Iowa Freshman Showcase: First Team All-Showcase

Jackson was the best player in the gym on Saturday afternoon, and he jumped out immediately by effortlessly throwing down windmill dunks while the kids were warming up. His dominant play continued into 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and finally 5-on-5 action, where he showed the ability to score from all three levels with ease. He has a smooth stroke out to the 3-point line and the ability to shoot it at a high clip off both the dribble and the catch, but he's at his best when he's using his explosive athleticism, long strides, and tight handles to blow by defenders and get to the rim for finishes. He's right-hand heavy at this point in his development, but he did show some ability to go to his left as well. He finishes well through contact at the rim and is a good enough ball-handler and playmaker to have the ball in his hands as the initiator of the offense. Defensively, his length, lateral quickness, and athleticism allow him to provide some real versatility, and he does a good job communicating on that end of the floor. All in all, a truly dominant performance from the future Cedar Rapids Washington standout. One of the best individual performances in this setting that I've seen.     Wilmington will be one of the players under serious consideration for the #1 overall spot when the 2028 rankings are released around December. A highly skilled lead guard with a tremendous feel for the game, he makes everything look easy and effortless on the floor. He handles the ball extremely well and has great court vision. He can get to the rim going either direction and is a crafty finisher around the bucket. His mid-range game is excellent, with a smooth, pure release, and he gets the ball into his shooting pocket quickly off the dribble. Defensively, he's a quick guard who moves well side-to-side, and he has great hands. He's the type of guard who can either score 25 on you, or dish out 12 assists, and he's equally content.     Severson is one of the most physically advanced and developed 2028s in the class, a dominant force with explosive athleticism, soft hands, and a frame that he can continue to add plenty of strength onto. He does a great job absorbing contact around the bucket and finishes through it, and he finishes well with either hand in the paint. He has a great mid-range game, with a high, smooth release, and he is working to extend his range out to the 3-point line. He can score in a variety of ways, showing good footwork, touch, and patience on post touches. He's also a really good outlet passer, looking to help push the tempo after pulling down defensive rebounds. He's going to put up monstrous numbers for Madrid for the next four years.     Hughes was without a doubt the most pleasant surprise of the afternoon, a 6-2 wing from a 1A school who was fantastic in each of the three different settings. He's a good athlete who loves to play downhill and attack the rim, where he finishes well with either hand, going in either direction. He finishes through contact and doesn't shy away from it. He can knock down shots from distance off both the dribble and the catch, and he moves really well without the ball in his hands. And while he was excellent on the offensive end throughout the day, it was his play on the defensive end that was what really stood out. He's a great athlete who plays hard on that end of the floor, using his length effectively. He rotates well on that end of the floor, rotating over for a few big blocks during 5-on-5 play, and he also had an extremely impressive chasedown block on a dunk attempt by Ajay Bakke, a great athlete in his own right. Hughes looks like the type of player who can step in day one at North Iowa and be a major contributor.     A 6-0 off-ball guard, Allen shined throughout the afternoon during 5-on-5 action, showing the ability to score from all three levels and play with or without the ball in his hands. He has a quick, smooth release off the catch and does a great job moving without the ball, getting his feet set, and ready to shoot. He runs the floor hard and does a nice job getting to the corner to spot up for 3s in transition, and his constant movement on the offensive end makes him a very difficult matchup for opposing players. After establishing himself as a high-level shooting threat, he did a nice job attacking hard closeouts by putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim, where he showed that he can finish going in either direction.