Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase: Tony's Top Playmakers

The second annual Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with around 70 incoming freshmen and eighth graders taking the floor. Healey Hill 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, 2, 5, and 6, while Healey handled 3, 4, 7, and 8. This article will take a look at five of the top playmakers that I saw.    Oakland may have been the best passer on any of the teams that I saw on Sunday afternoon. He has a tremendous feel for the game and is a gifted, creative passer who sees the floor at an extremely high level. He's able to put constant pressure on opposing teams with his ability to create plays off the dribble, showcasing tight handles and change of pace. In addition to his ability to set his teammates up, he's also a talented shotmaker who thrives in the mid-range, getting to his spots off the bounce and elevating into his shot in the blink of an eye.     A strong guard with a big, projectable frame moving forward, Pesek uses his size and strength to his advantage, bullying his way to the rim against smaller defenders as well as using his size to see over them and create for his teammates. He's a three-level scorer who can absorb and finish through contact at the rim, he competes hard on the glass on both ends of the floor, and is a solid team defender who positions himself well. He looks to push the tempo, pulling down defensive rebounds and leading the break himself, finding his teammates running in transition and rewarding their efforts with pinpoint passes for layups.     Another standout eighth grader, Echols is a long, lanky guard who uses his length to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He has a high IQ and knows where his teammates are going to be, seemingly before they even do, leading them into scoring positions with his passing. He has great vision, handles it well, and can play downhill and get to the rim off the bounce. On the defensive end he moves his feet really well and does a nice job utilizing his long wingspan to not only make life difficult for opposing ball-handlers, but to contest shots as well. He'll play his high school ball at Davenport Assumption.     Ajram is a fast, quick-twitch athlete with really good handles. He loves to apply pressure on opposing guards with his speed on both ends of the floor, relentlessly attacking the rim off the dribble and either scoring or finding open shooters after the defense collapses. Despite his smaller frame, he finishes well through contact with either hand, and has a nice floater game that he uses to score over bigger defenders. He does a nice job setting the table for his teammates, using his handles and vision to create high-quality chances.     A heady, calm lead guard, Denny doesn't get sped up against ball pressure, able to maintain his composure and make smart decisions with the ball in his hands. He's not an overwhelming athlete, but his intelligence and understanding of the game put him in the right spots and make up for the lack of an elite first step. He sees the floor really well and does a nice job making the right play, not the flashy one. He shoots it well off both the dribble and the catch and sets his teammates up well. He's a winning player who does a little bit of everything for his team.

The second annual Prep Hoops Iowa Freshman Showcase took place in Des Moines on Sunday afternoon, with around 70 incoming freshmen and eighth graders taking the floor. Healey Hill 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, 2, 5, and 6, while Healey handled 3, 4, 7, and 8. This article will take a look at five of the top playmakers that I saw.