Positional Breakdown: Class of 2018 Smaller Point Guards/Combo Guards
Here is a look at the second wave of point guards and combo guards in the Class of 2018 in the Show-Me State. This week’s list includes the smaller guards who are 6’1″ and under. Jordan Walton 6’0″ Glendale: An…
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Continue ReadingHere is a look at the second wave of point guards and combo guards in the Class of 2018 in the Show-Me State. This week’s list includes the smaller guards who are 6’1″ and under.
Jordan Walton 6’0″ Glendale: An exciting young point guard who brings a lot of shake and bake to the game with his ball handling and passing wizardry, Walton had an excellent summer with Yanders Law. He has quick feet and shifty handles and is quite capable of putting defenders on skates. He has the ability to get in the lane and locate open teammates with pinpoint passes. He can also get buckets with his open court skills and perimeter shooting ability. He’s one of the more entertaining players to watch.
Xavier Rhodes 6’1″ Rockhurst: A long, wiry combo guard who has a potent offensive game, Xavier has an uncanny ability wiggle his way through traffic and get buckets from all different angles. He makes difficult shots at the rim look rather easy. He has a smooth set of handles and knows how to set up his defender for a bucket. He can break them down off the bounce or create the space and make a defender fall, which can lead to a successful 3-pointer.
R.J. Lawrence 5’11” Blue Springs: The talented Lawrence has established himself as one of the top scoring combo guards in the class. He is fully capable of playing the role of the facilitator with his passing ability, but the young man can get buckets and plenty of them. He has the ability to walk up into a 3-point shot, then dart past his defender to get into the lane to make the floater or a 15 footer off the stop and pop. Lawrence is very good at changing speeds and directions to create offensive opportunities.
Ronnie Bell 6’1″ Park Hill: An athletic combo guard who who is capable of playing above the rim. He has some nice dunks and spectacular blocks to his credit. Did an excellent job for Team Rush 16U during the summer. Bell is also an excellent 3-point shooter, who is really good off the catch from long distance. He also has a nice pull up jumper from 15 feet where he can elevate over anyone of any size. He is also an excellent defender who can shoot the passing lanes and create steals and transition opportunities.
Jalen Lewis 5’10” Liberty: A very poised and savvy point guard, Lewis is good at using his quickness to his advantage without ever getting out of control. He does a nice job of running the pick and roll where he can get downhill to the bucket or deliver pinpoint passes to the rolling post player. Lewis is very effective at getting in the lane where he can hit the pull up jumper of floater. His 3-point shooting is also a strong suit.
Austin Thompson 6’1″ MICDS: An athletic point guard with a high basketball IQ, Thompson broke out with a strong summer on the offensive end with the Missouri Hustle. He got in the lane and scored on the dribble drive and knocked down the mid-range jumper on a consistent basis. Thompson is a passionate defender, where he is one of the best around with his length (6’8″ wingspan), athleticism and ability to keep his man in front of him. He’s starting to receive interest from Division II and low-major Division I schools.
Landon Harrison 5’10” Helias: A tough, competitive kid who plays with a high motor on the offensive end. Harrison is at his best when he is on the go and attacking the basket. He goes hard and does a good job of finishing among the trees. Landon is also a good 3-point shooter, which makes him more difficult to defend. He is also a strong passing threat who makes his teammates better. He received an offer from Lincoln University after a strong July with the Missouri Combat.
Deandre Campbell 5’11” Parkway Central: An excellent point guard who enjoyed a good summer with the Jets-Ramey United 16U. Campbell is a strong, physical performer who can lock you down on defense and facilitate on offense. He plays more of a traditional point guard role for his summer team, but during the high school season, Campbell becomes an explosive scoring threat who can get buckets from anywhere on the court. He can get to the basket on the dribble and knock down 3-pointers.
Damien Daniels 5’7″ Hogan Prep: Pound for pound one of the toughest kids in state, the diminutive Daniels makes up for his lack of height with a relentless style of play. He looks to attack the basket at every opportunity. And I mean every opportunity. His explosive speed and quickness usually gets him to the hoop, where he finishes in traffic and in the land of the giants. Daniels is also a hound of the defensive end with his toughness and quickness. I really enjoyed watching this kid work.
Kaden Evans 5’9″ Oak Park: One of the top perimeter shooters in the KC area, this young man can really dial it up from long distance. Play zone defense at your own risk when he is on the floor because he range extends to well beyond the 3-point line. He is a good ball handler who can make pull up jumpers. He also plays well without the ball where he can come off screens and knock down shots with a quick release.