Top Guard Returners In The Heart Of Iowa Conference

In this piece we discuss five athletes out of the Heart Of Iowa Conference that will return this Winter as some of the top guards to pay attention too.   Make sure to check them out!   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    Riley Johnston of Roland-Story High School is set up to put together an impressive Winter ahead on the hardwood. Johnson helped the Norsemen to an overall 22-3 record last Winter, going 15-1 in Conference while averaging 10 PPG, 4 RPG, and 5 APG. These numbers are noteworthy and she should be even better over the next six months. The Norseman will lose their other two main Senior producers from year's past so now a lot of those opportunities will be given to Johnson. She will be in charge of getting all those around her into successful positions as she handles and orchestrates her team's system. She will also be looked upon to score a little bit more often than in the past. Johnson is a PG with nice touch, a quick crossover, and solid vision in the full and half-courts. She understands her own ability and how to get leverage when attacking a weak defense, which leads to a lot of success as a scorer and passer in general. Now we just have to wait and see how she does when she is given the keys to take over the next two years.     Tori Lindsey walks into her Senior season as PG #1 at PCM High School. The PCM Mustangs went 21-4 overall and 14-2 last season in conference, only falling to Roland-Story twice during their regular season. Lindsey isn't the tallest prospect but she isn't the shortest either. She currently falls right in the middle at 5'6. This is a respectable prospect as a leader. She is one of those types that you can trust as a ball hander when it matters the most or she can be your rock defensively as she sticks in front of anyone put in her way. She is not afraid to lead her teammates vocally so they understand the situation at hand and she is always one of the first onto the ground for a loose ball when the opportunity presents itself. I don't just expect Lindsey to have another great season ahead. I expect PCM to make some more waves as well. If they lock in a better game-plan for their hardest opponents, they should have a solid chance to come out victorious on the other side as Lindsey does her thing and others step up.     West Marshall High School will be looking for someone to step up to be their big game hunter over this next season because of the Senior personal they lose from a year ago and that's where I think [player_tooltip player_id='1379056' first='Halle' last='Jones'] makes a big leap in her game. Jones is returning for her Senior season after averaging 6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, & 1.8 APG. These numbers are solid for a team with a winning record but if the Trojans want a chance to see the State Tournament in 2026, these numbers will have to almost double. They will need a killer on offense and a stopper on defense, which Jones can be, if they want to go places. Which is definitely possible. There is a lot to like about what Jones can bring to the floor. She is coordinated as a CG with a great feel for the game. We just need see her in that main character position and to see if she can take over like we think.     [player_tooltip player_id='1379063' first='Jorie' last='Hillman'] was a Captain for her Nevada High School team last season for her Sophomore season, demonstrating her ability to lead from the front by example. Hillman, Nevada's main PG prospect, has an exciting game. She makes electric moves, she has some craftiness to her footwork and passing ability, while always competing with a ton of energy on and off of the ball. She is very good about getting the others around her into the action as she moves into space after passing. She knows for everyone to operate like a well oiled machine, they will need space and timing to make things happen. This team only goes as far as Hillman can lead them. If she put together the best season of her life, the results will follow, not only for herself but for her team in general. Hillman was a one of the better guards that this conference had to offer during the 2024-2025 season so hopefully she builds on that.     [player_tooltip player_id='839335' first='Maiah' last='Murphy'] is a hooper we have mentioned a few times over the past six months because of her play on the AAU floor on the road. Murphy, a 5'4 PG, is a fun one to watch. She plays off of two feet while attacking, she knows how to move into favorable positions as she attacks the teeth of the defense for an easy look for herself or an assist for another, and she is not afraid to try to compete against anyone that might be bigger than her. You could say that she plays with a lot of confidence and a lot of energy, which is contagious to her teammates. When talking about the best guards that this Conference has to offer and Murphy is in that conversation. She plays a solid, well rounded game and that game could play at the next level one day if given the opportunity.

In this piece we discuss five athletes out of the Heart Of Iowa Conference that will return this Winter as some of the top guards to pay attention too.