2024 Winterset Shootout: 2026 Prospect Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>C [player_tooltip player_id='1765524' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] | Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to being one of the best basketball prospects in the state, Jacobson, a tight end on the gridiron, has absolutely exploded over the last few months, picking up football offers from Ohio State, Texas A&amp;M, Miami, and Wisconsin, among a handful of others. On the hardwood, he's an athletic, mobile forward who protects the rim at a high level, finishes at the bucket with authority, and can control the glass on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1765518' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] | Ballard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The cat-quick lead guard is one of the best two-way guards in the state, a dynamic on-ball defender with quick hands and feet, as well as a skilled playmaker with the ball in his hands who thrives when he's playing downhill and attacking the rim. He's a good finisher around the rim, as well as a talented passer who sees the floor well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SF [player_tooltip player_id='2120763' first='Jack' last='McGuire'] | Pella</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGuire, a 6-4 wing, has had a strong start to the spring with [program_tooltip program_id='2270834' first='Iowa' last='United'] after leading the Dutch in scoring as a sophomore. He can get to the rim off the dribble non-stop, using his handles and long strides to get to the bucket, where he's an adept finisher with either hand. He's good in the mid-range, and working to extend his range out to the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] | Kuemper Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Badding is one of the best pure shooters in the state, an elite catch-and-shoot weapon who moves extremely well without the ball in his hands and has a lightning-quick release off the catch. He has a smooth stroke and is the type of shooter who can get red hot and knock down five 3s in a quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'] | ADM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lorensen was fantastic as a sophomore for one of the best 3A teams in the state, averaging 15.8 points a game on 51-43-90 shooting. A 6-0 guard with a smooth stroke and a quick release off the catch, he's a great all-around offensive weapon who can do it all for the Tigers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>C [player_tooltip player_id='1765516' first='Marach' last='Dau'] | Ames</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dau is extremely raw on the offensive end but is an absolute game changer on the defensive end, blocking 2.5 shots a game as a sophomore for the Little Cyclones and altering opposing game plans routinely because of his prowess as a shot blocker. He has a huge wingspan, great timing, and runs like a gazelle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] | Xavier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of three skilled Saints in this 2026 class, Pino is a quality lead guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands, creating plays off the bounce for his teammates, or knocking down shots when operating off the ball. He's an intelligent guard with a good feel for the game who can also play solid on-ball defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978110' first='Jaishon' last='White'] | Waukee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong, quick lead guard who handles it extremely well, White is a skilled lead guard who creates plays off the dribble for himself and his teammates at a high level. He's one of the fastest players in the class going end-to-end with the ball in his hands, and his strength allows him to finish through contact effectively with either hand. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] | Xavier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murray is a really good complement to Pino in the Saints' backcourt, a knockdown shooter off the catch who moves well without the ball in his hands. He can get scorching hot and carry the team for stretches offensively, and he's improving as a shot creator off the dribble as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1978102' first='Will' last='Thomas'] | Ames</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas had a really solid sophomore year for Ames, knocking down over 40% of his 3-point attempts and posting 52-41-77 shooting splits. A 5-11 guard who can knock down shots off the dribble and the catch, he can play with or without the ball in his hands, and, as is typical of an Ames guard, is a good on-ball defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] | ADM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high IQ 6-1 guard who can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end, Shull can get to the bucket off the dribble, knock down shots off the catch, and he can defend multiple positions on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PF [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] | Xavier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evans may be the highest upside player on the Saints roster, a mobile 6-8 forward who runs the floor well, has good hands and soft touch around the rim, and can provide some rim protection on the defensive end. He's still a fairly raw player, but he can provide some versatility on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Other ranked prospects in attendance<br></span></strong>SF [player_tooltip player_id='2287857' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'] | Grand View Christian<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2413533' first='Jameson' last='Scharnberg'] | Grand View Christian<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='1978118' first='Ryder' last='Knapp'] | Waukee<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] | Aplington-Parkersburg<br>SF [player_tooltip player_id='2413561' first='Austin' last='Schulte'] | Pella<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1765539' first='Max' last='Roach'] | Waukee<br>PF [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] | Kuemper Catholic<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2413557' first='Caden' last='Klein'] | Newton<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978114' first='Kolby' last='Bechen'] | Centennial<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978115' first='Trey' last='Bryte'] | ADM<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978116' first='Grady' last='Braunschweig-Norris'] | Southeast Polk<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2413535' first='Ethan' last='Vice'] | Clear Creek Amana<br>SF [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] | Center Point-Urbana<br>PF [player_tooltip player_id='2413644' first='Jared' last='Mohr'] | Carroll<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978133' first='Max' last='Town'] | Des Moines Christian<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='2413545' first='Asher' last='Brueck'] | Indianola<br>PF [player_tooltip player_id='1978141' first='Calvin' last='Gehling'] | Waukee<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2204865' first='Connor' last='Doohen'] | Des Moines Christian<br>PG [player_tooltip player_id='1736401' first='Emmanuel' last='Tete'] | Southeast Polk<br>SG [player_tooltip player_id='2413647' first='Mac' last='Collison'] | Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->