Week 5 Scouting Notebook: Tony’s Top Guards

<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="727916" first="Michael" last="Alexander"], Burlington (2021)</strong></p> <p>Alexander was great in the Grayhounds win over Washington, going off for 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists. He's small (listed at 5-8), but he's quick with the ball in his hands, does a great job changing pace, and has a quick first step that he uses to blow by his defender. He showed a smooth and consistent release on his jumper and is a good shooter when he's shooting the ball in rhythm. He gets to the line consistently with his ability to get to the bucket and he makes good, crisp passes to teammates. He moves well laterally and has quick hands on defense. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="956888" first="Ethan" last="Patterson"], Washington (2023)</strong></p> <p>Patterson had a fairly quiet game by his standards in the Demons loss to Burlington, but he really showcased his ability to play off the ball. He moves really well, using off-ball screens to find spaces in the defense, and he has a quick release on his jumper. He sees the floor well and is a willing passer, and he'll contribute on the glass as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Jaxson-Young-1.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1067006" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Jaxson-Young-1-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="962642" first="Jaxson" last="Young"], Linn-Mar (2022)</strong></p> <p>Young didn't have a great shooting night against Cedar Rapids Washington, but he contributed on the glass and was still able to showcase some of his scoring skillset. He can score from all three levels and has a strong frame that he uses to bounce off of players in the paint and finish through contact. He's a good athlete who competes with bigger players on the glass, and he's a threat to take it coast-to-coast anytime he pulls down a defensive board.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="964838" first="Pearson" last="Martin"], Linn-Mar (2021)</strong></p> <p>Like Young, Martin is a good athlete who doesn't back down from bigger players on the glass. The lefty looks to attack the bucket, and he made a major impact on the defensive end of the floor, coming away with 4 steals in the Lions win. He absorbs contact well around the bucket, is a capable shooter from deep, and plays well in the pick-and-roll.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gavyn Lamb, Linn-Mar (2021)</strong></p> <p>Lamb led the Lions in scoring, putting up 14 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists in their win over Wash. The senior was impressive in the pick-and-roll, dishing a few nice pocket passes. He looks to push the tempo after pulling down boards and is constantly looking ahead. He had one nice sequence where he found the roll man with a pretty pocket pass on the pick-and-roll, then on the ensuing possession, he pulled down the defensive rebound, took it coast-to-coast, and got into the paint, and kicked it out for a wide-open 3. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Willie Hodges, Cedar Rapids Washington (2024)</strong></p> <p>Hodges was very impressive off the bench for the Warriors in their loss, showcasing his blazing speed and good athleticism. He scored 11 points with 4 rebounds, an assist, and 3 steals, a strong showing for the freshman. He has good footwork and great body control around the rim, and as he becomes a more consistent shooter from 3, it'll continue to open up his offensive arsenal. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Holden Arnaman, West Branch (2024)</strong></p> <p>Another freshman standout last week was Arnaman, the starting lead guard for the Bears. The 5-11 freshman is a confident ball-handler who doesn't get rattled by on-ball pressure. He's a good post entry passer who does a good job getting to the right angles to feed the big men, and he's capable of getting to the bucket. He's a good drive-and-kick passer who sees the floor well and does a good job passing it into the shooting pocket. </p>