2026 has taken “fall basketball” to new heights. While many schools can’t even consider playing as a team until their official high school practices start, states such as California, Nevada, Colorado, and Washington allow high school programs to essentially operate year round as “club teams”.
Naturally, there have been a number of for profit fall events that have been popping up out of the woodwork each weekend that provide little to no value to players and are simply a money grab for the admission fee. However, events such as The Border League, Dinos Trigonis‘ Ron Massey Memorial, Ryan Silver‘s AOG event series, and the LA based HS Fall Invite provide substantial value to players, scouts, and college coaches alike.
Add Ani Umana‘s First Look to the latter category.
Held at perennial Texas power Duncanville High School, The First Look was an invite only event that blended prep school powers against some of the best traditional high schools that the DFW had to offer. Preseason Ballislife FAB 50 No. 7 Oak Cliff Faith Family went up against No. 25 Allen HS (Tex.) in a spirited affair that saw Faith Family cruise.
Regionally ranked Iowa United Prep made the journey to South Dallas, host Duncanville unveiled its massive amount of underclass talent, and high major prospects were present in every single game. Despite the college basketball season having already started, over a dozen D-1 programs were in the building including the likes of Oklahoma, Baylor, SMU, and Houston.
Umana, who is one of the most well respected scouts in the nation and has done work with ESPN, Ballislife, and a host of other outlets, made the event a treasure for media, scouts, and college coaches alike. Accurate rosters were distributed, games ran on time, and a comprehensive list of the top prospects was sent out just in case there were some sleepers that you weren’t aware of.
We already examined juniors Bae Bae Groom and King Taylor in our initial article, but there were far more names in the class of 2028 who did their thing that the first look. Here’s a deeper dive into the elite juniors from this weekend’s event in Dallas:
Josiah Rose, 6’3, PG/SG, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Texas)
Considered by some to be the top lead guard in the junior class, Josiah Rose showed his relentless ability to attack defenders in Faith Family’s win over Duncanville at First Look. The powerful lefty was near impossible to stop once he got going downhill (especially going towards his strong hand), created great separation to get to his jumper, and maintained his calling card as the best two way guard in the class on the defensive end. The constant growth that Rose is taking as a lead guard was evident at First Look, but rather than getting caught up in position, the impact that he has on the game on both ends far exceeds his ranking or statistical output.
Kevin Wheatley Jr., 6’6, SF, Iowa United Prep EYBL (Iowa)
A volume scorer, Kevin Wheatley Jr. Took and made a number of incredibly tough shots during Iowa United”s two games at first look. The physically dominant wing punished defenders by going through their chest, exhibited a reliable jumpshot off the bounce, and rebounded the bell well from the perimeter. The consensus top 100 junior showed off the polish and shot creating ability that has made him a serious scoring threat in the class.
Baylor, Oklahoma & Houston are here this morning for the 10am matchup between Duncanville & Faith Family #TheFirstLook https://t.co/f12DkV677F
— Ani Umana (@Ani_Umana) November 7, 2026
Terrell Jackson, 6’9, PF/C, Dallas Carter (Texas)
One of the better post scorers in the class of 2028, Terrell Jacksoin was a straight up nightmare against fellow elite prospect Dawson Battie and St Mark’s. The long armed post showed off his full bag of moves on the block, hit jumpers out to mid-range, and made an impact on both ends of the floor. Coming off of a state championship run and outstanding AAU season with the Dallas Mustangs, Jackson is bound for a monster junior year.
Jeremiah Evans, 6’9, C, Iowa United Prep EYBL (Iowa)
The longest player in the building at First Look really got things going in his second game, showing the ridiculous upside that he possesses. Evans was outstanding running the floor when his motor got going, offered an immense shot blocking presence, and had no problem with the bulk of his offense being as a lob threat. After bursting onto the national scene at the Pangos All-American Camp, the Georgia product has established himself as one of the more intriguing bigs in the junior class.
Luckie Harbert III, 6’8, PF/C, Duncanville HS (Texas)
It was no easy feat for Luckie Harbert III at the First Look. As Duncanville’s biggest player, he was forced to go up against EYBL Scholastic programs Iowa United and Faith Family that possessed near NBA size, but still managed to hold his own. The stretch big did a great job of rebounding his area, was a constant threat as a floor spacer, and has an incredibly quick release on his shot.
Malik Moore, 6’4, PG/SG, Iowa United Prep EYBL (Iowa)
Coming off of a great summer that he shined with monster showings at the Pangos All-American Camp and Wootten Camp, Malik Moore heads to an Iowa United team and got it done from either backcourt spot. The shifty lefty moved like a pro out there, had a variety of creative takes to the rack, and knew how to get to his spot with limited dribbles when playing off the ball. Playing alongside Utah bound Jamaal McKnight in the backcourt, Moore serves as more of a secondary ball handler, but the aforementioned role allows you to see what he can do from either spot.
Editor’s Pick
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