Top 250 Expo: Outstanding 2021 Guards

<p>Out Top 250 went off with flying colors this past weekend, and kids from 4 classes laid it all out on the floor in a fun and exciting event. Here are some 2021 guards who took it to the younger guys:</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1020672" first="Nick" last="Hein"], 6-3, SG, Kennesaw Mountain</strong></em></span></p> <p>Playing with 2022 studs [player_tooltip player_id="598778" first="Jameel" last="Rideout"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1011351" first="Thomas" last="Allard"], Hein was able to show a bunch of intriguing skills with high-level teammates alongside, he saw plenty of good looks off feeds from Rideout and was able to use his strength and athletic ability to crash boards from the opposite wing of Allard, it’s that physicality at a solid 6-3 which is eye-catching with Hein, he can definitely stroke it from deep but really is dangerous and valuable as an attacking player getting to the rim and burly defensive presence from the 2-spot.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869657" first="Andrew" last="Peacock"], 6-2, SG, Cherokee Christian</strong></em></span></p> <p>Peacock in the many times I’ve seen him over the last 3 months almost always affects the game in more ways than just finding the bottom of the net, and that’s the rub with his high IQ hustler who can play 3 spots - he’ll bring the ball up, slide over to the wing and create for himself or teammates, can even catch it along the block and do damage, hit the boards at both ends, and guard the same 3 spots equally well up and down the floor, it’s that kind of versatility that coaches dream of when someone 6-2 can full up the stat sheet and be a winning player without solely needing to fill up the scoring column.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869618" first="Ayden" last="Watson"], 6-4, SF, Sequoyah</strong></em></span></p> <p>In an event that was not short of wow athletes, Watson stood out as he often does when he takes the floor, be it on the summer circuit or for the Chiefs in their good-looking fall league performances to date, it’s that uber athleticism which is head-turning, whether it be exploding off the bounce to the rack or shutting down the opposition’s ballhandler or up to the power forward, its a combo that when turned on consistently is a fifth-gear powerhouse package and one recruiters will be hard-pressed to not at least be compelled to check in on more often.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869629" first="Kristian" last="Ford"], 6-4, SG, East Paulding</strong></em></span></p> <p>Has there been a significant list this summer and fall that Ford hasn’t appeared on? It seems like no, and the reasons are apparent to anyone watching - he can flat out play, and better still does it game in and game out, once again Sunday he showed a varied offensive skillset that was nearly impossible to stop in spots, bombing as always from 3, power-dribbling past flurries of defenders, rebounding from the wing and blocking shots on the break, it’s a package that continues to baffle as to why he isn’t receiving more assertive looks from a greater range of programs, but whoever lands him is getting one the class’ true rising gems.</p>