17U Guards Who Shined at The Finale

<p>Prep Hoops highlighted several of the top 17U guards at The Finale, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889470" first="Harrison" last="Braudis"], [player_tooltip player_id="889458" first="Javon" last="Grant"], [player_tooltip player_id="730622" first="Jack" last="Johnson"], Nate Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id="730611" first="Alston" last="Mason"], [player_tooltip player_id="868128" first="Christian" last="Williams"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889475" first="Dawson" last="Zenger"]</strong>.</p> <p>But there were so many great guards at the tournament at Kansas City that the kids from Kansas deserve a second look.</p> <p>Here is another handful of top Kansas guards to compete in the 17U Division of The Finale (in alphabetical order and with club and high school listed):</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889476" first="Michael" last="Cahill"], Team KC Don 17U, St. James Academy:</strong></p> <p>A 6-foot heady quarterback, Cahill is a nice passer on the drive. He can break down a defender and get to the lane, and he’s unselfish enough to look for teammates. He’s also a shooter from deep, able to stretch the defense.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1072889" first="Rohan" last="Gupta"], Perry Ellis 34 17U, Sunrise Christian Academy:</strong></p> <p>This guy can really create havoc in the lane. He draws a lot of fouls and has great touch from the line. He’s always looking to drive, he can kick to teammates, pull up for jumpers or get to the hole. Standing 6-foot-2 and solid, he can get where he wants to go on the court, and present a problem at the defensive end.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889486" first="Jack" last="Hutchinson"], SSA Black, Washburn Rural:</strong></p> <p>One of the elite shooters around, Hutchinson is versatile enough to be taken out of the game by a defense. He can push the ball up the court aggressively, look ahead for long passes, and handle the ball under pressure. But left open, he is a game changer from the perimeter. He’s got a high basketball IQ and works hard at the defensive end.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1070200" first="Josh" last="Jordan"], Kansas Pray N Play, Salina South:</strong></p> <p>A 5A honorable mention pick, Jordan is a physical mismatch. He never looks like he has to go full speed to beat opposing guards. He’s a great rebounding guard who can take the ball the length of the floor. His physical style makes him tough to slow down on the drive, and he draws a lot of fouls. He has high basketball IQ and makes his team better by doing all the right things.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="946176" first="Carter" last="Reid"], Kansas Pray N Play, Bishop Carroll:</strong></p> <p>An active and hard working 6-footer, Reid makes the most of his time on the court for Pray N Play. He will be found diving on the floor, chasing down dribblers from behind, and sacrificing his body on daring drives. He can handle the ball, shoot from anywhere, and make athletic plays. He’s an instant shot of energy to his team.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="885561" first="Elijas" last="Watson"], Kansas Hoggs 17U, Shawnee Heights:</strong></p> <p>Watson is an interesting player. He graduated in 2020 and is really taking his game to new heights this summer. When the Hoggs were short-handed at The Finale, he put the team on his back and created tons of opportunities for teammates. He’s just 5-foot-10 and slightly built, but he’s tough and fearless with the ball in his hands. And he’s had a ton of experience for the 17U level.</p>