Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase: Team 1 Evaluations

Mathistad is a good passer who sees the floor well, handles it, and likes to get his teammates involved. He's capable of playing with or without the ball in his hands, showing good offensive awareness and flashing to the rim anytime his defender got caught sleeping. He's an active defender with quick hands.     Phiakhamta is really quick going end-to-end with the ball in his hands, getting coast-to-coast on a number of occasions. He's a smaller guard right now, and his upper body will need to fill out to allow him to finish at a higher clip around the rim, but he's fearless and looks to attack the rim against bigger players. He moves well without the ball in his hands, handles it well, and is a solid passer.     The next Mattes boy to come through Newton, Brennan is a skilled mid-range shooter who knows how to get to his spots both off the dribble and off-ball movement. He gets the ball into his shooting pocket quickly and is a smooth shooter who gets good elevation and rotation on his shot.     A smart wing who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor, Hammond positions himself well on the defensive end and understands rotations. He handles the ball well and looks to attack the rim in transition, doing a nice job shielding the ball from opposing defenders. He's a skilled passer who throws pinpoint passes across the court, showcasing good vision and the ability to throw passes into his teammate's shooting pockets, allowing them to get clean, quick looks.     Washington was extremely impressive in both 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 play, showcasing eye-popping athleticism, which he pairs with length, body control, and a non-stop motor. He has the ability to score inside and out, posting up smaller defenders, knocking down shots from the 3-point line off the catch, and showing the ability to attack bigger defenders off the dribble. He covers a ton of ground with his long strides and has some serious long-term potential as a two-way wing. It's obviously incredibly early in the process, but Washington looks like he may be one of the top players in the state's 2029 class.     Maya was a nice surprise, a tough, athletic 5-6/5-7 combo guard who was relentless in his attacking of the bucket. A lefty who can finish through contact effectively, he does a nice job shielding the ball from defenders on his drives, allowing him to absorb the contact and finish. He changes speeds well, keeping his defender off balance, and he's a capable shooter from the 3-point line.     A big, strong 6-2 forward, McConnell was one of the best rebounders in the gym on Sunday afternoon, routinely pulling down contested boards on either end of the floor. He's also a skilled passer who made several beautiful outlet passes to streaking teammates for easy buckets in transition. He has a good understanding of spacing, sees the floor well, and is a strong finisher around the rim with either hand.