2018 Rankings Breakdown: Baltimore Guards Part 1
PrepHoops Maryland recently updated the class of 2018 players rankings. Getting a list of 100 players and choosing which rank best fits the individual was an extremely difficult challenge. With most of the list consisting of Division I prospects, there is no shortage of talent to go around.
The city of Baltimore is known for breeding elite talent in the sport of basketball. The class of 2018 is no different. Here’s a look at part one of the Baltimore guards from the rankings.
Immanuel Quickley | 6’4 PG | John Carroll/Team BBC | #1 overall
Quickley retaining his top spot in the class rankings from last season and for good reason. He’s having a dominant summer with Team BBC including a recent win against Team Loaded VA where he connected with a bunch of three’s. That’s a part of Quickley’s game that has blossomed the most this spring/summer to go with his extremely high basketball IQ. On the Adidas Uprising Circuit thus far, Quickley is shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 41 percent from deep. The floor general recently cut his list of schools to four: Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, and Miami.
Noah Locke | 6’3 G | McDonogh/Team Melo | #8 overall
Locke’s stock has exploded this summer since the EYBL circuit began. The three-point specialist has been giving teams nightmares as he leads Team Melo in scoring. He leads the entire circuit with 53 made three’s and shooting at a ridiculous 49.5 percent clip. The end of April and early May was quite a time for Locke as he picked up offers from Notre Dame, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Virginia, Marquette, and Pittsburgh. All together, Locke has collected 20 offers and that number is expected to rise once more after the live period in July.
Killers kill 💯 #Summer'17, S/o @HoopMajor @AyalewAdam pic.twitter.com/9gAaN5oTvY
— Noah Locke (@_NoahLocke) May 11, 2017
Montez Mathis | 6’5 G | John Carroll/Team BBC | #10 overall
Mathis is another Baltimore product that has witnessed his stock rise since the AAU season began. He is up to 16 offers which include West Virginia, UConn, and Xavier just to name a few, but the 6’5 guard plans to cut his list soon. Mathis and Quickley have been a tough backcourt for Team BBC. Last season, they both played on the same high school team as well at John Carroll, but injuries to both players at different times didn’t allow for any stability to be formed. Mathis is relentless in attacking and finishing above the rim. While his jumpshot is still a work in progress, there are times where he finds himself catching the hot hand during a game and it shows just how dangerous he can be when it becomes more consistent.
https://twitter.com/TheTeamBBC/status/872020016434216960
Brendan Adams | 6’5 G | Calvert Hall/Team Melo | #16 overall
Adams is an intriguing prospect with plenty to offer. Offensively, he can handle the ball well in one-on-one scenarios and his size allows his to rise over the top of defenders to knock down three’s. He gets good lift and arc on his shot whether it’s off catch-and-shoot situations coming off screens or pull-ups off the dribble. Defensively he uses his length to help distort opposing player’s shot. His active hands help initiate fast breaks where he can give the crowd a show with his dunks. At Calvert Hall, Adams mixes it up between playing on the wing and being the guy who initiates the offense. Adams holds 11 offers including from Kansas State, Stanford, and Minnesota.
😅‼️ pic.twitter.com/w5Nm3XTgyq
— Brendan Adams (@BAuno0) April 4, 2017
Demetrius Mims | 6’6 G | Baltimore Polytechnic Institute/Team Melo | #21 overall
Mims will step into the limelight for the Engineers come next November as they come off winning their first 3A state title in program history. He’ll have big shoes to fill considering Dre Perry is heading to Temple to begin his collegiate career, but Mims is confident in his ability to lead Poly back to the promised land. The long 6’6 guard can score from all three levels and can impact a game on the other end with his on-ball defense. The things that sticks out most about Mims is his versatility to play multiple positions. He currently holds offers from St. John’s, Rhode Island, USF, VCU, amongst other schools.
This what that jungle do 🦁🔥 @HoopMajor pic.twitter.com/eBRxQWB1QS
— Demetrius Mims Jr. (@TheDMJ1) April 18, 2017