Central opens men’s basketball title defense

            PELLA—Just like last year, coach Joe Steinkamp thinks Central College men’s basketball team has championship potential.

            And this year, people are listening.

            Steinkamp’s first Central squad was pegged for last place in a preseason poll of American Rivers coaches, only to see Steinkamp employ the tallest tandem in program history to propel the Dutch to their 18th conference title. The 6-foot-10 duo of Josh Van Gorp (senior, Pella) and Grant Johnson (5th-year, Waukee, Van Meter HS) and two other starters return, fueling Steinkamp’s hopes for 2023-24. Van Gorp was a third-team NABC all-America honoree, the first in school history, as well as the conference MVP. Johnson was a first-team all-conference pick and shared the team’s Muyskens MVP Award with Van Gorp. Veteran point guard Drew Edwards (5th-year, Eden Prairie, Minn.), who received all-conference honorable mention, and shutdown defender Kole Tupa (senior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) a 6-5 forward, are also returning starters..

            After an uneven start, the Dutch posted an 18-7 mark last year, including a 13-3 conference record, but did not advance to the NCAA Division III tournament. That’s a goal for this year but Central must first emerge on top of what’s expected to be a hotly contested conference race.

            “We talked about that with our guys,” Steinkamp said. “It’s really hard to win in this league. Even as good as we were last year, there were multiple games we were losing in the second half and we found ways to win a lot of close games. We can’t be satisfied with just being as good as we were last year. We think we’re better but we’ll have to be better because I think the league is better. Everybody brings back most of their core lineup and most teams added to it as well. One through nine, anyone can beat anyone on any given day. But our guys are excited for that.”

            And opposing coaches have had an off-season to devise strategies for countering Central’s unique lineup.

            “We just have to be ready for everything,” Steinkamp said. “It’s nice that we were able to see a lot of different things throughout the year last year, so we’re ready for more. We’ll have something to use for different kinds of coverages and different kinds of looks.”

            A treacherous non-conference slate that includes a Christmas break trip to Tennessee should prove beneficial.

            “We have a great non-conference schedule that’s going to prepare us for that conference grind,” Steinkamp said. “We’ll see different types of defenses so we’re ready for everything that teams will throw at us.”

            It’s a schedule that requires a heavy foot on the accelerator throughout.

            “Our guys are really up for the challenge,” Steinkamp said. “They love playing the big games, they love playing against good teams. I couldn’t be more excited to keep growing with this group.”

Guard

            Edwards is an often overlooked but key component of Central’s success as the team floor leader. He averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 assists and, at just 6-0, still managed to chase down 5.9 rebounds a game.

            “Drew is coming off a great season,” Steinkamp said. “He really improved. In the off-season he worked extremely hard. He’s our playmaker and does a great job of controlling the team and getting us into our offense. He’s also started shooting the ball really well and always playing that lockdown defense.”

            Steinkamp anticipates getting help at the point from 5-10 junior Will Henricksen (Cedar Rapids, Marion HS) and 6-0 sophomore Hogan Franey (Martensdale, Martensdale-St. Marys HS).

            “Will Henricksen has been really good in practice so far,” Steinkamp said. “He’s a good shooting point guard. And Hogan Franey had a great year last year on the JV. He’s one of the best shooters on the team. He’s just a really high-IQ player and a good passer who fits in really well.”

            Another option is 5-9 senior Zach Kusper (Orland Park, Ill., Carl Sandburg HS).

            “He’s a high-IQ player who can run the show,” Steinkamp said. “We also have some other first-year guards who have been impressive so far.”

            Meanwhile, 5-11 freshman Brad Curren (Harlan) is forcing his way into the conversation.

            “He’s a very good shooting point guard that looks good early on,” Steinkamp said.. “He’s really good in transition, and one of the best shooters on the team.”

Wings

            A 6-4 senior, Kaleb Brand (Mount Vernon) should slide into the open off guard spot after seeing extensive action off the bench last year. He averaged 8.4 points and 2.6 rebounds, knocking down 30 3- point goals.

            “Kaleb really came on at the end of last year and we think he’s even better this year,” Steinkamp said. “He’s really playing well in transition. He can play inside and outside and I think will be one of the best defensive guards in the league.”

            Tupa averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.

            “Kole has really taken a step up,” Steinkamp said. “He’s shooting the ball well. He’s also playmaking a little bit more than last year and still bringing that elite-level defense.”

            A 6-2 senior, Nolan Brand (Mount Vernon) can fill in on the wing or inside. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while appearing in all 25 games off the bench. He received the team’s Thom Steward Hustle Award.

            “Nolan was one of our backup bigs last year,” Steinkamp said. “He really came on halfway through the year and gave us the energy and spark off the bench. He continues to do that.”

            Kale Purcell (junior, Holton, Kan.) is a 6-3 wing who can also play on the block.

            “Kale has had a really good preseason,” Steinkamp said. “He kind of plays all the positions. He can play the point, he can play inside, he can guard on the perimeter. He’s a great cutter who moves really well off the ball. He has a good scorer’s mentality.”

            With Central’s inside duo demanding defensive attention, there are opportunities for 3-point shooters and the Dutch may have one in 6-4 freshman Karson Wehde (Ankeny).

            “He’s kind of a three-four (position) combo who has looked good early on,” Steinkamp said. “He’s really a two-way player, a great shooter who can use his strength to score inside as well. He really fits our defensive game plan and is a very physical player.”

            But Steinkamp sees the outside shooting coming from multiple spots.

            “I think collectively everyone has gotten better in that area,” Steinkamp said.

Power forward/center

            Van Gorp and Johnson team for a power inside/outside tandem. Van Gorp is nearly automatic at times around the rim with his soft touch, shooting 68.0% from the floor while averaging 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds. Johnson can operate out of the high post or wing on offense, where he’s a smooth passer with a team-high 4.6 assists per game, but also a capable 3-point shooter, hitting 32 and a 32.4% clip while averaging 13.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. Meanwhile on defense he’s an elite rim protector, with 2.7 blocks per game.

            “Those guys look good early on,” Steinkamp said. “They’ve both taken a leap. Grant’s really shooting the ball well to go along with all of his passing. And Josh is probably in the best shape of his life. He lost a little weight in the off-season and can really run the floor. I think he’s faster but he’s still as strong as ever. He’s gained a lot of confidence with the success he had last year.”

            Johnson and Van Gorp meshed on the floor even better than Steinkamp could have imagined and the duo began to blossom as they learned how to play together. There’s still plenty of room for growth.

            “I think our guys are continuing to learn how to play with them,” Steinkamp said.

            Central could get some additional inside help from 6-8 transfer Taylor Birks (junior, Adel, Van Meter HS).

            “He’s a great offensive rebounder who can step out and shoot it as well,” Steinkamp said.

            Central was sometimes hampered by a short playing rotation last year. Steinkamp sees an upgrade for the Dutch there also.

            “We have a really talented group of guys that didn’t get to play last year that are back, and a really talented freshman class,” Steinkamp said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had this much depth throughout our program. Our varsity team has some big goals and I think we have a talented JV team as well. The competition has been great for all of us. Our early practices have been unbelievable.”

            But from top to bottom, the American Rivers is improved. And the Dutch, who pulled out several down-to-the-wire wins, will have to be improved as well.

            “Obviously to win a championship, you have to be great on both ends,” Steinkamp said. “We’re working really hard to be able to do that. We want to be able to score in transition. We want to be able to score in the half court and we obviously want to stop people in transition and stop them in the half court. We don’t want any major holes in how we play. But I’m excited about the focus of the group. We’ve got great leadership and we have a lot of tough, hard-nosed kids that really care about winning more than anything else. It’s a fun group to be around.”

            Despite last year’s success, Steinkamp senses the Dutch are far from satisfied, particularly after missing out on an NCAA Division III tournament berth last year.

            “They’re all in,” he said. “Whether it be in the weight room or the practices or getting extra shots, they guys are just all about getting better. They’re totally buying into the program and the process and they’re hungry to win another conference championship.”

            And the Dutch are determined to show that they weren’t a one-season wonder.

            “We’re really excited about this year and we’re really excited about the future of the program as well,” Steinkamp said.