Stand Out Lead Guards at Adidas All In Classic
It’s not simply because they have the ball more often than their teammates, Ohio truly does have a bevy of talented lead guards. There were a bunch of them in Cincinnati this past weekend, as part of the Adidas All…
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Continue ReadingIt’s not simply because they have the ball more often than their teammates, Ohio truly does have a bevy of talented lead guards. There were a bunch of them in Cincinnati this past weekend, as part of the Adidas All In Classic.
So many lead guards that Prep Hoops Ohio cannot even include all of them. However, here are the eight that stopped us in our tracks over the three-day event.
Thomas Hickman (2018) 6’2″ PG. Westerville Central/Ohio-NOVA Rice 16U
When the game became tight late, not only did Thomas Hickman want the ball, everyone on the team wanted him to have the ball. Hickman would catch, hold off pressure, point everyone in the proper spot, then run an on-ball screen (often with Elijah McNamara) to get a quality look. Hickman was never shy, during a comeback effort of his own or the opponent. Talkative lead guard. Clearly passionate about winning.
De’Montez Cooper (2018) 5’4” PG. Woodward High School/Queen City Prophets
Don’t disqualify De’Montez Cooper because of his height, he uses his presence to draw attention and burn the defense. The low center of gravity throws defenders for a loop, meaning he finds unusual opportunities to get his shot off or sees passing lanes that larger point guards don’t have. Opponents tried to trap him often, but his strength and pivoting created moments of separation to fling an accurate pass cross-court to begin the offensive set. Great off-ball cutter.
Danny “DJ” Corbett (2017) 6’0” PG Briggs/VCC NOVA
If Danny Corbett is playing well, the whole team is playing well. The influence of his presence cannot be understated. Simply always makes the correct play, both scoring and setting up a jump-shooting teammate. Impressive understanding of time-and-score. Curled on off-ball screens noticeably well, often turning and hitting the mid-range jumper on the catch. Gets a lot of rebounds, not because of leaping ability, but because he always knows where to be.
Jabari Perkins (2018) 5’11” G. Northmont/Dayton Nets
No other player had more fun on the court than Jabari Perkins. At the same time, he straight up took care of business. Because of his strength, nobody is going to take the ball from him. Few guys can combine that sturdy frame with a consistent jump shot; however, he drained threes off step-backs, pull-ups, catch-and-shoot. Considering the variety of moves coming before the release, you’d be hard-pressed to find another guy who shot the three better than Perkins did this weekend.
Zeb Jackson (2020) 5’10” G. Maumee Valley Country Day School/Ohio Celtics
The incoming freshman played in the U17 Showtime division. Although he played limited minutes, Zeb Jackson impressed with his passing and jump shot. For someone who has never played a high school game, the passing lanes he delivered into were staggering. He took only a few, but the jump shot is pure — often times hardly touching the rim on shots behind the arch.
Chris Jefferson (2018) 5’11” G. Benedictine/Ohio Basketball Club – Classic Impressions
For a player who isn’t even quite 6 feet tall, Chris Jefferson can really protect the rim on a fast break. The break is a situation when your bigs are often still climbing down the floor, but Jefferson will be there, and he will contest the shot. Ultra aggressive on offense: not necessarily with taking shots, but drawing another defender and creating a shot for teammates. In a weekend where a lot of players appeared to be on pins and needles, Jefferson’s purpose and intensity stuck out. Steady presence.
Tommy Schmock (2017) 6’0” PG. St. Edward/Ohio Basketball Club 2017
Borderline professional lead guard presentation in games where spectators and scouts lined the court. Directed traffic, kept his teammates engaged, stayed in front of other quality point guards (including Tyler Mitchell, who also played well this weekend), timely three-pointers, and great body language. In off-ball situations, positioned himself nicely for the convenient passing lane.
Grant Huffman (2020) 6’2” G. St. Edward/Murphy AC
We only had the pleasure of watching Grant Huffman play in one game this weekend, but his skills are apparent. Huffman did a Shaun Livingston impression, by initiating the offense, then jumping into the post and scoring the ball from the block. The ball-handling of a point guard, and the physicality of a post player. Finished through contact, and let out passionate screams afterwards. In the semi-final against SMAC Primetime, he sealed the victory by scoring on consecutive possessions. A player that scouts should put on their radar immediately.