Five Standouts from Iowa City Liberty vs. Johnston

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five standout players from the Conference Crossover in the Alliant Energy Center, in the second matchup of the day -- Iowa City Liberty vs. Johnston. The Dragons took the victory over the Lightning, 63-51.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/photo-gallery-iowa-city-liberty-vs-johnston/">Photo Gallery: Iowa City Liberty vs. Johnston</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419846"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695c1d156ba6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A new guard on my radar following his showing on Saturday against Liberty, [player_tooltip player_id='2419846' first='Nicare' last='Cavil'] looked like one of the more composed, lead-by-example guards I've seen so far this season. Even when things got chippy and there was some talk between both teams, Cavil remained calm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A point guard that plays at his own pace and doesn't get huried up by opponents, Cavil is a lead guard that won't turn the ball over, makes teammates better and can make shots. A bouncy athlete that can get to the rim and plays good perimeter defense, Cavil is a point guard I'll continue to keep tabs on in the class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1765517"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695c1d156bb05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Back playing with his classmates for the first time since late in the football season, [player_tooltip player_id='1765517' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'] made his basketball season debut on Saturday. A star on the football field at receiver, his length, ball-skills and bounce to make plays as a pass-catcher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He uses those same traits effectively on the basketball court, too. As a defender, Daye has a knack for preventing dribble penetration, getting his hands into passing lanes and preventing turnovers from his own team by grabbing errant passes and keeping them inbounds. As his fitness improves and he gets used to being back on the floor, Daye will be much more of an added threat for the Dragons who are better than their 3-5 record indicates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2772349"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695c1d156bb73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The secondary scorer to [player_tooltip player_id='2118611' first='Jerimiah' last='Washpun'] for Iowa City Liberty, [player_tooltip player_id='2772349' first='Chase' last='Goodheart'] provides consistency and the ability to make open shots -- a perfect complimentary piece to what Washpun does on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Washpun, who we'll get to shortly, he commands so much attention that opposing teams have to double him, they've got to blitz the pick-and-roll and off-ball defenders have to collapse to help defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then a player like Goodheart comes in, who can consistently hit shots from the perimeter. Knowing who he is and where he can best serve the team, Goodheart doesn't need to be the primary scorer, but he can help the Lightning win games this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2116043"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695c1d156bbe1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The tallest player on a Johnston team that lacks size, [player_tooltip player_id='2116043' first='Joshua' last='Jenkins'] is often forced to play the four or five position for the Dragons, though he likely projects to playing small forward at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, Johnston plays a space and pace oriented offense, where they play with five players on the perimeter and get out in transition to score. Jenkins is one of the main threats to shoot from the perimeter in their offense, and as a thinner, smaller big, he can get a good amount of minutes before he needs to sit on the bench. A corner-three merchant, Jenkins was knockdown from the corner for the Dragons, an almost automatic three points on the catch-and-shoot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2118611"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695c1d156bc52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What could be described as the youth call it nowadays as "a bucket," [player_tooltip player_id='2118611' first='Jerimiah' last='Washpun'] is easily one of the best scorers in the state, and he showed against the Dragons on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the ability to score at all three levels, create separation to get a shot off on the perimeter, drive and finish at the rim and get out in transition for easy layups, Washpun was the best player on the floor in Liberty's matchup with Johnston. Finishing with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor and five-of-eight shooting from three, Washpun got some <em>tough </em>shots to go with a hand in his face and good defense from Johnston. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->