Jude Gibson Jude Gibson 6'0" | PG Ballard | 2026 State IA was one of the most impressive players in the 3A state tournament. He did about everything for Ballard throughout this tournament. For starters, he was an elite shot creator for the offense. He got buckets from about every area of the court and was very efficient from his spots. Both from the midrange and from beyond the three-point mark, he was a sniper. His fast and effective jump shot proved very difficult for defenders to contest. And even with a defender in his face, his touch never wavered. He displayed an elite ability to rise up and over contests and make shots with a high degree of difficulty. And his elite quickness and ball-handling skills are how he was able to create space for these shots. These skills also aided in his rim scoring. He got to the rim at will throughout this tournament, and he was extremely efficient around the cup. His touch and tough shot-making abilities very much show up in his interior scoring. He finishes through contact with ease and around tough angles and contesting defenders. His floater and contact layups were shots that he could go to at any moment. He also displayed great leadership, while also dominating defensively and cleaning the glass for his team.

A lead guard that any team at the state tournament would love the luxury of having on their squad, Jude Gibson Jude Gibson 6'0" | PG Ballard | 2026 State IA is an explosive athlete that can attack off the dribble and hit shots on the perimeter. An even-keel, never too high, never too low presence on the court, the Ballard senior is the catalyst of the offense, while also being a calming, unselfish presence on the court.

Putting up a quiet 20 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds, Gibson did anything and everything for the Bombers in their 70-40 quarterfinals victory over eighth-seeded Gilbert.

The senior guard has been one of the top guards in the state for the last four years, but he’s playing his best ball at the right time. He has been incredibly efficient in his senior year, shooting 52% from the floor and 43% from the arc, both significant improvements over his marks over the last few years. His speed is his game-changing ability, with few defenders able to keep up with him when he wants to play downhill and get to the rim. He’s also one of the best on-ball defenders in the state, a lightning-quick guard with elite hands. He’s averaging 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 steals per game.