2020 Rankings Update: Predicting Stock Boosting Guards

This was a rankings update that took us quite some time as we made sure to see as many prospects as we could in person as well as look at how they fared throughout the summer and began the season. With that being said, we added over 30 players to the class rankings and also seen the most movement in 3+ years. We will do one more update right after the season to get prepared for the grassroots season. Here are five guards that we are predicting will make a jump in our next rankings. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-maher/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-maher/">Will Maher</a></a> – Mead Maher comes in at the No. 78 player in the class and honestly, his update might come in the next few weeks. He is not where he should be ranked and that is a mistake that we can admit. He is one of the best floor generals in the state and his guard play is leading the new No. 1 team in all of 4A. He is putting up the second-highest points per game on the team at 13.8 points a game but he is also putting up 5.1 assists a game which makes him the best passer on the team but also at No. 4 overall in 4A. He is a player that has one of the highest 3-point percentages(57% from beyond the arc) that I have ever seen with 83 attempts on the season and his mixture of ballhandling, vision and also shooting makes him one of the most interesting prospects that we have in the state. I am SURE that he deserves to be A LOT higher than the No. 78 player in the class and he will be higher by our next update. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-romero/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-romero/">Jackson Romero</a></a> – Resurrection Christian How many players in the state can say that they have accomplished scoring 1,000 points throughout their career? Not many, but Romero can. He just recently passes that threshold as he is putting up 10.5 points a game but is also the team's primary ballhandler and best passer. He is putting up 5.2 assists a game which ranks at No.5 in all of 3A and also took the game-winning shot which now has Resurrection Christian as the No. 1 team in all of 3A. Romero is a player that has played exceptionally well for all four seasons and is a player that leads by example. He is at the No. 86 player in the class and honestly, that is criminal. He will surely be making improvements by the next update. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marcus-labonde/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marcus-labonde/">Marcus Labonde</a></a> – Fruita Monument Labonde is putting up some of the best scoring numbers in all of 4A as he is a guard that does anything in his power if it means winning the game. He is averaging 21.3 points a game but he is also a player that can step down and rebound with the big man (6.1 rebounds a game) and also makes sure to get his teammates involved (6.0 assists a game) His Fruita Monument team is currently at 13-5 on the season but on the back of their senior swiss-army-knife has been able to win five games in a row. If he is able to keep up this type of production, while also leading his team to more wins, there is no way that he should not rise in our rankings and even compete at being a top-50 player in the class. The stats speak for themselves. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/">Grant Swenson</a></a> – Broomfield Broomfield is off to a rocky start of the year, especially considering how deep that team is and they will have to turn things around soon if they plan on making the playoffs and attempting to turn a few heads and maybe come up with an upset. While their play has been a bit inconsistent, one player that they know they could rely on this season is Senior combo-guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/">Grant Swenson</a></a>. Swenson has good size and is also a player that steps up in big games. He is a player that shoots in bunches and is not afraid to let it fly, he attacks the basket and also is a high IQ player that makes sure that he gets fouled and heads to the foul line. Swenson is a player that has been on varsity for four seasons and is enjoying his best year yet individually as he is putting up 14.7 points, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds a game. He is an aggressive offensive player that is assertive on both ends of the floor and if he is able to continue with this kind of play is a guard that should rise from his No. 72 spot in the class. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/daric-conkright/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/daric-conkright/">Daric Conkright</a></a> – Horizon That Horizon bunch is an excellent and entertaining young team that will be fun to watch for years to come. They play for one another, have a solid group of players that all can get going and they also compete at all times. On a team so young, they have to have someone to show them the ropes, that is where Conkright comes into play as he enjoys his best season yet. As a junior, he was a consistent role player that would space the floor, score in a few different ways and also played tough defense, as a Senior, he does a lot of the same but has worked on his game and is helping in the leadership department as well. Horizon relies on their senior guard to come up with big plays and he has. He is coming off of a game where he put up 18 points and also led the game in assists as he dished out six. On the season, he is putting up 13.4 points a game but is also helping in other ways. He averages 2.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds a game and also plays the passing lanes(1.6 spg) as well. Conkright is a player that I wish I got to see a bit more of at showcases and maybe this summer we will see him come out to a bit more Prep Hoops events so I can get a better look at him. He is the No. 76 player in the class but definitely has room to grow.