2020 West Michigan Guards On The Rise

<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>2020 West Michigan Players On The Rise: Guards</strong></span></p> <p>With the grassroots season coming to a close and the new school year on the horizon, it's time to take a peek at the seniors who are flying under the radar. A quick aside, this is my first article for Prep Hoops and I'm excited to be a frequent contributor. I'll be focusing on the teams and rising talent in the West Michigan Area. Up first, we'll take a closer look at the up and coming guards in West Michigan for the 2020 class.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Marcelo Conklin, Fruitport</strong></span></p> <p>Conklin has a knack for finding his way to the basket in an aggressive manner. This not only results in hard-earned finishes at the rim, but also makes him a viable threat to shoot it off the dribble, as opposing defenses have to first respect his ability to drive to the basket. He plays with a high motor on both ends of the court, which routinely disrupts opposing offenses, creating turnovers and fast break opportunities.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Jared Dugenar, Muskegon Catholic Central</strong></span></p> <p>Dugenar allows his physicality to set the tone for himself and his team on both ends of the court. He has shown the ability to make tough, contested shots at the rim and also in the mid-range. Dugenar has an assortment of moves to get to the basket and often finishes through contact. He has shown he's not afraid to seek out contact in order to gain leverage on his shots, and can even post up smaller guards. His aggressive style translates to the defensive side of the ball as well, as he often disrupts passing lanes and alters shots on both the perimeter and close to the basket.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Blake Pedersen, West Ottawa</strong></span></p> <p>Pedersen is the embodiment of a floor general for West Ottawa. He maintains a calm approach to the game and can speed up or slow down the defense depending on the situation. Pedersen features a dangerous hesitation dribble, which more often than not results in open shots on the perimeter and in the lane. Pedersen also has shown the ability to draw multiple defenders, providing open looks for his teammates.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Anders Rasmussen, Holland</strong></span></p> <p>Rasmussen’s main strength is his ability to shoot from deep, and he finds his shot in a variety of ways. He has the awareness to find holes in the defense, leading to spot-up jumpers, and has also proved his range is well beyond the three point line. However, don’t confuse Rasmussen for just a shooter, as he has shown he has a steady handle and can take his defender off the dribble, leading to a smooth mid-range jumper.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Avarie Simpson, Guard, Northview</strong></span></p> <p>Simpson will look to lead Northview to another banner year, following a junior campaign which led to a District Championship. Simpson possesses great vision, which often results in putting his teammates in great position to score. Armed with an ankle-breaking step-back move and quick shot release, Simpson needs little separation to get his shot up. On the defensive side of the ball, Simpson terrorizes opposing guards with his lateral speed and quick hands, which often turns into transition buckets for the Wildcats.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Adonis Vashon, East Kentwood</strong></span></p> <p>Vashon is entering his senior year with a lot of momentum after leading East Kentwood to a Quarterfinal appearance last March. Vashon has a smooth jumper and the ability to shoot it from deep on a regular occasion. Frequently, his three point attempts result from spacing the floor correctly to find open shooting lanes. What differentiates Vashon from other guards is his rebounding prowess. He anticipates extremely well and can out-muscle opposing players in loose ball situations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>