WIBCA Showcase Breakdown (Part Two)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As with Part One of my WIBCA Showcase breakdown, we will take a look at a few different categories of players that includes guys from each of the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 classes. I will go over <em>Top Performers, Noteworthy Performers, Under the Radar Performers, High-Potential Players, </em>and some of the <em>Standout Shooters </em>from the two-day event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the first half of this breakdown of more than 60 players <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/05/wibca-showcase-breakdown-part-one/">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, let's continue with some of the top performers from the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Top Performers</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>These players were some of the best performers I witnessed from the weekend and really lifted themselves above the competition.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270714' first='Kobe' last='Parlin'] | Mark Morris | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Made it look easy for much of the weekend and his high IQ showed through. Superior stop-and-go ability with the ball helped him get to the rim and create space on the pullup. Showed great balance and an awareness that was a cut above most of the other players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1425653' first='Hayden' last='Conaxis'] | Everett | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Was a force on the glass, bringing down boards on both ends and tipping in second-chance buckets. Aggressive on both ends, blocking shots, even tried to dunk on the biggest guy at the event ([player_tooltip player_id='1450562' first='Jacori' last='Ervin']). It didn't land but the energy and strength he played with was phenomenal. Knocked down a couple corner threes too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450497' first='Braydon' last='Olson'] | Mark Morris | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His handle looked really good and he is ready to have the ball in his hands a lot next winter. Got through the defense with regularity, playmaking for others just as much as he got his own shot. He also showed off impressive range from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450492' first='Ajayi' last='Simmons'] | Renton | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe the most impressive player from the entire event. Has the length, motor, and athleticism to finish at will at the rim. Caught lobs, beat guys off the bounce, hit jumpers from the mid-range, and knocked down threes at a high clip. Same story on the other end, rejecting shots and showing the potential to be a dominant two-way player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1612261' first='Adam' last='Davis'] | Tahoma | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Was able to rack up points by putting himself in good positions, working within the offensive flow, and attacking from all over the floor. Aggressive but unselfish play and highly efficient offensive player. Active on the glass too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450562' first='Jacori' last='Ervin'] | North Central | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His reach left opposing players helpless for much of the weekend. Made himself big on pin-downs and when he had time and space he was a problem. Stepped out to knock down a couple of outside shots too and has great energy for a big guy who wants to get on the end of everything.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1451025' first='Leyton' last='Martin'] | Arlington | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timing is unbelievable when jumping to the ball to double or go for the steal. Had numerous plays ripping the ball away off a double-team or after a rebound and has the presence of mind to quickly switch into an offensive mindset and get the ball out for an assist. Incredible passer and sets up his moves so well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485584' first='Colton' last='Wells'] | Freeman | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continues to show he can play on the perimeter by sinking threes without hesitation, flying around the court, and making quick decisions with the ball. Took me a bit to recognize him because his game has evolved so much over the last year. Could be in for a big year next winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450996' first='Landen' last='Birley'] | West Valley | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Got off to a hot start and never stopped. Scored from all three levels, confident as hell with the ball and never seemed out of rhythm. Made some nice dishes as well and was one of the strongest finishers of the weekend. Left his mark all over the game and played solid all-around ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1685507' first='Elijah' last='Gillespie'] | Graham Kapowsin | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Exceptionally cool and confident for a freshman. Held defenders at bay with the dribble, got to his spots, and manipulated defenders to open passing lanes and looks for teammates. High IQ kid who can shoot the rock too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Noteworthy Performers</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Here are some performers who didn't quite make the top list, but nonetheless put together good stretches of play and exhibited high-level hooping.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Donald Vinson </strong>| Renton | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smaller kid but understands angles when attacking the rim and used good quickness to get edge on defenders and finished high above contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1977240' first='Henry' last='Wilson']</strong> | Tumwater | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great activity inside, setting screens and just being big on the glass and in the defensive paint. Looked for his shot inside but didn't force things.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450954' first='Isaiah' last='White'] | Everett | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid all-around game. Strong at the rim, hit shots from the mid-range, rebounded well and made smart plays. Nothing flashy this weekend but effective, mistake-free basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1977206' first='Logan' last='Tews']</strong> | Mountlake Terrace | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quick thinker that kept the ball moving, and made a ton of compact moves in tight spaces to beat guys with the dribble. Can be pretty crafty at the rim too and gets things going from the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlos Clark</strong> | Renton | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really agile guard that got to the hoop with relative ease. Equally quick hands on defense and really sped up opposing guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1612206' first='Aidan' last='Bews'] | Quincy | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong player who continues to get better off the dribble. Split a couple defenders driving middle for an and-one lay up. Worked well with back to the basket from either side of the floor and has great instincts in post to whip out the right move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1451027' first='Dennis' last='Johnson III'] | Renton | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did his thing scoring the ball inside and out. Made the most of his touches and is one of the smoother scorers in his class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485541' first='Matt' last='Lindblom'] | Olympia | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Made some super tough shots with short to mid-range jumpers. Great footwork, excellent use of the pivot and fakes to get shots off under tight defense. Pump fakes galore and such a patient player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450982' first='Gelonni' last='“JuJu” Ervin'] | North Central | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ervin hit a couple of mid-range shots, even a nice turnaround that found bottom. He didn't knock down all his freebies but the work is clearly there and the form looks much more fluid. Played in the pick-and-roll really well and finished strong at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1587980' first='Ismail' last='Guyo'] | Nathan Hale | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saw the floor really well on both sides of the ball. Super long playmaking guard that consistently stretched the floor and provided beautiful feeds into the post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Under the Radar Performers</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Here are some lesser-known names that stood out for strong play at the showcase.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Finely</strong> | Foss | 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super quick and smooth getting to the hoop. Always looked to attack and made a lot of things happen knifing inside the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978880' first='Ty' last='Bloomfield']</strong> | Everett | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shot the three-ball well and was able to make the right play at the right time, either scoring or passing the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1485657' first='Tate' last='Dawson'] | Eastside Catholic | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Complete point guard that brought energy on both ends. Tough on-ball defense and great ball control with the ability to chip in a few buckets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1984467' first='Cole' last='Browne']</strong> | Gig Harbor | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid defender with decent length that could finish through and around defenders on the other end. Got up and down, hustled around, and made some key passes while on the move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>High-Potential Players</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>These players showed flashes of potentially dominant skills down the road.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1454915' first='Clay' last='Morgan'] | Tumwater | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His size and skill set can potentially cause problems as he could be a playmaker from unique areas of the floor. Improving the outside shot could help keep defenders honest and open up more lanes for playmaking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1798145' first='Jakari' last='Singleton']</strong> | Reardan | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long kid that caused problems inside, on the glass, and in passing lanes. Made some nice plays penetrating in half-court and dishing or finishing. Also found success in transition making good decisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1685506' first='Will' last='Nasinec'] | Puyallup | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Struggled to finish through some early contact but no doubt has the skills and finesse to be a problem down low. Great footwork and attacking mindset that should take off once he gets stronger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1587955' first='Parker' last='Mills'] | West Valley | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was a little slow compared to some of the older post players but displayed precise footwork on the block and a good work rate on defense to stay in front of quicker players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Standout Shooters</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Just a few guys who found their rhythm from behind the arc.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1450568' first='Mason' last='Thomas'] | Franklin Pierce | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1409013' first='Peter' last='Dress'] | Kamiakin | 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1588000' first='Rayshaun' last='Connor'] | Mountlake Terrace | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1444804' first='Arion' last='Palacol'] | Marysville Getchell | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1863242' first='Dekker' last='Van De Graaf'] | Zillah | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->