PH Top 250: Tony’s 2026 First Team All-Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The annual Prep Hoops Iowa Top 250 Expo took place in Grimes on Sunday afternoon. 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 every player in attendance. This article touches on the five best sophomores that I saw among the teams I was tasked with covering – Teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 12.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Most Outstanding Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (Xavier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I knew heading into this event that Murray was a fantastic shooter, but nothing could've prepared me for the way he played in his second game of the day in which he put on a shot making clinic. Off balance. In rhythm. Off the catch. Off the dribble. From 15 feet. From 24 feet. It didn't matter what, where, or how Murray was throwing shots up, it was going to go in, with the net barely moving on any of his shots. It was a sensational showing from the 6-1 off-ball guard, who also looked to attack off the dribble more than I've ever seen him do. If he's able to add some playmaking off the bounce to his absurd shooting off the catch, watch out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] (Storm Lake)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coon was one of the best athletes in the gym on Sunday and he was very impressive on the offensive end. An explosive 6-5 combo forward, he showed increased confidence in his jumper, routinely stepping out and knocking down jumpers off the catch while also showing some ability to attack off the dribble. He loves to finish above the rim and attacking the bucket hard for finishes. He's improved his ball-handling and shot creation, not only for himself but for his teammates. He rebounds well on both ends of the floor and provides some versatility on the defensive end with his combination of size, length, and athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] (Xavier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pino had a really good day on both ends of the floor, showing the ability to play with or without the ball in his hands offensively, and play strong on-ball defense. He has a quick first step that he uses to blow by defenders and get into the teeth of the defense. He's a creative finisher around the rim and is also armed with a good floater game that he uses to finish against bigger defenders. Where he shines the most, however, is as a playmaker. He has great court vision and knows where his teammates are going to be, even in a setting where he hasn't played with a majority of his teammates. He's a creative passer with good instincts. He also showed a lot of confidence in his perimeter stroke, routinely knocking down shots both off the dribble and the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='JaiShon' last='White'] (Waukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong, quick 6-1 guard, White was one of the best two-way players in the gym in the 2026 class. He moves his feet really well on the defensive end, sitting in his stance and keeping opposing ball-handlers in front of him, really making them work hard to get an inch of space. Offensively, he has good handles, great footwork, and is a creative finisher around the rim. He creates well for his teammates, seeing the floor well and looking to get them involved. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1765542' first='Preston' last='Stensland'] (Gilbert)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Pino, Stensland had a really good evening showing the ability to play with and without the ball in his hands. He probably projects more as an off-ball guard than Pino does, showing a high-level ability to shoot it off the catch, but he showed enough playmaking and ball-handling throughout his three games that he can provide his team with some playmaking if needed. He's in constant motion on the offensive end, making his defender work hard to keep up with him and eventually wearing them down and finding an open spot to get his shot off. He has unlimited range. He works hard on the defensive end, fighting through screens and moving his feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->