Iowa's best high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's top power forwards

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school boys basketball. This list focuses on the power forwards. 

There are hundreds of standout boys basketball players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. If you know of any other power forwards worthy of fans' attention, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Emiliano Barrantes, 6-9, Jr., Grand View Christian

Barrantes put up one of the most eye-popping stat lines in recent years, scoring 45 points (22 of 29 shooting) and grabbing 29 rebounds in a 92-50 win over Stanton earlier this season. For the year, he’s scoring 27.3 points and grabbing 16.1 rebounds through nine games.

Creighton Bracker, 6-6, Jr., Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln

Bracker uses his size to his advantage, raking down an average of 10 rebounds per game. He’s the second-leading scorer on a 7-2 team with a 16.2 average, shooting 52.8 percent.

Calix Cahill, 6-5, Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes

Cahill has an explosive ability to finish above the rim, making for some highlight-reel dunks. He’s averaging 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds through eight games, shooting 62.3 percent.

Jack Cooley, 6-5, Sr., Clarke

A definite stat stuffer, Cooley averages a double-double with 23.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. He also dishes out 5.6 assists and comes up with 2.7 steals. This coming after a junior season in which he averaged 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.4 blocks on 51-percent shooting.

Jaidyn Coon, 6-5, Soph., Storm Lake

More times than not, Coon scores on rim-jarring slam dunks, but the talented sophomore has worked to extend his range this season. He is the leading scorer for a 6-3 Tornado squad, averaging 18.0 points and 8.1 rebounds. As a freshman, Coon charted 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Cade Courbat, 6-8, Sr., Cedar Falls

Courbat is a top rim protector, having averaged 2.6 blocked shots per game as a junior. He’s scoring 11.4 and pulling down 4.7 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent through eight games this season. Courbat averaged 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds last season to go along with his defensive prowess.

Landon Davis, 6-7, Soph., Waukee Northwest

Davis has made the most of his playing time on a veteran squad, hitting 60.5 percent of his shots through 11 games. Expect to hear a lot in upcoming seasons from the sophomore, who is contributing nearly 6 points and 5.1 rebounds a game.

Landon Deiters, 6-8, Jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Deiters is a big, physical player who is a key reserve for the top-ranked Cougars. He also played good minutes as a sophomore for one of Iowa’s top programs.

A.J. Evans, 6-7, Soph., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Evans has started all 10 games for the Saints and is averaging 5.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in his first varsity campaign. Xavier is a tradition-rich program and Davis is part of a young squad with a bright future.

William Gerdes, 6-8, Soph., Cedar Falls

Gerdes excelled for the Iowa Barnstormers AAU team over the summer, picking up Division I offers from Bryant and Nebraska. The mobile 6-8 forward, who barely saw action as a freshman, has contributed 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Tigers through 10 games.

Evan Hammer, 6-5, Sr., Carroll

Hammer led the Tigers in scoring (13.8) and rebounding (8.3) as a junior. He’s putting up even bigger numbers this season, averaging 23.7 points and 11.6 rebounds through nine games. His scoring total ranks sixth in Class 3A.

Gage Kampman, 6-9, Sr., Iowa City Liberty

Despite playing in only 18 games last season, Kampman established himself as a top rebounder, pulling down 126 and was also ninth in Class 4A with 40 blocked shots and shot 51.5 percent from the field. A top prospect because of his size and athleticism, Kampman has yet to show much offensive ability, averaging 5.5 points per game.

Manasse Kasango Malu, 6-7, Jr., Sioux City East

Kasango has made the most of his first shot at playing time for East. Through 10 games, the lanky junior is averaging 10.8 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 70.3 percent, many on high flying slam dunks.

Davis Kern, 6-8, Jr., Linn-Mar

Kern will more than likely play Division I basketball in a couple of seasons. The versatile junior already has several offers on the table and is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he made third-team Class 4A all-state, averaging 19.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. The Lions are ranked 10^th in 4A, with Kern averaging 21.3 points and 7.9 rebounds, shooting 61.9 percent.

Jackson Lanz, 6-3, Sr., Wapello

Lanz poured in 41 points in a recent 73-40 win over Lone Tree. For the season, his impressive stat line includes 20.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals through 10 games.

John Nelson, 6-4, Soph., Nevada

The Cubs have lost only once in their first 10 games this season and are led by Nelson, averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 blocked shots per game. Nelson played as a freshman, contributing 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.

Matt Noll, 6-7, Sr., Sioux City Bishop Heelan

Noll, who has signed to play at Division II Wayne (Neb.) State College, is considered one of the top players not only in Class 3A, but also statewide. Through 10 games this season, the sturdy forward is averaging 24.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.3 percent from the field. Noll was a first team 3A all-state pick last season, averaging 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds for a state tournament semifinalist.

Brevin Phillips, 6-5, Sr., Urbandale

Phillips has already improved his scoring average from last season, when he was a junior starter. Through 10 games, he is averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Phillips had a strong AAU summer on both ends of the court, drawing some attention from college coaches.

Micah Schlaak, 6-6, Sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

The efficient combo forward has committed to play at Division II Southwest Minnesota State. Schlaak averaged 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 67 percent as a junior. Schlaak is one of four starters averaging double figures (11.1 ppg.) for the unbeaten and Class 4A top-ranked Cougars.

Max Schmeltzer, 6-4, Jr., Pleasant Valley

Schmeltzer is the only junior starter for Pleasant Valley and does most of his damage on the boards, averaging 5.2 per contest.

Tevin Schultz, 6-7, Soph., Dubuque Senior

Schultz is the second-leading scorer for an 8-0 squad, averaging 12.4 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds while shooting 58.8 percent. He got his feet wet as a freshman, scoring just over 10 points a game.

Aiden Stensrud, 6-6, Jr., Lake Mills

The bulky Stensrud was an all-state football lineman, but has shown his talent on the basketball court as well. He is averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for a 9-1 squad. As a sophomore, Stensrud contributed 12.4 points and 10.4 rebounds as well as 46 blocked shots for a team that finished 23-1.

Drew Wagner, 6-3, Sr., Waterloo Christian

A 1,000-point career scorer, Wagner had a breakout season as a junior, averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 points for the Regents. He ranks first statewide with a 28.8 average this season and is also pulling down 12.8 boards a contest.

Ryan Watters, 6-6, Jr., Central DeWitt

Watters was a starter on the Sabres’ Class 3A state runner-up team as a freshman and contributed 14.6 points per game last season. As a junior, Watters is the team leader at 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds through 10 games, shooting 58.8 percent.

Jacob Williams, 6-4, St., Dubuque Senior

A smooth lefthander, Williams had a great summer in AAU ball and it carried over into the season. He is the leading scorer and rebounder for the third-ranked Class 4A squad, averaging 21.0 points and 9.1 boards while shooting 68.1 percent. Williams was a third-team all-state selection as a junior.