Prep Hoops: The Finale - My Top Point Guards of the Tournament

This past weekend’s Prep Hoops event, The Finale, was loaded with talent. Admittedly, I wasn’t able to watch every point guard in the building, but here are some that I came away impressed with from the weekend. These point guards were leaders on the court for their teams in the capacity they were asked. (Note: Players who made my all-tournament team are not including in this article)   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Grant-Javon-.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1023195" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Grant-Javon--300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="889458" first="Javon" last="Grant"], 2021 - 5’11 PG - Carroll GoL1ve & Pittsburgh High School (KS) In the championship game on Sunday, Grant was getting to the hoop at will. Grant is a really crafty dribbler, who puts it with a quick first step to get by defenders. He can finish some crazy reverse lay-ups, but also has some bounce when he gets downhill at 5’11. Dribbles with eyes up well and finds open teammates in the half court set and when attacking the basket. Grant is really shifty and has a nice step back jumper. Can shoot it out to 20 feet off the dribble. DI offer from Bryant, other DII offers as well. [caption id="attachment_1032624" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Eli-Brown.jpg?1597160459781"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032624" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Eli-Brown-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Peter Spexarth[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="923061" first="Eli" last="Brown"], 2021 - 6’3 PG/CG - Illinois Bear-Walker & Paducah Tilghman High School (KY) Brown could probably be classified as a CG, but I liked what I saw this weekend when he was bringing the ball up and being the PG. I would consider him a bigger, scoring point guard as he is deadly from the 3 point line, but is able to attack the basket. He’s at his best when he’s in the pick-n-roll as he has good awareness about what the right play is. When he can step into his shot off of a screen or exploit an opening to get to the basket or dish off he can really effect a game positively. One play that stood out the most about Brown was a turnaround 3 point shot in the corner with his team down in final seconds to prolong the game. One to watch going forward, LM - DII coaches keep an eye on this one. [player_tooltip player_id="984510" first="Drenin" last="Dinkins"], 2022 - 6’0 PG - Gateway Basketball Club & South Iron High School (MO) Dinkins was the first PG of the weekend that I came away impressed with as he is smooth with the ball in his hands. He’s good when under pressure and glides with the ball in his hands. When I watched Dinkins he has a lot of confidence, and when his team needed someone to make something happen, they called his number. He runs the show really well, and can make big shots off the dribble from 15 feet or shooting from deep. Dinkins is crafty passer, who uses all kinds of passes to get the ball where it needs to go. I really liked his competitiveness and his ability to scrap on defense. This is a point guard who plays at a high level whenever he is on the hardwood. Already has a DII offer. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Roddy-Alexander-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1021622" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Roddy-Alexander-1-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="824154" first="Roddy" last="Alexander"], 2021 - 6’0 PG - Gateway Basketball Club & O’Fallon Christian School (MO) The dual sport athlete, is so quick off the dribble. He uses a nice spin move and quick crossover to get in the lane and has a nice layup package. He uses good vision to see the crease and attack, but also is good at finding one of his teammates on a loaded Gateway Basketball Club team. Alexander is one of those players that if you can keep him going sideways, you have a much better shot than if you allow him to get downhill at you. Transition is a part of his game that he can excel at with his speed and ability to finish at the hoop. Has interest and offers at all levels for football, and could see his stock grow on the hardwood here soon if he continues form. [caption id="attachment_1032628" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Karter-Kekec.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032628" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Karter-Kekec-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Photo: Peter Spexarth[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="824201" first="Karter" last="Kekec"], 2021 - 6’0 PG - Gateway Basketball Club Knights & North County High School (MO) [player_tooltip player_id="824201" first="Karter" last="Kekec"] takes really good care of the ball, makes the right plays and does a lot of things that don’t show up on the score sheet. The thing that impressed me the most was when opponents would bring pressure, whether that be full court or just pressure on the ball, Kekec handled it very well and smoothly. He didn’t rush the offense, but broke the pressure and then brought it back out to start the offense and get his team into the correct places. He also has the ability to knock down jump shots from inside the arch at 15 feet, and from the 3 point line. An attribute that I liked about Kekec was being able to find an opening and using the right pass to get the ball to his teammates in the flow of the offense. Karter is one to watch for coaches of all levels over the next year. [player_tooltip player_id="995998" first="Nick" last="Owens"], 2021 - 5’9 PG - Chicago Demons & Curie High School (ILL) Owens is a good shooter off the catch and he was a mainstay for the Demons this weekend. He’s a consistent guard who makes the right plays and gets the ball in the correct places in order to put his team into the best position to win. Good team player, who plays good, tough on-ball defense. He can pick you up full court, and sits in a stance. Though he’s only 5’9, and going to be smaller than most opponents he goes up against, he brings a fight to the game that will always give him a chance. He can finish amongst the trees by the basket and shows grit in his game. Some program could get a sleeper in Owens. Romeo Bell, 2022 - 6’3 PG - NEBC & McKinley High School (NY) Romeo Bell has a nice control of tempo during the game. He likes to push the ball in transition and get to the basket. He has a nice shooting stroke off the catch at the 3 point line but gets his own shot. He’s a big lead guard who can rebound well for the guard position. Smooth ball handler with loads of confidence with the ball in his hands. When he gets downhill he makes some nice finishes through contact at the hoop. Prospect that could have gotten more interest had there been a regular summer season. [player_tooltip player_id="955402" first="Brayden" last="Dutton"], 2022 - 6’1 CG/PG - H&H Elite & Yukon High School (OK) A good two player, who could play either guard spot, I think his ceiling could be at the point guard position. Dutton feels pressure and gets to his spot well, and can fill it up from all three levels of the court. He’s a good catch and shoot player, but also can take his man off the dribble and use his good looking jump shot. Being the QB on the football team can really help his development on the hardwood leading his team. He was really good this weekend about finding a crease and using straight line drives to get to the hoop. Has the skill and quickness to be an effective player at the next level, as I think he’d be a good fit for a DII school out there. [caption id="attachment_1032718" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Tate-Brown.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032718" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Tate-Brown-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Photo: Jackson Spexarth[/caption] Tate Brown, 2022 - 6’0 PG - Kansas Hoggs & Manhattan High School (KS) Left handed guard who when his team was struggling they put the ball into Brown’s hand and he delivered. Has nice ball rotation on his shot, and when he took his first 3 point shot you could just tell it was going in. He hit a nice short corner turn around jumper, falling away from the basket to his strong left handed side that impressed me the most. He takes care of the ball, and likes to go with his left hand when on the offensive side of the ball. Tate can play at the next level to be determined based on his development over the next year and a half. Alijah Carter, 2021 - 6’2 PG - St. Louis Cobras & Pattonville High School (MO) One of the biggest risers from this weekend for me was Alijah Carter. He is an attack minded, scoring PG who loves to get downhill at the defense. He uses his body well to shield the defender from the ball and makes strong takes to the hole. The best thing that I saw from Carter on Saturday was his ability to convert and ones. He made 3-4 tough buckets with a foul that you wouldn’t expect a player to make. He’s strong and able to get by defenders with his low center of gravity and balance. He was one of the more consistent performers over the weekend who was constantly opening new eyes to his game. This is a player to track if your a college coach at all levels.