Minnesota Future Stars Classic: Top Point Guards
There were a number of point guards that impressed in last weekend’s Minnesota Future Stars Classic, and each guard used their unique skill set to affect the game. Some players were great in transition, while others showed a unique ability…
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Continue ReadingThere were a number of point guards that impressed in last weekend’s Minnesota Future Stars Classic, and each guard used their unique skill set to affect the game. Some players were great in transition, while others showed a unique ability to score and pass the ball. Here is a list of some of the top point guards who took part in this weekend’s tournament.
Point Guards that impressed:
Carsen Barta Hook Shot
Carsen Barta just hit a beautiful hook shot while going away from the basket. Very impressive! #PHFutureStars pic.twitter.com/D7ooBYelNw
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) April 28, 2019
One of the more impressive point guards this weekend was Carsen Barta. His ability to use screens to get open and run the pick-and-roll set him apart from the competition. He did a great job of getting his big men involved and creating shots for others on the team. He also showed a unique ability to make tough shots. In the video above you can see Adam Jenkins come to set a screen for him. Barta recognizes the defender preparing to fight over the screen and explodes into the lane. He then hits a great hook shot over the help defender while going away from the basket.
Will Walter beats two defenders
Will Walter get’s to the rim and finishes over two defenders. #PHFutureStars #aaubasketball pic.twitter.com/SRSvruN7Ok
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) April 28, 2019
Throughout the weekend, Will Walter did a great job of initiating offense for Minnesota Rise. His ability to handle the ball and get to places on the floor where the defense was vulnerable was paramount to the success Minnesota Rise had against opposing teams. The video above shows Walter’s use of the cross-over dribble to get the defender out of position. He then drives to the rim and uses his left hand to bank the ball in over two defenders.
Vrisel Manual
One of the most intelligent basketball players on the floor this weekend was Vrisel Manual. The two-way point guard had his way on both ends of the floor whenever he wanted to. In one of the key plays that highlighted his basketball IQ, Manual received the ball on the wing and drove baseline towards the rim. While the opposing center did a great job of collapsing to block the shot, Manual recognized it and executed a textbook reverse layup to ensure that his shot wasn’t blocked.
Jaden Shones goes coast-to-coast
Jaden Shones does a good job of breaking the full-court press and getting to the rim for the easy layup. #PHFutureStars #aaubasketball pic.twitter.com/zPeuG7VS8P
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) April 27, 2019
Jaden Shones was one of the best transition players on the court this weekend. His ability to recognize poor transition defense and exploit it was second-to-none. The featured play, made by Shones, highlights this unique ability. In the play, Shones recognizes the size of the defender and uses his explosiveness to blow by him. He then cuts into the teeth of the defense, absorbs contact and banks his shot in.
Colby Brueggemeier’s pick-and-roll assist
Back-to-back assists for Colby Brueggemeier, including this beautiful bounce pass off of the pick and roll. #PHFutureStars #aaubasketball #MinnesotaSwish pic.twitter.com/lRmUPBd6B2
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) April 27, 2019
One of the best passers in the tournament was Colby Brueggemeier. While most players used chest passes to move the ball, Brueggemeier had a great recognition of angles when passing. His use of the bounce pass to get teammates open shots, both in the pick-and-roll and on dribble drives, was critical to his team’s success. The featured clip shows Brueggemeier’s second assist in as many possessions. He executes a beautiful bounce pass to Christopher Fulford who is able to score over two defenders.
Honorable Mention: Oscar Khazon
Although Oscar Khazon was not an outright point guard, he often found himself playing point-forward this weekend. His 5’10” frame presented a multitude of problems for opposing defenses, and his ability to create for himself and teammates off the dribble left defenses scrambling to pick up the pieces. Khazon was an efficient scorer and affected the games in a variety of ways on both ends for Top Flight East 2023. Because of his size and the team’s ability to utilize multiple players to run the offense, Khazon did not qualify as a point guard, however he certainly deserves to be an honorable mention on the list.