Prep Hoops Iowa Expo: Team 9 Evaluations

Gersema is a tough guard who plays a lot stronger than his frame would make you think. He likes to play downhill and attack the rim, putting pressure on opposing defenders with his combination of quickness, ball-handling, and footwork. He finishes well through contact around the rim, absorbing and finishing, and his footwork allows him to negate some of that contact and finish while drawing the foul. He's a creative playmaker who sees the floor well and gets his teammates involved, and he shoots it well off both the dribble and the catch.     Amenu was one of the smallest players in the gym, but that didn't deter him from competing hard on the glass, using his explosive hops to snatch rebounds out of nowhere against bigger bodies. He has a great first step that he uses to blow by defenders, has a solid floater game, and was one of the faster players going end-to-end with the ball in his hands in the gym.     Harris was really good throughout the afternoon, showing his ability to fill it up from all three levels. He shoots it well off the catch from 3-point range, showing good form and a quick release. He showed some ability to create his own looks off the dribble, using his speed and physical frame to get to the rim, where he's a strong finisher through contact. His combination of size, strength, and length allow him to defend a few different positions, and his offensive game was impressive. He'll be due for a significant jump up the 2025 rankings when they are updated again in December or January.     A young big man who impressed with his mobility and hands, Smith had a solid showing throughout the afternoon on both ends of the floor. Coming from a small school, you never quite know what to expect, but Smith didn't look overwhelmed by the athletes from the 4A schools in attendance, showing the ability to protect the rim defensively, control the glass on both ends, and he was really impressive in transition, flashing great hands and footwork. He made a few really difficult catches in transition while being able to maintain his footwork and finish.     Emerson is a talented guard who can play on or off the ball offensively. He has a nice mid-range game and knows how to get to his spots off the dribble, getting the ball into his shooting pocket and knocking down 15-footers routinely. He can also create plays off the bounce for his teammates, showing impressive vision and handles.    Note: [player_tooltip player_id='2617507' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic) and [player_tooltip player_id='2617509' first='Jackson' last='Lieurance'] (Cascade) were also on Team 9, but were written about in previous articles.