Leveling up: prospects making strides this season

While everyone loves reading about show-stopping, eye-catching stats from huge performances (myself included), I believe just as much praise should go to the players who have put their head down, put the work in the offseason, and just continually show improvement as the seasons progress. Players who have proven they are reliable, consistent, and efficient with the minutes given to them in a game. Here are five players from across the state who have shown improvement from years prior and deserve a shoutout for their efforts.    Brooklynn Ruddy is a player to watch in central Iowa who has made big time improvements from her freshman to sophomore seasons. This season she's averaging 12.7 points per game, which is a 7.2 point jump from her freshman year. The lengthy shooting guard runs the floor well, can finish with either hand, looks to push the pace when she's got the rock, and has the ability to fire from long range. Ruddy has solid footwork coming off screens and looks comfortable shooting threes off of down screens and quick cuts. Ruddy is also making her presence known on the defensive end, where she has mad a board per game jump in her season averages and is swiping two steals per game (a team high for SE Polk).     We're staying close by with my next prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='777230' first='Halle' last='Clark']. Another Southeast Polk product, Halle has shown improvement in literally every statistic as a junior this season. Earning a more consistent role this season, Clark is tallying 8.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, and 2 dimes per outing. The defensive dynamo has quick hands and excellent timing — you'll often find Clark swiping the ball away from unsuspecting point guards or flashing in to take lob passes from post players overhead. Additionally I like Clark's energy and confidence on the offensive end — she has a solid looking jumper and will pull up in transition if you don't track her down. Well done to the Nebraska-Omaha Softball commit for her performance so far this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='672168' first='Mylee' last='Stiefel'] has shown throughout her career that she is capable of putting up big numbers. Combining with teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1445978' first='Daphne' last='Brown'], the two-headed monster accounts for nearly 40 points per game for the Burlington Grayhounds. Stiefel has seen her role increase as a senior and per points per game has shown for it. Playing on varsity since her freshman year, you would think that defenses would have Stiefel covered, but she consistenly finds ways to score — her average has jumped from 18PPG last season to 19.5 this year. Additionally Stiefel has an impressive assist to turnover ratio at 2.2, going to show that when she's got the rock she knows what to do with it. Coming off a recent offer fro Roosevelt University, I envision more to come from the crafty point guard.     Katelyn Berentschot is a high-quality role player that excels at her job for the West Lyon Wildcats. Watching her play earlier this week, I was more and more impressed as the game went on at her impact, ability to read the game, and step up when her team needed it. Coming from a limited role last season where Berentschot averaged 1.1PPG, this season she has bumped up across the board as a reliable senior. She's averaging 5PPG, 5RPG, 2.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game. She does a lot of things well on the court including setting hard screens, sealing on those screens (and making body contact - which is unheard of these days), reading screening situations (leading to easy lay-ins) and forcing mistakes on the defensive end. There is a lot to like from this gritty senior!     On a squad with lots of talent and scoring ability, it can be difficult to find your niche and shine. I don't think Adision Brantsen has that problem on a strong Sioux Center squad — while her numbers have stayed consistent from last season to this season, she has earned a full-time starting role as a senior and is making her biggest impact doing the little things well for the Warriors. Brantsen has a good read for on-ball defense — she has a quick first step that got her past opponents a handful of times against West Lyon for open finishes. She also noticed her defender wasn't watching and had a nice back cut for 2 in the second half. The right handed guard looks comfortable off the bounce with either hand and has a fundamental, 2-step finish in her bag at the rim too.

While everyone loves reading about show-stopping, eye-catching stats from huge performances (myself included), I believe just as much praise should go to the players who have put their head down, put the work in the offseason, and just continually show improvement as the seasons progress. Players who have proven they are reliable, consistent, and efficient with the minutes given to them in a game. Here are five players from across the state who have shown improvement from years prior and deserve a shoutout for their efforts.