2021 Top Combo Guards

<p>New Jersey has always had a good tradition of turning out big-time guards and it is still going strong. <strong>C.J. Wilcher</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="828326" first="Noah" last="Farrakhan"] </strong> were two of the top guards in the 2020 class with Wilcher being named First Team All-State. The 2021 class is filled with talented guards capable of putting up big performances on any given night. Here are the top combo guards in the 2021 class.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850529" first="Wisler" last="Sanon"], Paul VI</strong></p> <p>The Eagles were one of the top teams in South Jersey as they won 21 games and made the Non-Public A South semifinals. Sanon was Paul VI’s top player all season long and is looking to take home a sectional title in his final varsity season. The NJIT commit is a lockdown defender on the perimeter as he stifled VCU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850324" first="Jamir" last="Watkins"]</strong> at the Jeff Coney Classic. Sanon is at his best attacking the basket and can finish through contact. Paul VI will be one of the teams to beat again in Non-Public A South with Sanon in the backcourt.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850511" first="Amar’e" last="Marshall"], Montclair Immaculate</strong></p> <p>The Lions had a historic 2019-20 season as they captured their first ever Essex County Tournament title, won 21 games and finished as a top-10 team in the state. Third Team All-State performer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850330" first="Zion" last="Bethea"]</strong> graduates, but the team is still in good hands with Marshall. The 6’2 guard has a great handle and is tough to keep out of the lane. Marshall has a smooth looking jump shot and makes plays with the ball in his hands. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850513" first="Jayden" last="Brown"]</strong> runs the offense for Montclair Immaculate, but Marshall is also capable of handling lead guard duties for the Lions.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850515" first="Justin" last="Glover"], Hudson Catholic</strong></p> <p>Star guard <strong>Zion Cruz</strong> transferred to Oak Hill Academy in the offseason, but the Hawks should still be in good shape in the backcourt. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850675" first="Isaiah" last="Griffin"]</strong> is ready to run the offense and has a solid backcourt mate in Glover. The junior guard is a big-time shooter who only needs a little bit of space to get his shot up. Glover is a solid defender and makes good decisions with the basketball. Griffin and Glover are one of the top guard duos in Hudson County and are ready to lead the Hawks to new heights in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900293" first="Keith" last="Mency"], Marist</strong></p> <p>Marist is shutting down its doors at the end of the school year, making Mency have to find a new home for his final season. He plays with a scorer’s mentality as he is always hunting for his shot and ready to shoot when he is open. Mency is unafraid of attacking the basket as he uses his strong frame to finish through contact. He is a tough on-ball defender who forced numerous five second calls during the season. Mency will make his new coach very happy with his combination of skill, athleticism and tenacity.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850545" first="Tasheem" last="Anderson"], Newark Central</strong></p> <p>The Blue Devils may have been upset in the first round of the state tournament, but that does not diminish what Anderson accomplished in 2019-20. The University transfer did a little bit of everything as he was top four on the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Anderson knows how to get by the first defender and lay it off to a teammate. He is a tough on-ball defender and is a good rebounder for a guard. Newark Central is ready for a strong 2020-21 campaign with Anderson returning in the backcourt.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Know:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900336" first="Mike" last="Jackson"], Marist</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850548" first="Freddie" last="Young"], Trenton Catholic</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900324" first="Jaylen" last="Boyd-Savage"], Paul VI</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900315" first="Jalen" last="Jones"], St. Thomas Aquinas</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="900329" first="Marcus" last="Pierce"], St. Joseph (Hammonton)</strong></p>