Top 2020 PGs
Let’s examine the best of the best at the point guard position in the 2020 class. The top prospects overall in this class from this group. Who takes the honor at the top of the class?
Adam Miller (Morgan Park)
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Overall Ranking: #1
The 6’4” point guard has great size and the ability to really score it from all three levels. Miller had a strong close to his sophomore season in his first year of playing in Chicago after moving from Peoria. Smooth scorer with size that has become more consistent with his jump shot. Didn’t play parts of July because of injuries. With Ayo gone he could run the city this year!
DJ Steward (Whitney Young)
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Overall Ranking: #2
Steward is an outstanding jump shooter and that is exactly what he did hitting shots all over the floor in July for Meanstreets. Did it both off the catch and pulling up. Works well around ball screens to get his jumper off. Clean release on his shot with textbook mechanics. Pushes the tempo and threaded the needle in transition. Defensively his length plays well getting into opponents along with creating turnovers.
Tyler Beard (Whitney Young)
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Overall Ranking: #3
Beard had a dominant summer starting in June with Nike Elite 100 Camp and continued that into the July live period with Meanstreets. Hard-nosed Chicago guard that loves to attack! Works very well around ball screens exploding off them getting to the rack as well as winning in one on one situations off the bounce. Burst of speed with the ball in his hands. He is solid shooting it pulling up from three. Crisp passes in both the half court and in transition. Throws outlets on the money. Rebounds well from his guard position.
Ahron Ulis (Marian Catholic)
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Overall Ranking: #6
He is a guard that handles the ball well and is particularly effective working in the pick and roll game. Ulis is a sound jump shooter and is actually best pulling up from both mid-range and three. Acrobatic finishes at the rim. Advanced feel passing at the lead guard spot.
Reggie Strong (St. Joseph’s)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #9
Strong is a 6’1” long and angular point guard that was looking to be more of a setup man this spring and summer than when we had seen him in the past. The lead guard did a nice job of that getting others involved with crisp passes and moving the ball throughout the offense. As a scorer his strength is with his mid-range pull up jumper. Pressure on ball defender.
Marcus Watson (Morgan Park)
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Overall Ranking: #10
Defense and speed are the biggest assets of his game. Watson regularly picks the pockets of defenders and takes them the other way leading to points. Explosive speed in the open floor!
Ray’Sean Taylor (Collinsville)
Travel Team: Gateway Illinois
Overall Ranking: #15
The point guard pushes the tempo getting the ball up the floor in a hurry with his speed. Ability to win one on one off the dribble getting in the lane where he finishes well at the rim. Also has a nice looking jumper that he can hit both pulling up and from three. Crisp passer that has some creativity dishing to teammates.
Alex Wood (Normal U-High)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #37
Wood has become a more consistent threat from the perimeter shooting from three. Quick and concise release. Shoots one dribble pull ups with ease. Wood is a plus passer that plays with a high IQ especially in the half court.
Donovan Newby (Bloom)
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Overall Ranking: #38
Newby runs the show for the Wolves and the rising junior can score in spurts. Most effective as a scorer off the bounce converting multiple tough layups at the rim. Tough point guard that plays with a lot of competitiveness.
Elliot Sieger (Whitney Young)
Travel Team: All-In
Overall Ranking: #39
Sieger didn’t shoot it as well as we have seen him in the past during July. His long release is still a bit of a concern. Sieger pushes it in transition with his speed and burst getting past opponents. Can score with layups, runners, and getting on the glass.
Beau Frericks (Cary Grove)
Travel Team: Team RWA
Overall Ranking: #42
Frericks can really shoot the basketball! He has a crisp pull up game that he sets up with strong shot fakes. Clean release from both mid-range and three. Knock down shooting point guard that is fundamentally sound. Toughness on the defensive end as well.
Luke Scheffers (St. Charles North)
Travel Team: Fundamental U
Overall Ranking: #43
Sheffers has proven mostly to be a pass first lead guard early in his career. Excellent distributor that works well in the pick and roll finding teammates for clean looks. His scoring game was on display in July as well. Smooth pull up shooter that hit from both mid-range and three. Also got loose quite a bit for layups in transition.