Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase: Tony's First Team All-Showcase

The second annual Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with around 60 incoming freshmen taking the floor. New Prep Hoops writer Eliot Clough and I were in attendance throughout the event taking notes on every player in attendance, and we'll have a slew of coverage coming throughout the next week. I was primarily responsible for covering Teams 1-3, while Eliot handled 4-6. These are the five best players that I saw from the event.    Noll is a young combo forward who is oozing with long-term potential. Standing 6-8 with the ball handling ability of a guard, he has a smooth stroke with range well beyond the high school line and he shoots it at a high clip off both the dribble and the catch. He has a wingspan that probably comes in around 6-10/6-11, and he uses that length effectively on the defensive end, getting into passing lanes and contesting shots. His ability to space the floor or take smaller defenders onto the block and score are his biggest attributes right now, but this is a young man who has some of the highest upside of any player in the state, regardless of class.     A skilled lefty who can play with or without the ball in his hands, Stork was an offensive dynamo throughout the afternoon, both in 3-on-3 and in 5-on-5 settings. He looks to attack the rim off the dribble routinely, using his handles, footwork, and physicality to bully his way to the rim for finishes. He knocks down shots off both the dribble and the catch with a quick, smooth release.     Hackney was a player who I had heard rave reviews about for his play throughout the summer with Monticello, and he may just slot into the starting lineup immediately as a freshman in command of the offense for the Panthers. He has a good frame that he uses to absorb contact around the rim, handles it well, is able to change speeds and he does a nice job keeping his defender off balance with his change of direction and handles. He contributes across the board, knocking down shots from deep, getting his teammates involved at a high level, is a solid rebounder, and a tough on-ball defender.     The defending 3A champions have another good one coming through in Samuels, a tough, athletic, and physical 6-2/6-3 combo forward who was an absolute force inside the painted area and on the glass throughout the afternoon. He makes strong contact on his box outs, does a great job highpointing the ball, and he has great hands. He finishes well through contact with either hand, and he runs the floor really well, routinely beating his man down the floor and getting easy buckets in transition.     Dreeszen is small, listed in the program at 5-5, but he's extremely skilled, tough, and feisty. He handles the ball really well, keeping his defender off balance, and he's an electric shooter with "in the gym" range. He shoots it really well off both the dribble and the catch, showing his picturesque form and great rotation on his shot. He's a scrappy, quick on-ball defender with quick hands and great lateral movement. Despite his smaller stature he competes hard on the glass on both ends of the floor, and he does a nice job using the threat of his shot to open up the rest of his offensive game, getting into the teeth of the defense and either scoring with floaters or finding open teammates.

The second annual Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with around 60 incoming freshmen taking the floor. New Prep Hoops writer Eliot Clough and I were in attendance throughout the event taking notes on every player in attendance, and we'll have a slew of coverage coming throughout the next week. I was primarily responsible for covering Teams 1-3, while Eliot handled 4-6. These are the five best players that I saw from the event.