnston

A South Dakota State commit, Regan Nesheim not only can score, but she does it efficiently.  She scored 12.3 ppg last season on 60.7% shooting.  Her Johnston team advanced to State her sophomore year, and got to the semi-final last year.  A third trip could happen again this Winter with teammate Maya McDermott and Nesheim forming a great inside, outside combo.

She was also a force in other areas of the floor averaging 7.0 rpg, 2 apg, 2.76 spg, and 1.0 bpg.  That type of stat line in a very talented lineup shows her all around play for the Dragons.  With her lanky frame she is able to get up and down the floor with ease.  She uses her wingspan to tip balls and is scrappy enough to dive for the loose balls.  Look for strong stat line from Nesheim this year as she leads the Dragons in her final year.

Carah Drees – Westwood

Coming into her senior year, Carah Drees has an impressive stat line from her first three years as a varsity player. Minnesota State Mankato is getting a great all around recruit in Drees.   As a junior she averaged 20.2 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 7.68 bpg, 2.86 apg, and 1.81 spg.  Going into her senior year she has already crossed the 1000 point barrier (1061 points), is 329 rebounds away from 1000 career rebounds, and just 102 blocks away from 500 career blocks!

She moves well without the ball inside and outside the lane.  Great moves from inside able to go left or right, but don’t be surprised to see her shoot the 3.  Shooting 37.9% from 3 point line causes defenders to close out hard on this 6’1″ post.  Her ability to put the ball on the floor leaves defenders in the dust as she drives right past them for the easy bucket.  With great ball handling skills, don’t be surprised to see her bringing the ball up against the press.  As great of a scorer as she is, on the defensive side she makes it difficult for opponents amassing a total of 398 blocks in her 3 years with Westwood.

Alex Wiese – Iowa City Regina

Alex Wiese tore her ACL just before State last year, but that isn’t stopping this Truman State commit.  Wiese is really effective with her back to the basket, and feels at home in the lane.   She has a real knack for finding the ball, which aided in her 10.6 rpg average last year.  Passing 1000 career points last year as a junior proves she is a scorer.  She averaged 15.4 ppg last year, and has had a double double in 66 high school games.  Wiese can hit consistently from the outside in the 16 foot range, and is also able to score off the dribble.  She has helped guide Regina to the state tournament all three years, twice getting to semi – finals.  Regina is returning over 50% of their offense from last year, so another trip to the Well could be in her future.