Pre-season Preview: All-State First Team Predictions – 3A
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Below you will read about my top five players by position that I can foresee having an elite campaign during the 22′-23′ season, all while pushing their individual teams into having a successful year. Point Guard: Haylee Stokes Haylee Stokes…
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Continue ReadingBelow you will read about my top five players by position that I can foresee having an elite campaign during the 22′-23′ season, all while pushing their individual teams into having a successful year.
Point Guard: Haylee Stokes Haylee Stokes 5'6" | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2025 State IA
Haylee Stokes Haylee Stokes 5’6″ | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2025 State IA recorded a good amount of scoring for her high school team during the 21′-22′ season on the way to becoming the 3A state champions. Stokes, an all around complete point guard, contributed in every category she could last year, ending the season averaging 16.8 PPG and 3.1 APG for The Midgets. When you watch Stokes play she has the “it” factor at the point guard position. She is a strong dribbler who is right hand dominate but tends to dribble going left more often than not. She can finish on both sides of the hoop but prefers to go up on the left a majority of the time, if you over play her she will hit you with a good spin move keeping everyone off balance. She possesses a solid jump shot which is rarely used because she usually blows by her defender for an easy bucket or assist off the dribble. As the years go on she will show really how well she can control her team and run the show. Her team isn’t favored to repeat coming back this season but to get close to the championship game again. It’ll be fun to see where they end up and how far their point guard can take them.
Shooting Guard: Ava Eastlick
Ava Eastlick
Ava Eastlick
The EBF High School Rockets had a successful season a year ago, losing in their regional champion game to Ballard high school who would eventually go on to the state championship, capping off their season with a 18-6 overall record, 10-2 in conference. What usually goes along with starting two freshman is inexperience but you’d never be able to tell that the Rockets were doing that last season. One of those freshman being Ava Eastlick. Eastlick is a shooter who started and made an instant impact for her team a year ago. She was one of the highest percentage three point shooters in the state, making 62 of 180 shots from behind the arc in 24 games. This year herself and the Rockets will have a state championship as their season goal in mind, if Ava can become more versatile than just a lights out shooter while everyone does their job, they will have a good shot at that.
Combo Guard: Molly Shafer Molly Shafer 6'0" | PF Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2025 State IA
Molly Shafer Molly Shafer 6’0″ | PF Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont | 2025 State IA is a tricky player to evaluate as she has height and good length with the skill set and ceiling to be an elite guard at any level. Shafer, the 6’0 combo forward, was reeking havoc on her competition as a freshman, averaging 13.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, and grabbing 117 steals in just 24 games. Ranking her 2nd in overall steals in 3A. After seeing that stat line you would wonder what her game is like, and let me just say, physical. During the 21′-22′ season she attempted 125 free throws, making 75. Using her dynamic skill set mixed with her physical presence showed to be no match for anyone defending her near the basket. With giant upside going into the future and having 3 years to grow her game, when it is side and done, I would be shocked if she is not a D1 committed athlete. Someone who welcomes contact so much with the ability to knock down free throws and make lay ups through contact is someone any college coach would love in their program.
Forward: Gracie Schoonhoven Gracie Schoonhoven 5'11" | PF Unity Christian | 2023 State IA
Gracie Schoonhoven Gracie Schoonhoven 5’11” | PF Unity Christian | 2023 State IA and Unity Christian High School will return as the 3A favorites to win it all during the 22′-23′ season after having a very successful year ending at state last winter. Schoonhoven is the complete stretch forward that everyone wants one their squad. Leading 3A in scoring, ranking 2nd in assists, and being first in field goals made was just scratching the surface of what she can do for her team. When you watch her play the most impressive things to talk about other then the obviously superior basketball skill is the stats that don’t show up on paper, such as hustle, tipping passes, and getting on the ground first for a loose ball. She plays with all these intangible attributes every single possession, willing her team to success most of the time. This season for her senior year she will attempt to compete at the same level from a year ago with it ending in a championship. It won’t be easy but they could get it done.
Center: Katy Reyerson Katy Reyerson 6'2" | PF West Marshall | 2023 State IA
Katy Reyerson Katy Reyerson 6’2″ | PF West Marshall | 2023 State IA and the West Marshall Trojans ended their season short last year at the regional championship against Rolling-Story High School. This may of been a disappoint for Reyerson and company but that shouldn’t over shadow how well of a year they had and the foundation they set in place so that they can be a successful program in the long run. Reyerson was an overpowering force against her competition at the center position during the 21′-22′ season, averaging a double double with 19.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 4.3 APG. This ranked her 2nd in overall scoring and 1st in overall rebounds in the 3A class throughout the state of Iowa. The biggest part of Reyerson’s game comes down to rebounding the basketball. Equipped with the understanding of good timing, great athleticism, an aggressive play style and high motor make her a coach’s dream at the center position. At the college level Reyerson will most likely be asked to play the forward position depending on what level she commits too but this change won’t impact her style of play or production.