Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Basketball season is right around the corner.
The first day of practice for boys basketball teams was last week and the season openers for some teams loom a little more than a week away.
As the season opens every team is seeking the same thing, a trip to the state tournament that is scheduled for March 8-12 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Last season a pair of Your Prep Sports area teams advanced to the state tournament and this season expects to be another exciting one for area teams.
Before the season gets underway here is a look at 10 Your Prep Sports area players to watch this winter.
Christian Withrow
Senior, Clear Creek Amana
Withrow was as a matchup nightmare for opponents last season while leading Clear Creek Amana to a 21-6 season and a third-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
The 6-foot-2 Withrow led the Clippers with 15.9 points and was second on the team with 6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while earning second-team all-state and unanimous first-team all WAMAC West Division honors.
Ashton Cook
Senior, Regina
Cook will look to end his career on the hardwood with bang after a leg injury limited him to just eight games last season.
The 6-foot-5 Cook is among the most difficult players in Class 2A to defend with his combination of size and skill.
Cook averaged 16.8 points and 8 rebounds per game in eight games last season while shooting 48 percent from the field.
Jamari Newson
Junior, City High
Newson emerged as a versatile weapon for City High a year ago and will look to build on a sophom*ore season in which he ranked in the top three on the team in scoring, rebounding and
Assists.
A 6-foot-2 guard, Newson ranked third on the team with 8.1 points per game and was second on team with 5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
David Bluder
Senior, Solon
A versatile scoring threat, the 6-foot-4 Bluder established himself as one of the top offensive weapons in the WAMAC last season while earning second-team all-East Division honors.
Bluder averaged 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds pe game last season while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range while leading the Spartans with 30 made 3-pointers.
Kelby Telander
Senior, Liberty High
Telander had a breakthrough season as a junior ranking second on the team in scoring and rebounding while shooting a team-leading 53 percent from the floor.
The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season while helping Liberty High to a program-high 10 wins and earning honorable mention all Mississippi Valley Conference divisional honors.
Christian Barnes
Junior, West High
One of just a handful of players with returning varsity experience from the Trojans’ state tournament team Barnes will look to take to his game another level this season.
Barnes averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 assists per game last season as a sophom*ore when he shot 37 percent from 3-point range helping West High reach the Class 4A state tournament.
The 5-foot-10 Barnes will be a bigger scoring presence this season from his lead guard spot.
Simon Palmer
Senior, West Branch
Palmer enjoyed a breakthrough season as a junior averaging 10.7 points and 3 rebounds per game on his way to being selected to the River Valley Conference South Division squad.
The 6-foot-4 Palmer has the ability to score from all over the court, shooting 53 percent from the field including 41 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Jeff Bowie
Senior, West Branch
Together with Palmer, Bowie gives West Branch an unenviable duo for Class 2A opponents to attempt to defend.
The 6-foot-5 Bowie was unstoppable at times last season in the post and provides a valuable complement to the all-around game of Palmer after averaging 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 59 percent from the field in 13 games last season.
Byron Benton
Senior, City High
An explosive athlete, Benton teams with Newson to give the Little Hawks an exciting combination in the back court.
Benton ranked second on the team in scoring a year ago with 9 points per game and proved to be a playmaker on both ends of the court leading the Little Hawks in assists (3.4) and steals (1.8).
Mike Potter
Senior, Clear Creek Amana
An X factor for Clear Creek Amana during its state tournament run Potter posted career-highs in points (8.3) and rebounds (5.6) last season as a junior.
The 6-foot-1 Potter was at his best during the postseason scoring double figures in three of six postseason games while averaging 9.3 points and 8 rebounds per game during that stretch.
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