Jumping into our #4 spot in this Update is the killer that is Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA . Just like Stanley, Riley has put together a really nice high school career, ending it with a State Title this past season at the 5A level. Every time that I have seen her compete on a basketball court, no matter the situation or surrounding, she has shown up. Whether it’s during AAU against some elite players from all over the country or in her home state of Iowa. When she laces them up, she dominates with her aggressive demeanor while attacking her opponent. When she has fast break opportunities or 1v1 situations in open space, she thrives and there is just no other way to put it. She was the prospect that was crucial in her team’s success throughout her career and I’m hoping that she can ride this momentum into a career with the Bearcats over the next four years.

Always showing up. This is three words to describe Aliyah Riley and her game on the basketball court over the past 3 and a half years. Riley moves up to the #5 spot in this Update because of what I just said. She has been a player that is always showing up in one way or another for her Johnston Dragons team. The best way to describe Riley’s play-style is aggressive and determined. She knows what she is going to do with the ball, each time she touches it, usually ending her teams possession in a bucket of some form. There is going to be one more Update before this 2024 Class graduates and comes to a close. Riley is going to have the chance to move up another spot or two depending on her play and the play of the other competitors within the Top 5 during the Playoff’s. If she has a dominant run and she leads her team to a state title, there is going to be an interesting conversation to be had.

You have heard a lot about the Johnston Dragons this winter because of their elite roster. A team that is currently ranked as a Top 25 team throughout the country, is held together by their upperclassmen leadership. One of those leaders is Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA . Riley is a “do-it herself” type guard. She plays with an unmatchable tenacity on both sides of the floor and doesn’t take losing lightly. Riley has been a star the past 3 years for this Dragons program and that hasn’t changed one bit this season. She has been scoring in bunches or getting others involved, dominating her 1v1 matchups, and she is leading this team with her actions. When you have a star-studded roster, it takes someone with a powerful voice and selfless demeanor to keep everyone in check. Riley does a good job of that. The Dragons are 5A favorites to win it all this season and if they do so, a big reason is going to be because of the play of Riley. She is a next-level competitor and one of the best the state has to offer out of this 2024 Class in Iowa. Once this season comes to an end, she will be taking her talents to Northwest Missouri State to continue on her basketball journey. A place where I’m sure she is going to be able to thrive.

The headline matchup of this event was held in the mid-afternoon between the Johnston Dragons and the Hopkins Royals. An event that contained two high rated teams, was one that had several different players stand out in their own special way. One of those players for the Dragons side was Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA . If you are from Iowa, you are familiar with Riley’s game. She is a conductor of the offensive and a weapon whenever she takes the floor. In this contest specifically, Riley was elevating the play of everyone else around her. The Royals team decided to press in the full court to start this game and that was a mistake. Riley grabbed the ball as PG and led her team to a convincing victory. Sometimes Riley gets over-looked because of the other players on the roster around her but don’t get it twisted, she is one of the best players throughout the state now and that’s going to continue unit the end of this season.

An individual that has been floating in the #5-10 area of this 2024 Class the past few seasons is Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA of Johnston High School. Riley is a compete guard in all facets of the game. She is a player that can get you a bucket at all three levels or she can create for others at a high rate. In last years 5A State Title game, Riley scored around 50% of her teams total points. She showed on the biggest stage we have at the High School level that she was more than ready for the bright lights. To start this 23-24′ season, Riley sits at #7. She will look to help lead her Johnston Dragon team back to the State Title game, this time walking away as Champions. Something that won’t be easy, but is more then doable.

Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA , the Johnston high school combo guard, is one of the most recent players to come off the virtual draft board in Iowa. Riley has committed to D2 – Northwest Missouri State for her future after this upcoming senior season. A nice pickup for the Bearcats as Riley is a playmaker at the highest of levels. It doesn’t matter what floor she is on, she is going to hoop at a high and consistent rate. Not to mention that she is ultra competitive. Something that helps motive her to be better, each and every time she steps on out the floor. I’m excited to see how she will end her career with the Dragons. It’s sure to be a fun season with the roster they have.

Riley left off right where she started during the state tournament. An Elite scoring threat with the ball in her hands. Takes a lot of contact while being able to finish near the rim. Deadly three point shot with a quick release once she creates space. Overall one of the best talents at this entire tournament when you take a step back and see the bigger picture.

Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA was one of the best overall guards I saw compete on the floor this year. She is a talent that may not stand out with her athletic abilities but her basketball skill is truly next level. A great example of this was in the state championship game, Riley was the floor general the Dragons needed to stay in it. She scored 23 points of her teams total 56 in the contest and made most of their big shots down the stretch. Right now she is receiving some interest from some well known mid-majors but I expect this interest to keep on growing before she graduates. She is a nice player, with an experienced game and good head on her shoulders. She will definitely be helping a college program out their become more successful in the near future.

Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5'7" | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA stepped up in a big way for the Johnston Dragons in every game that they played in this past week at Wells Fargo. Riley competed on both ends of the floor and was the real difference maker when things got close in whatever contest they were in. She showed off a deadly handle, an impressive ability to finish through a bigger defender, and a consistent jump shot. I’d have to say that her most impressive performance was in the 5A championship. Between Aili Tanke Aili Tanke 6'0" | SG Johnston | 2024 State IA and Riley, they combined for 46 of Johnston’s 53 points, each scoring 23. The more impressive thing being not how many she scored but how she was doing it. The Spartans run an extended 2-3 zone with a lot of length but that didn’t impact Riley too much. She got to the rim with a nice dribble move, would move to the middle position against their zone where she knocked down a shot or three, or even knock down some free throws after being fouled. Looking back at her entire tournament, it’s hard to say that there was another guard out there who had a better overall week. Something she should be proud of.