Five combo-guards in 3A to keep an eye out for this season

<p>Games are less than a week away after what appears to be the longest offseason ever. Teams and players have gotten back into the swing of things and are ready to begin their seasons. It is more important than ever to get off to a quick start with a late start and condensed season. Here we take a look at some players in 3A that we will have an eye on heading into the season.</p> <h2><strong>Sam Hoops – Lutheran</strong></h2> <p>With as much attention that is given to the top player in the entire state in only his freshman season, other teammates went a bit overlooked for their contribution. Hoops is one of them, and if you take a deeper look at the season that he had, he is a player to keep an eye out for. Hoops is a 6’3 combo-guard with a great understanding of where to be on the floor, how to provide spacing and when and when not to take shots. He is a capable scorer that averaged 11.3 points a game, while deferring to others. Hoops is efficient, shot 40% from beyond the arc, and I hope that he takes more of the initiative to shoot the ball as he is a competent scorer. Excited to see how he plays this season.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965961" first="Abel" last="Maes"] – Manual</strong></h2> <p>Maes was a great addition to Manual last season as he epitomizes all of the things that it means to be a ThunderBolt. He is locked in, takes pride in defense, scores when he has to, and has a dog mentality. What makes him different is that he also understands his role and when to feed the hot man. Consistency is key with him as Maes had games where he took over and others where he could not get much to fall, but one consistent thing is his ability to step up and make the big play when his team needs him. Maes works hard on both ends of the floor and can shoot the 3-ball. Maes shot 41% from beyond the arc, and with scoring needed, Manual will be more reliant on him. Expecting his best year.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050953" first="Elliott" last="Cravitz"] – Colorado Academy</strong></h2> <p>Cravitz is a player that I did not know much about heading into the summer, but with seeing him in tournaments and scrimmages, it makes sense why he was one of the very best guards in all of 3A a season ago. The 6’1 combo-guard is lightning quick, and there is not a shot that he does not like. He has the ability to knock down the 3-ball but also blow-by for finishes at the rim. As a sophomore, Cravitz averaged a team-high 13.8 points a game and had 2.7 steals to go along with it. He found a rhythm offensively for a big stretch in the season and did not look back from there. This season it will be about getting everyone else on board while also elevating his game. I honestly think Cravitz will be the player that plenty hears more about by the season's end as he averages over 15 points a game and leads the Mustangs to a few more wins.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618870" first="Jackson" last="Keil"] – Sterling</strong></h2> <p>All eyes will be on Keil this upcoming season as Sterling has turned into somewhat of a mini-powerhouse these past few years. He has been a solid role player that has had his moments but a consistent force for both years that he was on varsity. As a sophomore, he was a standout that put up 12.4 points a game and showcased himself as a playmaking guard that sets up others. Keil has good size for a guard and scores in various ways. Keil can break a defender down and get the basket, showcases a high IQ, and slashes for easy baskets as well. For Colorado, Hawks is where he shines, and that is what Sterling will need from their star player this upcoming year. Keil is skilled, plays with a chip on his shoulder, and has a mature game. He takes care of the ball, gets to his spots, and is a lockdown defender. Keil is a top guard in the class and will only continue to get better. He’s the guard to see in 3A.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618880" first="Jordan" last="Reed"] – Manual</strong></h2> <p>Reed already has a state championship and knows what it takes to win a basketball game. He took it all in as a freshman and was one of the focal points in his sophomore season. Now, junior year is his to dominate. Reed was coming off of his best game of the year, a 24-point outing with their big man injured, and was ultra-efficient. Reed went 9-11 from the field, took smart shots, and led the team to victory. I say that because those are the kind of nights he will have to have if Manual wants to continue on their path. Reed will be in a position where he has to touch the ball on every possession, navigate through double teams and still trust in his teammates to make the right plays. Reed has solid size as a 6’1 guard who can play on and off the ball and knock down the 3-ball. Unsure if there will be a player in all of 3A that'll have to carry as large of a load as he will, so hopefully, he is up for the challenge.</p>