IA Freshman Showcase: Kings Of Court 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 IA Freshman Showcase brought together over 60 competitors on Sunday. Players from all over the state of Iowa came to display their skill on the floor and what they can bring to the table for their perceptive high school teams this upcoming season. There were close games, intense personal battles, and most importantly - major competition. I had the privilege of being able to coach this event as well &amp; get an inside look at the players mindset while they were out there competing. Below are 5 players that stood out to myself on Court 1 throughout the day. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Falmata Yusuf ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sioux City East","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Falmata Yusuf solidified himself as the best player in the gym yesterday in my opinion, with the highest ceiling while looking toward the future. Yusuf is 6'4, athletic, and very skilled. He has the ability to attack his opponents in every way imaginable, usually finishing at the rim with an electric dunk or finish. On several occasions yesterday he displayed that he was a three-level scorer, an elite athlete, and a fantastic defender with active hands. In his three games he must have averaged 3-5 steals, per game, in the contests that I had the privilege of watching him compete in. Moving forward, know the name because once Fami sees a varsity floor, it's going to be tough to pull him off. He has a chance to be very special in this sport, while displaying a lot of promise already.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Michael Gordan","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Bettendorf","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u0022Hand down, man down.u0022 A common phrase referred to on the court, when speaking about how a defender needs to have a u0022hand-upu0022 at all times to contest an elite shooter. I'm sure that [player_tooltip player_id='2754678' first='Michael' last='Gordon'] of Bettendorf has heard this phrase his whole life with the way he can make jump-shots from all over the court. I had the chance of coaching Michael's team twice at the Freshman Showcase and in each contest he five+ made threes, while shooting over 50% from the field. He was spotting up in transition, screening away and then opening up for a look with his hands ready, coming off of multiple screens in the half court, and getting to every spot he wanted to off of the dribble. He was so locked in that during the last contest of the day, he pulled up for a step-in half court shot and swished it at the buzzer. Honestly, just everything about him screams hooper. Not just shooter, but HOOPER! If he can produce on a high school floor the way he did yesterday, we are talking about a top player throughout all age levels in Iowa.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2164515' first='Jaxson' last='Bean']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Kennedy","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"If you know anything about the 2027 boys class throughout the state of Iowa, you may have heard the name [player_tooltip player_id='2164515' first='Jaxson' last='Bean'] before. Well, over his high school career I think you are going to continue to hear it. Bean is a playmaker. A force with the ball in his hands, who displays the ability to create for himself or others at a consistent rate on both sides of the floor. I had the chance to coach Bean in one contest and against him in another, in both he showed me that mentally he understands the game to a T and he can produce. He moves well without the ball and isn't afraid of contact in any form. He is a lefty that has a nice pull up from deep, wether it be off of the dribble or catch. Not to mention that he communicates well and  is one hell of a teammate to the guys around him. This is one of those players that his determination can carry him places. If he keep working on the correct things and learns from the great players around him at Kennedy high school, the possibilities are endless.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2419840' first='Cayden' last='Larson'] ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"CR-Prairie ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2419840' first='Cayden' last='Larson'] was the most fundamental big man that competed on Court 1 during the Iowa Freshman Showcase on Sunday. Larson has nice size and understands it. He knows to do his work early in a possession, leading to success for himself near the hoop. He keeps the ball high with the ability to turn over either shoulder with his back to the basket and he also has a nice up-and-under move that he can use if his opponents over-play his original spin near the rim. After Larson showed that he can hold his own in the post, he brought his game past the three point line. Hitting a handful of three's whenever his defenders would play off of him. The best part of Larsons game is the foundation he has built. You can tell that he has worked hard on his coordination as he has grown up. When you combined those three things, size/foundation/coordination, you have the base to develop into a monsterous post player over the next few years. He just needs to keep grinding, but on Sunday, he was definitely a player that stood-out over most on Court 1.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2148648' first='Emri' last='Jones']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Johnston ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2148648' first='Emri' last='Jones'] was a coach on the floor and big-time leader for his team on Sunday. Jones, a 5'10 point guard, has a shifty dribble and efficient game style. He keeps it simple and never tried to reach or do too much when the ball is in his hands. He understands where his guys are suppose to be and the holes on the floor that open up, depending on where the ball is. When it come to his scoring ability, he is solid. He can shoot it from deep behind the three point line or put it on the floor, getting all the way into the teeth of the defense for a bucket or assist. Defensively he makes his presence known. He was one of the best communicators on Court 1 throughout the entire day, he knows when to go for a steal compared to when he should sit back on his man and play help-side defense instead, and he rebounds at a high rate. In reality, Jones team was stacked and they won every game they played by around 30 points but a huge reason for their success was because of Jones. His guidance and foresight at the point position was quite impressive.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d14e8f85bfe"} /-->