Hughes was awesome last year at the Freshman Showcase, and I was excited to see how his game has developed. He didn’t disappoint. You never quite know what you’re going to get when a small-school player comes into a showcase event like this against larger-school players, and he didn’t back down at all, looking every bit the big-school player himself. A rangy wing who can do everything on the offensive end, he’s a confident shooter off the catch, a skilled creator off the dribble, and a tough finisher at the rim. His length is also a major asset on the defensive end, getting into passing lanes and contesting shots.

-Look good in the second half, scored some big buckets

-Clutch, gamer, versatile scorer

-Paint catch, step-through & finish, tied the game up late

-Crucial J-shot from the elbow

-Excellent at finding the soft spot of the zone D, executed

-He delivered when he team really needed him

-Monster O-board late for an extra possession, ran more time off clock

-Inside finish late to help extend the lead

-Secured a defensive rebound late to help seal the victory

I really liked what I saw out of Rockwell this weekend, as his athleticism was on full display. He was able to rise up and convert on some really tough finishes, as well as grab some high flying rebounds. Hughes has a deep bag of moves he can use to work around his defender, finding no trouble getting downhill.

Hughes was impressive at our Freshman Showcase back in August, showing the ability to score from all three levels and play with or without the ball in his hands. He attacks the rim hard off the dribble and can finish through contact effectively with either hand. He shoots it well off both the dribble and the catch, getting good rotation on his jumper with a smooth release and extended range. He also provides some real versatility on the defensive end, holding his own against bigger bodies with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism, and those qualities, combined with his speed, allow him to defend on the perimeter at a high level.