Updated 2022 Rankings: Guards Rankings (10-1)
With the updated 2022 rankings, we will continue to do in depth breakdowns explaining why we ranked who we ranked. Right now, we’re going to look at how the rankings are broken down by position. Here’s a look at part…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith the updated 2022 rankings, we will continue to do in depth breakdowns explaining why we ranked who we ranked. Right now, we’re going to look at how the rankings are broken down by position. Here’s a look at part two of the guards rankings, looking at some of the point guards and combo guards in the class.
#10 Saxby Sunderland Saxby Sunderland 6'2" | CG Flint Hill | 2022 State VA | 6’2” | Flint Hill (#30 Overall)
Sunderland is set to breakout on the scene in the Northern VA area after a solid sophomore year and with Flint Hill losing three big time seniors he’s going to be a guy that should see his usage rate go through the roof. He’s a combo guard with good size and good feel, he plays with a competitive chip you can’t teach and he can flat out shoot it from deep both off the catch and off the bounce. He showed good improvement over the past year or so and should continue to get better moving forward.
#9 DeJuan Campbell DeJuan Campbell 6'1" | PG Kecoughtan | 2022 State VA | 6’0” | Kecoughtan (#21 Overall)
Campbell is one of the most dynamic scorers in the 757 in any class as he led the Peninsula District in scoring the past two seasons and has already eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career. He’s a lightning quick kid who has great end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands, he’s very shifty off the bounce and his blow by ability allows him to live in the lane where he can score at the rim and with a great middle game. He’s a three level scorer who gets after it and comes at you time and time again every trip down the floor.
#8 Kenyon Giles Kenyon Giles 5'11" | PG Oscar Smith | 2022 NV | 5’10” | Oscar Smith (#19 Overall)
Giles had a breakout year on a senior ladened Oscar Smith team and he’s looking like he’s going to be one of the top guards in the 757 over the next few years. He’s highly skilled and highly cerebral as he understands the game and makes the right plays on both ends of the floor. Despite his size he’s a guy who can guard the length of the floor and moves his feet well, he can handle and has great vision and feel with the ball in his hands and he’s a very efficient shooter from deep both off the catch and off the bounce.
#7 Paul Lewis Paul Lewis 6'1" | PG Bishop O'Connell | 2022 State VA | 6’1” | Bishop O’Connell (#18 Overall)
Lewis is part of a young but talented O’Connell team that should be able to compete in the WCAC if they all stay together moving forward, especially with the confidence and development of Lewis at the lead guard position. The younger brother of JMU star Matt Lewis, Paul had a breakout game on the national level when he poured in 35 points against nationally ranked Mater Dei with an ACC commit at the point guard spot. He’s a good athlete that’s shifty off the bounce, he has deep range off the bounce and plays with a confidence and toughness that makes him very likable.
#6 Lou Hutchinson Lou Hutchinson 6'6" | CG Episcopal | 2022 VA | 6’6” | Episcopal (#17 Overall)
Hutchinson is an extremely intriguing prospect with his size and ability to handle the basketball and play on the perimeter. A lengthy 6’6” guard that can play on and off the ball, Hutchinson’s physical traits have to make college coaches eyebrows raise, and the fact that he can make shots from deep and attack off the bounce makes him very tough to match up with. He needs to fill out moving forward and get his handle a little tighter but his length causes problems defensively and he’s already a two way impact guy with lots of room to get better still.
#5 Kanye Clary Kanye Clary 5'11" | PG Massanutten | 2022 State VA | 5’11” | Princess Anne (#11 Overall)
Clary is one of the most dynamic guards in the state regardless of class and he’s a true floor general that can create for others but also scores it at a high clip as well. He’s lightning quick and extremely shifty with the ball in his hands, he changes speeds well and lives in the lane where he’s able to use his explosiveness to finish at the rim or use his vision to make plays for others. He’s a gritty kid that brings it on both ends of the floor and as he continues to improve his shot making ability from deep he’s going to be even harder to guard moving forward.
#4 Efrem “Butta” Johnson | 6’3” | Western Branch (#8 Overall)
Johnson jumped into the top 10 of our rankings after a very good sophomore season where he helped lead Western Branch to a state tournament appearance. A 6’3” combo guard with good strength and shot making ability, he’s a guy with the total package as a scorer as he can score from all three levels, make shots off the catch and is smooth off the bounce allowing him to get to spots and create space to make shots. He played more on the ball this season, showing good vision and playmaking ability, something that is very underrated about him.
#3 Knasir “Dug” McDaniel | 5’9” | Paul VI (#5 Overall)
McDaniel’s resume stacks up against anyone on this list as he’s been a starter since day one in a PVI backcourt with a McDonald’s All American and Duke commit in Jeremy Roach Jeremy Roach 6'2" | PG Paul VI | 2020 State #19 Nation VA and a top 30 junior in the country in Trevor Keels Trevor Keels 6'4" | SG Paul VI | 2021 State #18 Nation VA . McDaniel isn’t the biggest guard but he plays with intensity on both ends, he’s a very savvy ball handler and a very talented passer and playmaker off the bounce where he can thread the needle and sees the court very well. Defensively he shines as a guy who can get underneath opposing ball handler and make them uncomfortable and he has great quickness and a knack for making plays on both ends.
#2 Donald Hand Jr. Donald Hand Jr. 6'5" | CG Landstown | 2022 State #93 Nation VA | 6’4” | Landstown (#4 Overall)
Hand jumps into the top five of our rankings after he hit a growth spurt and was one of the top scorers in the 757 this season, earning him All State honors. He’s a combo with great size and a great skill set on the offensive end where he’s a knock down shooter both off the catch and off the bounce, and he’s able to create space and get his shot off with a very quick release against the defense. A lot of what he does translates to the next level, especially with his ability to make tough shots, and as he continues to fill out he should be a guy who rounds his game out and becomes a true scorer as a combo guard.
#1 Jayden Epps Jayden Epps 6'1" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State #41 Nation NC | 6’1” | King’s Fork (#1 Overall)
[player_tooltip player_id="787667" first="Jayden" last="Epps"] King’s Fork ’22Epps solidified himself as the top prospect in the 2022 class by leading a very talented King’s Fork group to a state championship while leading the Hampton Roads area in scoring this past season. He isn’t the biggest guy but Epps has it all in his bag as a scoring point guard that can fill it up against anyone, and he’s also a savvy playmaker that shows tons of toughness as he played in front of sold out crowds that were very hostile all season. He has in the gym range off the bounce as he’ll hit multiple 30 footers, he has a great crossover and solid handle that allows him to get in the lane and he has great touch in the midrange as well on floaters and pull-ups. He’s a guy who continues to break onto the national scene and while he already holds a handful of high major offers he should continue to be very highly coveted by high majors who are looking to start early on their 2022 class.