State Tournament: 2019 Evaluations Part I

As we continue our wrap-up of the Iowa State Tournament, we are unveiling our evaluations for players in the senior class. Among all classes we have 139 total evaluations with 44 of those in the senior class. This isn’t an exhaustive list of everyone in the class at the event, but rather who played well or for extended minutes that we were able to get an eye on. This is Part I of III. <hr /> Sarah Heilesen – 5’11 F – Denison-Schleswig Heilesen is a rather mobile forward who can score at a high rate at the rim. She played well in the one game that I saw. She can make plays for others on the floor and keeps her head up when fed the ball in the post. I really think that she has the ability to do a lot of things really well on the court. Emma Veenstra – 5’10 W – Des Moines Christian Veenstra was hot all game long. She is a hard-working player who doesn’t stop working. Isn’t too athletic but is a player who just knows how to play the game. Skilled with the ball and does a good job of sucking in the defense and passing it out to a shooter. Really skilled off of the catch. Kaili Lawson – 6’1 C – Des Moines Christian Strong inside presence who plays well in the high post. Carves out space really well and can score from 12’ and in well. Has a few post moves but is best at either backing her man in, or popping it from the top of the key. Could improve her rebounding though as a lot of her rebounds are because she’s just taller. Rylie Rucker – 5’7 G – North Scott Rucker is a player who plays with a ton of energy and the ability to change the game on both ends of the floor. She can knock down shots from the outside but she also has the ability to grab a lot of steals on the defensive end. A really smart player who will put her body on the line for her teammates. Chloe Engelkes – 5’7 G – North Scott Engelkes really surprised me with just how slick her jumper is. Made a few jumpers going to her left and knocked down quite a few open 3-pointers. I thought that she really played well the entire week even though she struggled defensively at times. Engelkes is a solid shooter who does it well off the drive or the catch. Macy Harris – 5’7 G – Grinnell Harris is a lengthy guard who can really pressure the ball on defense but also has the ability to get out and score. Good passer who knows what plays to make with the ball at all times. Sometimes can struggle with the shot but is a vocal leader on the floor. Committed to Wartburg. Naomi Jackson – 5’7 W – Grinnell Jackson is a wing who can really shoot the ball. Didn’t look to drive off the wings as much as I would have thought, but the ability to do so is in her arsenal. Solid ball-handler who can really keep poised in the face of pressure. Not too bad of a defender either but seems to move her feet just a little slow at times. Committed to WashU. Megan Meyer – 5’9 G – Mason City Meyer is a really quick twitch guard with the ability to shoot it from deep. I really like her grit and desire to get to the rim and finish. She plays with a lot of finesse and finishes well at the rim despite being a thin guard. I do wonder how her finishing will translate at times though against more skilled inside players. Committed to Iowa. Anna Lensing – 5’8 W – Mason City Lensing is a very good wing who is tough and willing to get down in the paint to disrupt the opposing offense. I really liked how she played the entire two games of the week. She doesn't turn the ball over and she has the vision to pass the ball all over the floor. She would have been a very solid small college player. Committed to North Iowa Area CC (softball). Leah Van Weelden – 5’9 G – Marion Van Weelden is one who is going to be pretty steady throughout the entire game. She can make outside shots, but doesn’t really create to score the ball. Solid passer who doesn’t make a ton of mistakes. Could improve defensively as her feet seemed just a little slow today. Emily Jasper – 5’8 F – Cedar Rapids Xavier Jasper was fairly solid throughout the entire game. Struggled to finish at the rim with length around her, but she is a very good rebounder. Knows where the ball is going to come off the rim and moves there before the shot comes off. Good motor with knowledge of the game. Josie Condon – 5’9 G – Estherville-Lincoln Central Condon is a really lengthy guard who has the ability to go off at any time. Really like her length going to the basket and she can shoot it a bit as well. While I don’t think she has the ability to lock down on defense quite yet, that potential is definitely there. Really enjoyed seeing her play well. Committed to Briar Cliff. Maddie Ahlstrom – 5’4 PG – Waukon Ahlstrom is a knock down shooter from the guard spot. I really like her offensive ability, she doesn’t attack the basket often and isn’t one that is going to take you off the dribble but rather step out and shoot it. I question the athleticism and whether or not she will be able to guard effectively at the next level. Committed to Grand View. DeeDee Pryor – 5’7 PG – Urbandale Pryor was a beast early on in the game as she was getting to the rim at a high clip and was also creating a ton of trouble on defense. She is a really good guard that can really run with the ball, but she also has the ability to slow it down. Tremendous foot speed with the ball and ability to blow by defenders. Quick hands on defense as well allowing her to rip a ton of balls away. Committed to Creighton.