Prep Hoops Iowa Expo: All-Showcase Team

Phillips barely played for LeMars last season and then transferred to St. Mary's for his senior year. The Bulldogs lost a good one, and the Hawks gained one, because he may have been the best player in the gym on Saturday. A long, athletic 6-5 wing who can finish above the rim with authority both in transition and in halfcourt, he's also a talented shooter both off the dribble and the catch. He gets great rotation on his jumper and has a smooth, high, quick release with unlimited range on his jumper. He handles the ball well and can create quality looks for himself and his teammates off the dribble, and he provides some versatility on the defensive end with his blend of length and athleticism. If what I saw from him was any indication of how he will play with RSM this season, the Hawks may be the new favorite in Class 1A. I don't know that any player has ever helped themselves at this event as much as Phillips did yesterday, who gained interest from just about every college in attendance.     Washpun was one of the best players in the gym, cooking opponents in 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 settings. He's one of the top 2027s in the state and he showed why throughout the day with his play. He has one of the best first steps in the state, and he uses that burst to blow by defenders and get to the rim, where he's a strong finisher through contact with either hand. He has great handles and is fantastic in the mid-range. While he's a really good three-level scorer, he's also excellent as a distributor, seeing the floor at a high level and getting his teammates involved well.     Lieurance was his usual dominant self on Saturday, shooting the ball at a ridiculously high clip off both the dribble and the catch. He's one of the best pure shooters I've seen in my 11 years at PHIA, almost to the point where you're surprised if he doesn't make a shot. A big part of that efficiency is the fact that he simply doesn't take bad shots. He moves incredibly well without the ball in his hands, finding open spots in the defense to get his shot off. He has improved as a ball-handler and shot creator, and looked to be more aggressive in playing downhill and using the threat of his jumper to attack the rim hard for finishes. He's a player who can help a Division II team.     Simpson first jumped out by holding down the court during 1-on-1 play, playing excellent defense and showing the ability to score in a variety of ways using the two dribbles he was allotted. His dominance continued into 3-on-3, and then he exploded during 5-on-5 play. A 6-3 wing with long arms, he's a versatile defender who moves his feet well on the defensive end of the floor and contests shots on the perimeter. He's an explosive athlete who runs the floor hard in transition and finishes above the rim with authority. He shoots it really well off the catch and is a capable ball-handler and shot creator off the dribble, and he seemed to gain confidence with every minute that went by.     This was my first time getting a live look at Wollum, and needless to say, he was extremely impressive and will be due for a massive, massive jump up the rankings when they are updated again in December. A legit 6-8 big man with mobility and a ton of bounce, he was a standout on both ends of the floor with his ability to protect the rim and control the glass, as well as score from all three levels. He has a smooth stroke out to the 3-point line, good footwork and touch on the block on post touches, and arguably his most impressive skill was his passing, zipping the ball to open teammates out of the high post and showing impressive court vision. He caught the eye of several college coaches who were in the building.