Ranking the state's top 2019 basketball prospects entering April's evaluation period
Finally, we have arrived at the college basketball offseason evaluation periods.
For these last two weekends in April and three more weekends in July, NCAA Division I coaches can watch prospects play in AAU tournaments across the country. This is the No. 1 time of the year for established names to bolster their stock, or for up-and-comers to break through and pick up offers.
The Register ranked the top 10 prospects from Iowa's deep 2019 class entering the April 20-22 evaluation period. This ranking is based on the Register's observations during the high school basketball season, as well as consultation with our recruiting contacts.
Related:Ranking the state's top 2020 basketball prospects entering April's evaluation period
10. Trayvon Williams, PG, West Des Moines Valley
Recruiting radar: Interest from South Dakota State, Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri-Kansas City
AAU team: Kingdom Hoops
Williams is quick enough to knife inside for a bucket. He's uncannily patient on offense, and he's got a nice midrange/floater game. But he makes his mark on the defensive side, where he uses his 6-foot-3 length to lock down opponents on the perimeter. More schools will show interest as he develops a more versatile, consistent offensive game to match his shutdown defense.
9. Cole Henry, PF, Oskaloosa
Recruiting radar: Offer from North Dakota; interest from Stephen F. Austin, Furman, Northern Iowa, Drake, Middle Tennessee, Belmont, North Texas, Boise State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota and South Dakota State
AAU team: Martin Brothers
You don't see many 6-9 power forwards in Iowa who rank fourth in Class 3A in assists. But that's Henry — a bona fide "point forward" with springs in his legs. He can rock the rim with some monster dunks and his length wreaks havoc on defense. At this point, he's limited on offense, almost exclusively scoring in isolation, transition or with his back to the basket. His recruiting stock would benefit from a midrange game, potentially turning his pile of interest into a few more offers.
8. James Betz, PF/SF, G-H-V
Recruiting radar: Committed to Northern Iowa
AAU team: Kingdom Hoops
Betz is a do-it-all, 6-7 forward. He uses long arms to finish among the trees at the rim, but he can also step out and consistently known down a 3-pointer. He's got point-forward abilities as well, as he ranked second on his team in assists this year. He's not overly fast, but he's smart and technically sound. He projects as a stretch-four with the Panthers in Cedar Falls.
7. Noah Carter, PF/SF, Dubuque Senior
Recruiting radar: Offer from North Dakota; interest from Belmont, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Drake and Air Force
AAU team: Iowa Barnstormers
Carter can score at all three levels with great efficiency. At 6-5, he's too small to be a high-major power forward and he's not quick enough to play high-major small forward. But his unique offensive versatility would improve any low- to mid-major college team. We're talking about a high school post who shot 52.4 percent from 3-point land this year. Carter is scrappy and deceptively strong on the defensive side; he'll need both those qualities guarding bigger power forwards in college.
6. Owen Coburn, C, Spirit Lake
Recruiting radar: Committed to South Dakota State
AAU team: Martin Brothers
Coburn is a rock in the paint. He's 6-10, well over 200 pounds, and he combines that size with good post skills to create a formidable player on both sides of the ball. He's got a solid stroke, shooting 65.3 percent and 80.4 percent from the free throw line this season. His ability to stretch the floor is still in development, but Coburn will have an opportunity to showcase a broader offensive skill set this offseason.
5. Issa Samake, PF, Grand View Christian
Recruiting radar: Offer from Tulsa; interest from Middle Tennessee, Northern Iowa and Drake
AAU team: All-Iowa Attack
Samake is not the fifth-best high school player on this list. He's still quite raw. But his potential is jaw-dropping. He's a 6-7 forward with a legitimate 7-4 1/2 wingspan. He wasn't asked to shoot much for Grand View Christian this season, but he can step out and drill a corner 3-pointer here and there. If he can refine his shooting, and combine that with an NBA wingspan and rim-rocking athleticism, Tulsa won't be Samake's lone offer for long.
4. Trey Hutcheson, SF, Linn-Mar
Recruiting radar: Offers from Drake and North Dakota; interest from Colorado State, Creighton, Air Force, Northern Iowa, Western Illinois, Nebraska-Omaha, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Belmont and Dartmouth
AAU team: Martin Brothers
A long, 6-6 wing with the ability to dribble and shoot, Hutcheson is textbook mid-major small forward. He's very projectable at the next level and wouldn't be a risky offer for any low- to mid-major program. He's explosive off the bounce and can create for himself just as well as he can for teammates. Hutcheson's 3-point shot is a relatively new tool in his offensive arsenal, and he knocked down 43 percent from long range this season.
3. Tyreke Locure, PG, Des Moines North
Recruiting radar: Offers from North Dakota and Drake; interest from Middle Tennessee, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, South Dakota, Utah State, Nebraska-Omaha, Iowa, Iowa State and Creighton
AAU team: Beyond Ball
Locure is an absolute bulldog on the court. He can weave his way through defenses at will, he has a steadily improving long-range shot and he's a pesky, stifling perimeter defender. Locure's 5-11 frame has kept him from more top-tier D-I interest, but he is a legitimate mid-major point guard prospect with high-major potential. Even though it hasn't offered, Iowa is keeping tabs on him.
2. Patrick McCaffery, PF, Iowa City West
Recruiting radar: Committed to Iowa
AAU team: D1 Minnesota
If McCaffery wasn't already committed Iowa, we'd be talking about him much more. (Picking between him and the No. 1-ranked player on this list was like splitting hairs.) McCaffery's spider-armed length, athleticism around the rim and shooting ability make him a high-end four-star with McDonald's All-American potential. He projects as the stretchiest of stretch power forwards. It's also not out of the question for McCaffery, 6-9, to play some small forward as his foot speed and ball handling improve.
1. D.J. Carton, PG, Bettendorf
Recruiting radar: Offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio State, Marquette, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Creighton, Northern Iowa, Kansas State, North Dakota and IUPUI; interest from Michigan, Virginia, Wake Forest, USC and Baylor
AAU team: Quad City Elite
Carton has rapidly become a Midwest must-have, and he could become a national prospect this offseason. He's a cerebral four-star point guard who expertly conducts his team in transition and in the half court. But he also packs a whole lot of athleticism into a 6-2 frame. His combination of intelligence and high-flying, thunderous-dunk athleticism is rare — and it could lead Carton to a five-star rating before too long.
Also considered: Noah Hart, PG, Waukee; Derek Krogmann, PF, West Delaware; Jake Hilmer, PG, North Linn; Dylan Jones, PF, Waukee
Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps out with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.