10 Division I-bound Central Iowa Metropolitan League guards to watch
Division I basketball coaches have worn a path to Central Iowa Metropolitan League gyms to watch talented future college stars over the years. Top 10 programs like Notre Dame, Oregon and Maryland have made appearances this season. Guards are a…
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Continue ReadingDivision I basketball coaches have worn a path to Central Iowa Metropolitan League gyms to watch talented future college stars over the years.
Top 10 programs like Notre Dame, Oregon and Maryland have made appearances this season. Guards are a big attraction. I’ve covered the CIML since its inception in the 1990s and this is by far the most talented group I’ve seen in the backcourt.
Let’s break it down. Here are the top 10 future college guards as I see it, including a few uncommitted players:
1. Caitlin Clark, West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (2020). Height: 6-0. Scoring average: 32.2. Status: Uncommitted.
Clark is the country’s No. 4 ranked junior by ESPN’s HoopGurlz and it’s easy to see why. She’s leading the state in scoring by nearly five points a game. Who’s in the hunt? Top 25 in-state programs Iowa and Iowa State are after her, but programs from Notre Dame to Texas to Oregon and more have visited for games and practices. Creighton (her cousin Audrey Faber plays there) and Drake (home to former Dowling star Jennie Baranczyk, now the Bulldogs’ coach) are the wildcards in the recruiting process. She’s expected to buckle down for the college selection process this summer. Clark can hit the 3-pointer (78 this season) or launch a behind-the-back pass. The former U16 national team member is going to make a college very, very happy.
2. Zoe Young, West Des Moines Valley (2019). Height: 5-10. Scoring average: 23.4. Status: Maryland recruit.
Before she even touched the high school court, Young was considered to be one of the nation’s top guards in her class. She’s ranked No. 30 for all 2019 seniors by HoopGurlz. Young recently set Valley’s career scoring record with 1,485 points earlier this season. Young made an early commitment and selected Maryland, which is coached by former Iowan Brenda Frese. Young has a flashy style and can make a wickedly fast crossover to the hoop.
3. Maggie McGraw, Southeast Polk (2019). Height: 5-11. Scoring average: 20.1. Status: Iowa State recruit.
McGraw can work the floor and score, too. She’s been a four-year starter (the first three at Indianola) and appears headed toward a fourth state tournament appearance. McGraw is the No. 45 recruit in the nation, according to HoopGurlz. She committed to Iowa State after her freshman season. McGraw can hit the three (35 of 73 this season, 47 percent) or run an offense that is scoring 70 points a game.
4. Maya McDermott, Johnston (2020). Height: 5-5. Scoring average: 19.2. Status: Northern Iowa recruit.
McDermott offers scoring and playmaking skills in one package. She is the driving force behind the state’s No. 1-ranked team in Class 5A. McDermott’s quickness makes her tough to stop. She leads 5A with 5.7 assists per game. She’s a clutch shooter, hitting a 3-point buzzer beater that led Johnston to the state tournament two years ago. The team’s currently 21-2 and headed to the state tournament. McDermott made an early commitment to Northern Iowa.
5. Megan Meyer, Mason City (2019). Height: 5-9. Scoring average: 24.4. Status: Iowa recruit.
When Meyer’s older sister, Makenzie, played at Mason City, she told reporters that Megan was a great upcoming star. They listened. Megan led Iowa’s Class 4A in scoring last season (25.2) and appears headed toward repeating that honor. She’ll join Makenzie in an Iowa Hawkeye uniform. Meyer has a nice shooting touch, hitting 60 3-pointers this season. She’s also a strong free throw shooter at nearly 81 percent.
6. Dee Dee Pryor, Urbandale (2019). Height: 5-7. Scoring average: 12.8. Status: Creighton recruit.
Pryor is a solid point guard. Her scoring average won’t match Clark or McDermott, but she has strong playmaking skills and can step out to hit a 3-pointer (32 of 81 this season). Pryor has led Urbandale (13-9) to the state tournament. She’s averaging nearly four assists a game. The four-year starter is a sprinter on the school’s track team and has outstanding speed on the basketball court.
7. Grace Larkins, Southeast Polk (2021). Height 5-10. Scoring average: 21.0. Status: Uncommitted.
Larkins is an aggressive player who can battle inside better than most guards. She’s averaging six rebounds and 3.3 steals a game and is shooting 58 percent from the field. Larkins ranks second in scoring among Iowa sophomores; she held the same status last season, when she scored at a 19.8-point pace. Larkins moves well, and was a member of the school’s state cross country championship team last fall.
8. Anna Brown, Waukee (2019). Height: 5-10. Scoring average: 13.3. Status: Loyola recruit.
Brown’s known as one of the top 3-point shooters in the CIML. She’s hit 57 of 131 attempts this season, a percentage of 43.5. She hit 78 3-pointers a year ago. Brown has led Waukee to an 18-4 record and has guided her team to the state tournament. Brown is a very poised talent.
9. Caroline Waite, Ames (2021). Height: 5-3. Scoring average: 20.0. Status: Uncommitted.
Waite is the most improved guard in the CIML this season, going from a freshman (13-point average) to one of the league’s top scoring threats. She set a school single game scoring record with 35 points. That’s significant, coming from a program that has sent players to Oklahoma, Iowa and Minnesota. She made 74 3-pointers this season and hit 52 of 59 free throws (88.1 percent).
10. Anna Gossling, Johnston (2022). Height: 5-5. Scoring average: 5.8. Status: Uncommitted.
Gossling has outstanding poise for a freshman and isn’t shy about taking a 3-pointer (she has made 22 so far). The ninth grader found a spot in the rotation for a 21-2 team that is ranked No. 1 and entering the state tournament. Gossling can handle the ball or take the shot when open. She fits right in with a team that has three Division I recruits.