2019 Rankings: Top Shooting Guards/Wings
(Photo Credit: Falmouth Outlook)
With our release of the latest version of the 2018 Prospect Rankings, we look to break down each position. Prep Hoops Kentucky breaks down the shooting guard and wing positions here:
Dontaie Allen, Pendleton County High School (6’6, Wing)
Allen continues to show an ability to slash and make plays around the basket. His length allows him to do a number of different things offensively. Allen averaged 29.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Dontaie has scholarship offers from Northern Kentucky, Morehead State, and Eastern Kentucky. Has interest from Xavier and other top programs.
JJ Kalakon, Waggener High School (6’4, SG)
Kalakon helped lead Waggener to a 19-12 record as a sophomore last season and a trip to the 7th Region tournament. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He shot the ball at a rate of 46% from the field.
TreVon Smith, Taylor County High School (6’4, G)
Smith averaged 17 points and and 5 rebounds per game on a Taylor County team that made it to Rupp for the state tournament for the third year in a row. He shot the ball at 46% from the field (38% from 3-pt range). He was a member of the all-district team and currently holds an offer from Morehead State.
Brennan Canada, Montgomery County High School (6’5, SG)
Canada averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting the ball at 42% from the field. He is considered one of the best scorers in Kentucky’s 2019 class. He has received interest from Morehead State and Lipscomb.
Carson Gutherie, Mayfield High School (6’4, G)
Carson averaged 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for Mayfield as a sophomore last season. He shot 56% from the field. Mayfield came up just short of making the state tournament, losing to Graves County in overtime of the regional championship game. Carson had 14 points and 8 rebounds in that game.
Connor Gutherie, Mayfield High School (6’4, G)
Connor averaged 16 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.5% from the field (45% from 3-pt range, on over 200 attempts). Connor can really shoot it from deep. He (along with brother Carson), helped lead Mayfield to a district championship and a shot at the regional championship (losing to Graves County in overtime). In the regional championship game, Connor scored 17 points and pulled down 7 boards, shooting 46% from the field.
Mason Shifflett, Teays Valley Christian (WV) (6’4, SG)
Mason transferred from Wesley Christian (KY) to Teays Valley Christian and competes with MATTS Mustangs (KY) during the summer AAU scene. He holds an offer from Stetson and recently visited Robert Morris University (D1). Shifflett has other interests from UNC Greensboro, Wright State, Air Force, Lipscomb, Appalachian State, IPFW, and High Point.
James Nicholas, Hopkinsville High School (6’4, SG)
Expect James Nicholas averages to improve this season. The graduation of CJ Henagan should open up more touches and scoring opportunities for him. He averaged just over 6 points last season as a sophomore on a team that made it all the way to the state tournament. He also averaged nearly 5 rebounds per game.
Cameron Wilson, Louisville Valley High School (6’2, G)
Valley went 22-9 last season and made it to the 6th Region tournament. Wilson’s contributions as a sophomore cannot be commended enough. He averaged 15.1 points per game, leading the Vikings in scoring.
Taquan Hollowell, University Heights Academy (6’4, Wing)
Taquan hops to follow in the footsteps of another Hollowell (Tray, Wofford College) that had an outstanding high school career at University Heights. Taquan is another one who’s averages should improve during his junior campaign after the graduation of Tray Hollowell. He averaged just over 7 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore.
Rodriquez Thomas, Paducah Tilghman (6’2, G)
The Blue Tornadoes went 20-11 last season during Thomas’ sophomore year. He averaged just under 14 points per game, shooting the ball at a rate of 52.5% from the field (40% from 3-pt range).
Bryce Long, Scott County High School (6’2, SG)
NAIA’s and D-II’s should get on Bryce Long now. Long had a strong showing as a sophomore on a really good Scott County team that was widely consider the best team in the state before falling short in the state tournament. Long averaged 12 points per game, shooting 46% from the field (36.8% from 3-pt range).
Kyle Stivers, Franklin County High School (6’2, G)
Stivers averaged just under 10 points per game at Franklin County last season and most anticipate this season being a breakout one for him. He shot nearly 50% from the field as a sophomore.
Noah Back, Perry County Central High School (6’3, SG)
Noah averaged just under 14 points per game on a team that advanced to the elite 8 of the state’s sweet sixteen tournament. Back loves to shoot the 3, where he averaged 40% on over 250 attempts (over half his shots).