Class 5A – Region 7: 2023’s to Watch
As we look for other ways to cover prospects we thought it would be beneficial to cover players in a way that allows us to cover those we don’t write much about. We will be using the region’s from last…
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Continue ReadingAs we look for other ways to cover prospects we thought it would be beneficial to cover players in a way that allows us to cover those we don’t write much about. We will be using the region’s from last season as they were constructed.
Obviously, these regions will change into next season but for these stories it was the easiest way to divide players and teams as equally as possible.
We will be writing a series of three stories for each region in the state and the categories are as follows: 2023’s to put on Your Radar, 2022’s who can Breakout, and 2021’s Who Should be Valued by Colleges.
We will continue to go through each region and aim to hit as many players as we can that we haven’t talked about previously. Here are five 2023’s who need to be on your radar.
Halli Poock Halli Poock 5'6" | PG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA – Waterloo West
It was an incredibly memorable season for Waterloo West as they went 20-5 and reached the Class 5A semifinals before falling to Waukee.
For the Mississippi Valley Conference division champions, the future appears to be even brighter.
Halli Poock Halli Poock 5'6" | PG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA was the leading scorer last year, averaging just under 19 points per game on over 50 percent shooting from the floor. And she was just a freshman.
Poock showed no signs of jitters, jumping right in and scoring 473 points with 95 assists, 92 rebounds and 90 steals. She shot over 38 percent from the three-point line and 75 percent at the free throw stripe.
Sahara Williams Sahara Williams 5'11" | SF Waterloo West | 2023 State IA – Waterloo West
Halli Poock Halli Poock 5'6" | PG Waterloo West | 2023 State IA was not even the only newcomer to the Waterloo West rotation, as Class of 2023 prospect Sahara Williams Sahara Williams 5'11" | SF Waterloo West | 2023 State IA joined her in helping the team reach the final four in Class 5A.
Williams scored 262 points and led the Wahawks with 170 rebounds. She also had 81 assists, 72 blocks, 58 assists and blocked 12 shots, shooting 43 percent from the field with 20 made three-pointers.
Aubrey Luvan Aubrey Luvan 5'3" | PG Cedar Rapids Jefferson | 2023 State IA – Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Making a handful of starts for Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Class of 2023 prospect Aubrey Luvan Aubrey Luvan 5'3" | PG Cedar Rapids Jefferson | 2023 State IA gave them something to build around.
The varsity newcomer scored 137 points with 38 rebounds, 33 assists and 23 steals. She shot just under 30 percent from the floor and sank a team-high 24 three-pointers.
Madie Denlinger – Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Another nice piece for Cedar Rapids Jefferson to work into the rotation is Madie Denlinger.
The Class of 2023 guard scored 67 points with 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists in 20 games, shooting 72 percent from the free throw line. She also made nine three-pointers on the year.
Sierra Moore – Waterloo West
And for as talented as the previously two Class of 2023 players are for Waterloo West, Sierra Moore might be the best of the bunch.
An injury in the second game knocked Moore to the sidelines, but she showed her skills with 19 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and five steals in limited action. If she is fully recovered by this winter, look out for the Wahawks to be a force on the hardwood.