Urbandale basketball player Reece Uhlenhopp can muscle his way to the backboard or launch a 3-point shot.

The 6-foot-7 center and other tall athletes are setting a new standard for Iowa big men.

Uhlenhopp and others like him can fill the lane or fill the hoop. They can dribble as well as dunk.

"Nowadays it seems like a lot more post players are becoming more versatile," Uhlenhopp said.

As the state's boys' basketball season gets under way this week, big men are a big deal.

Five of 12 centers who earned Des Moines Sunday Register all-state honors return this season. Seven of 10 Division I Iowa signees stand 6-7 or taller.

Jon Puk of Waterloo West stands 6-10 and has signed with Albany. Drake recruit Seth Van Deest of Bettendorf and Iowa signee Brennan Cougill of Sioux City Heelan are both 6-9.

Uhlenhopp, who has signed with Drake, said he became more diverse through AAU play and summer workouts.

"Earlier in my career, when I was a freshman and sophomore, everything was around the basket, 15 feet and in," Uhlenhopp said. "Each summer, I've worked on my ball-handling and outside shooting."

Jim Eekhoff, the longtime coach at Western Christian of Hull, said youth programs also help develop skills for tall players.

Kids who handle the ball when they're young can mature into tall forwards and centers who retain that talent, he said.

Western Christian won its second straight Class 2-A state title last season.

"Our kids are very athletic and run the floor and do a lot of things," Eekhoff said.

Trevor Wolterstorff, an all-state forward at Western, stands 6-5 but may play some point guard this season, Eekhoff said.

The other defending champs are Iowa City High in 4-A, Dubuque Wahlert in 3-A and Cedar Falls Northern University in 1-A.

Heelan's Cougill weighs 265 pounds but can play away from the basket, Heelan coach Tom Betz said.

He broadened his game by playing elite competition AAU and camp games.

"He can't go stand underneath the basket and expect to score," Betz said.

Among the other notable big men:

-Decorah's Brett Van Sloten, who is 6-7, averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds. He was a first-team all-state pick.

-Rock Valley's Jordan Dykstra, a 6-7 center, scored 17 points a game. The junior said he plans to play at Iowa State.

-Iowa City High returns 6-7 all-state center Malcolm Moore from last season's title team.

-Linn-Mar of Marion has two 6-7 Division I recruits in the lineup: Zach Bohannon (Air Force) and Nate Hutcheson (Western Michigan).