Film Study: Stars Reappearing In The Siouxland Conference

Over the next few months leading up to the season we will be participating in several film study sessions to look in depth into some of the conferences across Iowa and their top players to see what they might be able to accomplish this upcoming season.    Below we highlight five returning star of the Siouxland Conference for this upcoming Winter and highlight what they have done in the past while discussing what their futures might end up looking like on a basketball court.   (Make sure to check out The 2026 PGH Iowa Expo Showcase taking place in Des Moines on October 3rd from 10AM-2PM. Compete against some of the best prospects in the state and get in front of our scouts before the 2026-2027 High School season begins. More info is available at <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2428/register/the-expo-iowa">https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2428/register/the-expo-iowa</a>. Use code Jeremy26PGH25OFF for a discount at checkout!)   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    This is your preseason POTY for the Siouxland Conference. Maryn Franken has been the star prospect out of this conference for the last three years and I expect that to be the same for her Senior season over these next six-eight months. Franken is your prototypical Forward. 6'0, a soft touch on the ball, balanced footwork, physical, smart, & Willing to leave it all on the floor whenever she competes. She is a mismatch nightmare when it comes to defending her 1v1 at the high school levels and that's really been the case her entire career at this point. Franken will be taking her talents to a stacked NDSU program following this Winter and I'm sure she is really excited because that's an opportunity of a lifetime for someone who has always wanted to compete at that Division-1 level.     Maicy Baker led MOC-Floyd Valley High School last season in APG while also putting up respectable numbers within the scoring and rebounding categories as well. Baker, the 5'5 PG/CG, is the type of player that you can move between the 1, 2, or 3 positions as a Guard. She is at her best coming down the floor and dishing off the rock but she can also move off the ball with some success. She does a great job of running and cutting into open spaces, usually getting behind the defense in one way or another for a simple look at the rim if her teammates can get her the ball. Defensively she has active hands and the feet to match. She makes quick reads within the open court and that + her pressure makes her a tough opponent for most to stick with within this Conference throughout the season.     One of the more promising season that we witnessed last Winter out of someone from the 2029 Class came from Belah Kramer of West Lyon High School. Kramer took the floor and made her presence known almost right away because of her production. I would categorize Kramer more as a 2 or 3. She isn't someone that likes to shoot a ton of three's but how she plays the game resembles more of a SG or CG than a PG at this time. I do think that will change over the next 2-3 seasons and she will become equally productive at all three spots but that will all come down to her work ethic and what she can accomplish during her off-seasons. If you take a look at her individual numbers from last year you see what she can really do. She is someone that can rebound, defend, and get to the bucket offensively at Will. She is NOT afraid of contact but more-so welcomes it whenever she is getting downhill as she is willing to go to the line and knock down some free throw attempts at any moment. West Lyon always brings seasoned hoopers to the floor to compete and this is another one of those hoopers to watch out off.     Caydence Harmsen will be looked upon to be Rock Valley's main producer on both sides of the court this Winter season as a Junior. Harmsen, the 5'9 CG, has shown up in year's past as someone to note. She has been able to produce on both ends of the floor as a consistent scoring threat, solid rebounder, and defender as a whole. The last two seasons she has sat right behind the Ranschau sisters but with their recent graduation to the next level - it's now time for Harmsen to take this program by storm. If she starts the season with the confidence we know that she has, Rock Valley will return to the 2A Class as someone to know once again as we move into the 2026-2027 high school season. She won't be the only solid player that this group has to compete with but she should be their best if she plays her cards correctly.     Ellianna Hoefert will rejoin the Siouxland Conference this season as one of the tallest, if not thee tallest, prospect within the conference. Hoefert comes in at 6'2 as a PF/C and she is exactly the type of player you would except. She has height, she is physical under the bucket, and knows where she makes her money. She is a force on defense that opposing teams have to notice or else she is going to block/alter most of their attempts in the lane. She is dominant on offense because she can score with her back-to-the-basket with her size and physicality, she can go over smaller defenders who are between her and the basket, and she can hit her defender with a counter move if need be to help her open up more space for an attempt near the lane. All in all - I'm not sure where Hoefert is going to go to college or what sport she will play but she should have some options in the basketball world, if she so chooses.

Over the next few months leading up to the season we will be participating in several film study sessions to look in depth into some of the conferences across Iowa and their top players to see what they might be able to accomplish this upcoming season.