Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase: Team 1 Evaluations
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The first ever Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with 64 players from the Class of 2027 competing. Throughout the next few days, myself and Jeremy Brooks will be running through some of…
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Continue ReadingThe first ever Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with 64 players from the Class of 2027 competing. Throughout the next few days, myself and Jeremy Brooks will be running through some of the standout performers from the event, and providing full evaluations of all 64 players who were in attendance. This article will take a look at each player from Team 1.
Karson Rains Karson Rains 5'9" | PG Linn-Mar | 2027 State IA
Karson Rains Karson Rains 5'9" | PG Linn-Mar | 2027 State IA
Rains still has a long way to go in terms of physical development, a slight 5-7 point guard. But his basketball IQ and mental maturity is already there. He’s a tough guard who doesn’t shy away from contact or driving into the trees. He’s a pass-first guard who can break down the defense and get into the paint, where he showed a good floater, some creative finishing, and great court vision. He has a nice mid-range game, shooting it well off the dribble and using his handles and footwork to help create some space to get his shot off. He competed on the defensive end and stuck his nose in on the glass as well.
Carter Cook Carter Cook 5'11" | SG Kennedy | 2027 State IA
Carter Cook Carter Cook 5'11" | SG Kennedy | 2027 State IA
I loved the way that Hundley approached the day. A 5-7 guard, he wasn’t the focal point of his team’s offensive attack, but took advantage of the rare opportunities he got on that end, getting to the rim and finishing. But where he really stood out was with his work on the defensive end. He moves his feet really well laterally and makes opposing ball-handlers work hard just to bring the ball up the floor. He has quick hands, good feet, and positions himself well. A good all-around team defender who seems to take pride in his play on that end of the floor, he’s the type of player who can go overlooked in these types of settings, but his competitiveness stood out in a major way.
Landon Campe
Landon Campe
An off-ball guard with a pure stroke off the catch, Campe does a good job moving without the ball in his hands. He has his feet squared and is ready to shoot it off the catch, with a clean, quick release and plenty of range. He showed some ability as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker as well.
A long wing who showed the ability to score from all three levels and play with or without the ball in his hands, Schon was one of the standout performers from this group. He crashes the glass, especially on the offensive end, hard, using his bounce and length to compete in that area. But his biggest attribute is his ability to shoot it. He showed that he can shoot it at a high level both off the dribble and the catch, with a pure stroke and quick release. He’s the type of shooter that defenders won’t be able to help off of when they’re scouting Kuemper moving forward.
Kash Olson
Kash Olson
Olson didn’t get a ton of opportunities either, but like Hundley, he did the most with his chances. He showed a smooth stroke off the catch and good off-ball movement. He’s a confident shooter who has his feet set on the catch and plenty of range. He keeps the ball moving and sets good, hard screens for his teammates. His shot is pure and is his biggest weapon at this point, and if he continues to grow a bit, he could develop into a pick-and-pop option.
Jaxson Bean Jaxson Bean 6'1" | PG Kennedy | 2027 State IA
Jaxson Bean Jaxson Bean 6'1" | PG Kennedy | 2027 State IA
Bean has a similar playing style as his older brother Joe, a physical lead guard who can invert the offense with his willingness to take smaller defenders onto the block and play bully ball. He absorbs contact around the bucket and finishes through it, and he has good court vision and is a talented passer when he’s operating out of that area on the court. He competes hard on the glass, especially offensively.
Tramaine Horton
Tramaine Horton
A well-built guard with good handles and a quick first step, Horton was able to get to the rim for finishes through contact on multiple occasions. He’ll need to improve the range on his jumper, but he showed a pretty good mid-range game and solid court vision.
Joshua Jenkins Joshua Jenkins 6'3" | SF Johnston | 2027 State IA
Joshua Jenkins Joshua Jenkins 6'3" | SF Johnston | 2027 State IA
Jenkins is probably one of the best long-term prospects that was in the gym on Sunday, a long, lanky 6-2 wing who uses his length effectively on the defensive end to contest shots and get into passing lanes. He’ll need to add some significant strength to his frame, but he has good size already, and his long wingspan suggests that there may be some significant growth still to come. On the offensive end, he showed the ability to do a little bit of everything. He put the ball on the floor and created looks for himself and his teammates. He showed that he can stretch the floor, either off the dribble or the catch. And he showed that he can finish above the rim in transition with authority. He competes on the glass and provides defensive versatility.