2020 Rankings Update: Deep Sleepers at Guard

<p>We have discussed at nauseum some of the top guards in the state heading into their senior year. The 2020 class is a class with some very solid guards at the top, but that doesn’t mean that some haven’t slipped through the cracks. Taking a look back at last season and also with some jumping on the scene in grassroots there were a few guards that jumped out and captured our eyes.</p> <p>We like to call them sleepers, or in this case deep sleepers. These prospects have what it takes to impact the next level, and most likely will. Take a look at the deep sleepers at the guard position!</p> <p><strong>(Number is their ranking)</strong></p> <p><strong>Deep Sleepers: </strong></p> <ol start="50"> <li><strong>Colton Sanders – Thunder ridge</strong></li> </ol> <p>On a team that made it to the coliseum one of the players that was often overlooked but had a big impact on games was one of their X-factor guards, Sanders. Sanders is a hard worker that is a spark plug off of the bench. He takes care of the ball, makes winning plays and is able to play multiple positions. He defends well, can knock down the open shot and is also capable of running the offense when needed. He was not asked to do much offensively last season as he averaged 4.6 points but came up with big stops, rebounds and found the open guy. This summer Sanders was a player that participated in almost every showcase and stood out, he appeared to put in a ton of work and will come back as a player that the Grizzlies will have to rely on. He will have to take on that load and I am expecting a pretty big senior year where he becomes a regular write up. Remember the name Colton Sanders.</p> <ol start="54"> <li><strong>Keshaun Taylor – Thomas Jefferson</strong></li> </ol> <p>Taylor is one of the physically imposing guards that we have in the state. That dunk that he had last season to upset Wheat Ridge was one of the most impressive dunks that I have seen in my time of covering prep sports. Taylor is a down-hill runner that gets to the point. He is tough to stop from getting to the rim, uses his speed and also can run the offense and set others up. For the Spartans last season he was a player that was got it done in various ways. He put up 6.2 points a game and shoed he could be a spark plug when needed. He is also a guard that is an above average rebounder as he averaged six a game which showed that he is productive in the minutes he gets. This year he will have more opportunity to shine and will have to use those minutes to prove that he is able to get more done. I am sure that Coach Laman will have a few packages that gets him some open opportunities to show off that athleticism as he is dangerous in the open court.</p> <ol start="56"> <li><strong>Sam Schliep – Brighton</strong></li> </ol> <p>Brighton was a surprise team that had a successful year last season, considering. They finished at 19-6 on the year and went 9-1 in their conference and will look to build on that success. One of the players they will definitely go through this season, their guard Schliep who made an impact last season but will be asked to do a ton this season. Schliep is not a name that many knows but was a player that showed that he is a crafty ball handler that can create for others. He led the team with 2.4 assists and will have to get back to being a distributor that attacks in moments, something that seemed to wane as the season went along. He has a developing jumper but is not a player you want to leave open, he finishes at the rim and also controls the pace of the game. He works best on ball but can be used off-ball as well. He can rebound as well as score and he played the passing lanes well as he averaged 1.7 steals a game last season, he will have to build on that.</p> <ol start="73"> <li><strong>Yafet Mesfin – Highlands Ranch</strong></li> </ol> <p>Mesfin is a player that plays with high intensity and competes at all times. Defensively he got himself going as he jumped passing lanes, finished in transition and got to the hoop. Mesfin is a shorter guard, but finds a way to finish when he can. He moves well without the ball, has a high basketball IQ and on a talented team last year he was second on the team in assists at three a game to go along with 6.3 points a game. I am predicting he ups both of those averages this upcoming season and is closer to nine points and four assists a game on a team that should surprise a few teams.</p> <ol start="75"> <li><strong>Kyrie Thomas – BSST Byers</strong></li> </ol> <p>Alarming that we have him down this far as not many Juniors in the state had the type of year that he did. He did it all. Scored, rebounded and got others involved and that was while being the focal point of the offense that other teams had to prepare for. Thomas had a whopping 22.2 points, four rebounds and four assists a game as one of the best statlines of anybody in the state. His only downfall was level of competition. To make things more interesting, Thomas made it a point to prove that he could keep up that type of productivity despite who is around him as he was more on the scene this summer as he competed in showcases and such. What he proved was while it was a bit different for him, he is a player that can still affect the game and has the speed and IQ to keep up despite being surrounded by more skilled players. He is very quick and is a confident scorer that brings intensity on the defensive end of the floor. He is a competitor and will be one of the standouts in the smaller class for sure. I expect him to jump into the Top-50 by the mid-season update.</p>