Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase: Team 5 Evaluations

Welp was one of the first players to jump out to me on Sunday afternoon, really shining in 3-on-3 action, and carrying over that strong play into 5-on-5. A 6-1 wing who can break down a defender off the dribble and get to the bucket, he also shoots it well off the catch from the 3-point line, showing a high, smooth, and repeatable release on his jumper. He can finish through contact around the rim, create plays off the bounce for his teammates, and is a long, active defender who moves his feet well and gets up into passing lanes.     Hauge handles the ball really well, routinely getting pressured but handling it well. He has the ability to stop on a dime and elevate into his jumper in the mid-range, with a high release on his shot and good elevation, making it tough to contest. He attacks the offensive glass hard, using his non-stop motor to outwork opposing players.     Gerber stood out with his effort on the glass, despite being one of the smaller players on his team. He makes great, strong contact on his box outs and does a good job holding that contact through the rebounding opportunity. He routinely put his body on a much bigger player and held them off the glass. His 3-point stroke is a bit unorthodox, but he's a capable shooting threat from distance, especially off the catch. He seems like the type of player who is willing to do all the little things that his team needs to compete at a high level - rebound, defend, keep the ball moving, and knock down shots when the opportunity arises - and every successful team needs players like that.     Eiben is another talented ball-handler who really knows how to get to his preferred spots in the mid-range, where he has both a good mid-range jumper and a nice floater that he uses to score over bigger defenders. He does a nice job contorting his body around the rim to take away some of the contact, absorb the rest, and finish through it. He sees the floor well, handles it really well, and is a willing, creative passer who sets his teammates up with pin-point passes directly into their shooting pockets.     Petersen showed that he can play both with and without the ball in his hands, flashing good vision and passing instincts when serving as a playmaker, and good awareness when operating without the ball. On multiple occasions he took advantage of a sleepy defender and cut backdoor for a layup. He has a good feel for the game, plays with pace, and is an active defender with good hands.     Playing on a team that had several other ball-handlers, Kolk understood that his role was going to be to be an active defender and rebounder, and to finish the opportunities presented to him around the bucket. Check, check, and check. His activity as a defender was among the best in the gym, in constant communication with his teammates and using his length and lateral quickness to defend multiple positions. He was really good on the glass on both ends of the floor, and finished through contact at the rim several times.