July Sleeper Watch List: Guards (Part 2)
With the live periods right around the corner, we at Vantage Hoops will be previewing under the radar guys to keep a watch on across the state. Today, we will look at some of the best slept on guards in the state who should see their recruitment pick up with a good July.
- Latrell Winkey | 5’8” | VA Elite
Winkey is heavily slept on because he goes to Tandem School, a high academic and very small private school in Charlottesville, but don’t sleep on him if you have to guard him because he can flat out fill it up. He has deep range off the bounce, can play either guard position and uses his IQ when matched up with bigger and more athletic guards to make plays on both ends of the floor.
- Michael Brown | 5’9” | EG Premiere
Want to see a tough guard that’s fun to watch? Look no further. Brown isn’t the biggest guy in terms of height, but he’s strong as an ox, is extremely explosive athletically and he doesn’t back down, even against high level competition. He was named All State for a reason, because he has an impact on both ends of the floor, as a leader defensively and one who can take over a game offensively while still making everyone around him better.
- Evan Tebay | 5’11” | BWSL Russell
Tebay is your classic triple threat point guard who can handle it, shoot it and has great vision. He doesn’t have the size or athleticism of his brother who graduated from Bishop Sullivan last year, but he has great knowledge of the game and his players and puts them in good positions to succeed. He plays with pace, gets to his spots and has a good understanding of game situations and what needs to be done and when it needs to get done.
- Phillip “PJ” Roach | 6’1” | Team Loaded 757 Red
Roach has come a long way over the past few seasons, but he’s still under the radar because he was a late bloomer. He’s strong and athletic for his size, is a good defender against both guard positions and he’s a tough finisher in transition. He’s improved his jump shot both from deep and in the midrange, and he seems to step up against good competition, which is something everyone looks for in a lead guard.
- Jalen Williams | 5’11” | D1SA Spartans
Williams is one of the forgotten guys because he’s a role player, but the thing is he’s excellent at the role in which he plays. He plays both on and off the basketball, can guard multiple positions and knocks down open shots from all over the floor. He can control the tempo, puts his teammates in good situations and is a strong finisher, all while typically guarding the best player on the other team.
- Marcus Holman | 6’2” | River City Reign
Holman has come along in the spring, and all that’s missing from his game is consistency. He’s surprisingly athletic, scores it from all over the floor and makes plays that it seems like he shouldn’t be able to make, especially in traffic in the paint. If he can string together multiple good games in front of coaches he should be able to pull in some offers throughout July.