Week 3 Scouting Notebook: Tony's Top Guards

[caption id="attachment_1032394" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/phcircuit-27.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032394" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/phcircuit-27-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> Photo: Alex Conover Prep Hoops[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="682279" first="Tamin" last="Lipsey"] (Ames, 2022) I almost forgot how much fun Lipsey is to watch. The top-ranked player in the class of 2022, Lipsey is always under control and makes a huge impact on both ends of the floor with his physicality, quickness, and IQ. He's one of the smartest players in the state, and I love the way he approaches the game. He eased into the Little Cyclones' win over Marshalltown, letting everyone else get involved in the first quarter before starting to really assert himself on the offensive end. He's an efficient scorer who is outstanding in the pick-and-roll, with the ability to easily split a double and turn the corner, pull up for a jumper, or find the roll man. He's a great team defender who rotates well, helps, and isn't afraid to step in and take a charge. He has a great feel for the game and knows when it's time for him to go and get a bucket, but he also knows that he needs to get his teammates involved. He finished with 24 points on 10-17 shooting (2-5 3P), 3 assists, and 3 steals. Welcome back, Tamin.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/46-James-Glenn.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1066247" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/46-James-Glenn-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="727881" first="James" last="Glenn"] (Southeast Polk, 2021) Glenn has always been one of the better shooters in the 2021 class, but it has been so much fun to watch him develop his all-around game, and turn himself into one of the best players in the 2021 class. He just keeps adding more to his game, improving his playmaking and all-around scoring abilities, and he's making an impact on the defensive end as well, jumping passing lanes and playing really solid off-ball defense. He's an absolute flamethrower when he gets it going, with limitless range, and he's used the respect that defenses need to give his jumper to open up the rest of his game. He's become a much better ball-handler, and had an impressive split of a double team at the top of the key against Dowling, and he got to the bucket for a nice finish. He has great footwork that he uses to create space to get his shot off, and he's got a lightning-quick release. He's a good rebounder who came up with a huge offensive rebound in the fourth quarter that led to a 3 of his own to give the Rams the lead. He finished with a remarkably efficient 33 points on 8-11 shooting (4-5 3P, 13-15 FT) with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the Rams win.   [player_tooltip player_id="682291" first="Armonniey" last="Thomas"] (Marshalltown, 2022) Thomas had a rough game against Ames, going just 2-9 from the floor, but he showed glimpses of his abilities throughout the contest. He's got good length and is really quick with the ball in his hands. He can put pressure on the defense with his ability to get to the bucket. He moves well off the ball, cutting to the rim, and he finishes well with either hand around the rim. He rebounds at a high level for a guard and can turn up the floor and push it in a hurry. He sees the floor well, changes directions, and is a good passer. With his length and quickness, he can be a good defender, and if he can become a more consistent shooter, he'll be a really good offensive player. He dealt with foul trouble for much of the game, which didn't really allow him to get into a real rhythm, which certainly hurt, but there is a lot of potential here.   [player_tooltip player_id="678945" first="Casey" last="Mumm"] (Ames, 2021) Mumm does a lot of little things that help teams win. He had 6 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in the Little Cyclones win over Marshalltown. He does a great job on defense, both on and off the ball. He sits in his stance and moves his feet on the ball, and he has great anticipation and gets up into the passing lanes when he's playing off-ball. Offensively, he moves well off the ball, finding space in the defense to get his shot off, and he gets on the floor for loose balls. Every winning team needs a kid like Mumm on their roster.   Sam Hughes (Dowling Catholic, 2021) What stood out about Hughes in the Maroons loss to Southeast Polk was his aggressiveness in getting to the rim. He finished with 12 points on 3-3 shooting (6-6 FT) along with 3 assists. He does a nice job probing the defense and getting to the bucket, where he's a good finisher who really absorbs contact well and finishes through it. He had a pair of and-one finishes.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kaleb-Booth.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1067003" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kaleb-Booth-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="962631" first="Kaleb" last="Booth"] (Carroll, 2022) Booth has a really quick first step that he uses to attack hard closeouts. He combines that with great range and a silky smooth stroke to make him a really dangerous offensive player. He gets the ball into the shooting pocket quickly, especially when he's shooting off the catch, and he moves really well off the ball. He's a capable shooter off both the dribble and catch, but I think he's better off the catch right now. He's balanced, has his feet squared, and has a great release. In addition to his scoring, he's a good ball-handler and playmaker who looks to get others involved.   [player_tooltip player_id="964880" first="Mason" last="Murphy"] (Ballard, 2021) Murphy looks like a much more confident shooter this year, looking for his shot more this season and showing a smooth, confident release. He was 2-5 from behind the arc in their loss to Carroll, and he used his shooting to open up his dribble penetration. He's a great ball-handler with an excellent inside-out dribble that he uses to get by his defender. He's a great finisher with either hand around the bucket, and he does a nice job changing speeds to keep the defense off balance. He did a nice job attacking the glass and looks to push the tempo after pulling down a board. He's an excellent passer who sees the floor extremely well, finishing with 14 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id="962671" first="Nick" last="Macke"] (Carroll, 2022) Macke does a nice job utilizing ball fakes to keep the defender off balance and get to the rim. He's got great body control around the rim which allows him to avoid the heavy contact, getting just enough to draw the foul, but shielding himself enough to finish. He's a capable shooter from the arc, and, like Booth, utilizes a quick first step to attack hard closeouts.