Small-School Section 5 Top Guards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top guards in the small schools in Section 5</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"], Minneapolis North</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilson took a big step forward as a sophomore, averaging nearly 16 points per game while running the show for a very good Polars squad. He’s a nightmare to slow down in transition and when he can get downhill. And he’s improved his perimeter jumper - though he’s more streaky than dependable from that area still. Wilson’s a potentially lockdown caliber perimeter defender too. The Polars will be right there in the mix as a contender in Class AA again this winter and Wilson joins Davon Townley and [player_tooltip player_id="532569" first="Andre" last="Gray"] to form one of the best trios in the state. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="532569" first="Andre" last="Gray"], Minneapolis North</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gray had a terrific summer on the grassroots circuit and will give the Polars another elite-level shot-maker. He’s one of the biggest, strongest off guards in the state and will certainly fit in nicely on the defensive end of the floor, as he applies his strength, quickness and athleticism on that end of the floor in a big way. He’s got all-state potential as a senior. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957205" first="Ryan" last="Boysen"], Rockford</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rockford won 21 games last season and while the Rockets had several very good seniors, Boysen was a key cog in the machine from the point guard spot. He’s an effective scorer who can shoot it or get into the teeth of a defense and finish with touch. He’s an adept playmaker who makes the game easier for his teammates and controls tempo well. And he’s a rock-solid defender. The Rockets are going to be solid again in 2020-21 in large part because Boysen is one of the best guards in the Wright County Conference.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774777" first="Gabe" last="Ganz"], Blake</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ganz was a catalyst for Blake last season, averaging 14 points, five rebounds and five assists for a Bears team that won 22 games. He’s a steady playmaker and effective as a complementary scorer, who gets it done on both ends of the floor. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958734" first="Eddie" last="Kramer"], Nevis</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kramer averaged better than 21 points per game as a sophomore for the Tigers last year and could be an all-state level guy over the next two seasons. He’s a lethal long-range shooter who has more than enough off-the-dribble juice to break people down off the dribble and make plays at the rim. He’s got the talent to be a scoring machine and with Nevis looking like a top-10 team in the state, he’ll soon be a household name. </span></p> <p><strong>Robert Grace, Blake</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grace is the orchestrator for an elite Blake offense. He’s a terrific facilitator who makes getting into gaps and pitching out to shooters look artful. He controls tempo well and can while he’s at his best when he’s distributing, he’s also more than capable of providing a scoring punch. And he is a grinder on the defensive end of the floor. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958670" first="De’Meiko" last="Anderson"], Minneapolis North</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anderson showed signs of being a rock-solid two-way player last year, averaging about nine points per game while knocking down nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers. He’s a feisty defensive presence who makes up for a lack of size with high energy, toughness and cat-like quickness. </span></p> <p><strong>Derek Lindow, Nevis</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lindow’s been a rock-solid piece for the Tigers since his freshman season and he joins Kramer in the backcourt to form a terrific tandem. He’s a quality bucket-getter who can shoot it from deep, get to the paint, make plays and play off the ball. Nevis should be the favorite in Section 5A next year and Lindow is a steadying influence on the perimeter. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958825" first="Dylan" last="Uphus"], Browerville/Eagle Valley</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Uphus was a bright spot for Browerville/Eagle Valley last year, averaging nearly 20 points per game while providing top-notch perimeter shooting. The Tigers return a solid chunk of their core from last season, so they should be improved. Uphus emerging as one of the top players in the section should be expected. </span></p>