Updated 2022 Rankings: Guards (15-6)

One of the coolest things about the new Prep Hoops rankings is that it automatically ranks players by position, allowing you to see the rankings among PGs, CGs, SGs, SFs, PFs and Cs. However, new school guys like me who believe in relatively positionless basketball, as the game trends that way, believes that you can simplify the game to just three positions in guards, wings and bigs. So, I took the time to breakdown the rankings into the three positions, and have ranked the top 25 in each position. Here’s a look at some of the top point and combo guards, looking at numbers 15-6 in the new rankings. 15) [player_tooltip player_id="815616" first="Ethan" last="Millirons"] | 6’0” | Auburn (#53 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Millirons-Ethan-Auburn.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1018987" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Millirons-Ethan-Auburn-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Last year’s Class 1 Player of the Year is always going to get overlooked because he doesn’t play in a huge market, but anyone who knows the game and watches Millirons play knows the kid is a straight up hooper. A floor general if there ever was one, Millirons is a natural leader who is always under control on the floor and in check with his emotions, and he has the ability to both make his teammates better and take over games with his scoring as well. He’s excellent in pick-and-roll situations, he can shoot the pull-up both from deep and the midrange going either direction and he has a ridiculously good feel for the game on both ends of the floor. 14) [player_tooltip player_id="815612" first="Walker" last="Andrews"] | 5’11” | Virginia Episcopal (#50 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Andrews-Walker-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1018181" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Andrews-Walker-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Andrews continues to trend upwards as he picked up an offer from NJIT over the summer, and after a good sophomore year last year where he showed a lot of improvement I expect something similar this year. Andrews is a tough combo guard with deep range and a quick release from beyond the arc, and he’s a great off ball defender that reads plays well and is able to force turnovers and come up with steals. He’s a very underrated athlete that is quick and explosive and if he continues to develop he’ll be very intriguing moving forward. 13) [player_tooltip player_id="1106655" first="Zion" last="Russell"] | 6’1” | Hargrave (#32 Overall) Russell transferred to Hargrave midseason last year and made an immediate impact, and he announced he will reclassify and likely post grad next year in the 2022 class. Russell is one of those guys you call a “freak” athlete at just over 6’0” he’s able to play way above the rim including getting put backs, catching lobs in transition and on designed plays and he has lightning quick speed on both ends. Add in that he’s a knock down three-point shooter and good on ball defender and you have a very under recruited guy with a lot of upside. 12) [player_tooltip player_id="1107827" first="Devin" last="Caesar"] | 6’0” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#31 Overall) Caesar transfers to SSSAS after they have a mass exodus of players that helped them get to the last two state championships, including winning one in 2019, and he fills in as a point guard they desperately need. While sometimes he can be erratic, Caesar is a natural playmaker who can make shots from multiple levels, sees the floor well and can deliver passes on time and in stride and he can touch the paint at will to break down the defense. Defensively he has a lot of potential as he has quick feet and can get underneath ball handlers and make them feel uncomfortable. 11) [player_tooltip player_id="603823" first="Xavier" last="Brown"] | 6’2” | Oak Hill Academy (#29 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Brown-Xavier-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063293" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Brown-Xavier-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Brown transferred to Oak Hill after being one of the top young guards in the 757, and while I’m sure some questioned the move he’s shown early in the season he’s capable of playing at that level as he’s been a big time asset off the bench for them. A super energetic and high motor guard, Brown is the perfect spark plug off the bench as he flies all over the place defensively, is able to blow by guys off the bounce and get in the lane and he has good feel and vision knowing where everyone else is on the court. He’s an athletic finisher and as he continues to improve his perimeter jumper he’ll be a very intriguing prospect moving forward. 10) [player_tooltip player_id="815613" first="Saxby" last="Sunderland"] | 6’2” | Flint Hill (#28 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Sunderland-Saxby-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1069410" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Sunderland-Saxby-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Sunderland has shown flashes of brilliance over the past few years, and this year will be his chance to show that he deserves to be higher on this list as he’ll have the green light at Flint Hill. At 6’2”, Sunderland is somewhat of a tweener guard, but to me he strikes me as a shot making and scoring combo guard that can play both on and off the basketball. He’s a lights out shooter from deep who can work off the ball or on the ball to create space, he’s crafty off the bounce and he’s a good and crafty finisher around the rim. 9) [player_tooltip player_id="815594" first="DJ" last="Campbell"] | 6’0” | Kecoughtan (#23 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Campbell-DJ-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1112510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Campbell-DJ-CBG-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="300" /></a> Campbell has been on the scene the past few years as he’s been one of the top scorers in the 757 the past few years and has already surpassed 1,000 points on his career, but now he’s showing that he can run a team and is a much more well rounded guard than thought at first. His Kecoughtan team is balanced and talented, and now Campbell is making more plays for others and showing that when he touches the paint he’s able to make good reads and put others in situations to succeed. He’s a crafty and smooth scorer that can make shots from multiple levels, he’s a natural leader and he’s excellent in pick-and-roll situations. 8) [player_tooltip player_id="815590" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"] | 5’10” | Oscar Smith (#19 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Giles-Kenyon-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1112508" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Giles-Kenyon-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> I’m convinced Giles will be in the running for top scorer in the 757 this year, as he showed flashes as a sophomore and now has the green light and is the go-to guy for this Smith team this year. He’s been on a tear all summer and fall, showing that despite being a 6’0” guard he is capable of taking over games with his shot making ability from all over the floor. He’s lightning quick off the bounce and changes directions and speeds well, and he’s adept at creating space off the bounce and shooting with deep range, and he has extreme confidence in his ability to make even the toughest of shots. 7) [player_tooltip player_id="1107822" first="Justyn" last="Fernandez"] | 6’4” | Virginia Episcopal (#15 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Fernandez-Justyn-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1112509" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Fernandez-Justyn-CBG-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="300" /></a> Fernandez is on the verge of blowing up on the recruitment trail after he picked up his first offer from La Salle playing with DC Premier this summer, and now that he’s reclassified to the 2022 class he’s going to see a lot more of that moving forward. A combo guard with terrific size, Fernandez is a guy who is a highly skilled scorer that can make shots from all three levels, is shifty and able to get in the lane off the bounce and he’s very good at drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. His size makes him able to make tough shots in traffic, and he’s able to guard multiple positions and rebound well for a guard because of it too. 6) [player_tooltip player_id="897404" first="Paul" last="Lewis"] | 6’1” | Bishop O’Connell (#14 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Lewis-Paul.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1036077" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Lewis-Paul-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> The only player already committed in the 2022 rankings, Lewis is a tough minded scoring guard that can get hot quickly and take over games with his ability to make shots off the bounce. He has a quick first step and good end-to-end speed, he changes speeds and directions very well and he’s able to create space and has good footwork to get into his shot very easily. His toughness and competitiveness separates him from a lot of other talented guards, and he’ll be one of the top players in the WCAC if they play this year. He’ll be heading to play for Mark Turgeon at Maryland in a couple of years.