Five 2021 point guards in 5A that stood out during the season

<p>We are less than a week away from the end of the season. Some solid performers in the 5A class have led their teams to victory, and some have come up just a bit short. Nonetheless, we acknowledge some of the class's top point guards from a very entertaining season. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"] – Overland</strong></span></h2> <p>Wright is a player that we were eager to watch this season as he was the summer standout from the guard spot, and what he was able to accomplish in only a season's time is incredible. Overland has had an up and down season as that community has had plenty of things arise, but one thing that stands out is their resiliency. That is signified in their point guard, who dealt with health issues of his own, led a group through having to quarantine and being down key players, and still managed to produce at a high level. Wright is averaging 17.9 points a game which is amongst the top in the entire state as a point guard and could sincerely have been the biggest jump from anyone in the state. Wright was a player on JV last season and made the jump to varsity and dominated. The 6’0 point guard is one of the state's top scorers, and the wildest part is scoring might be his third-best attribute. Wright is a savvy floor general with excellent court awareness and ball handling and can break a defender down. His play should be commended, and he was one of the top guards to standout this season.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"] – Rangeview</strong></span></h2> <p>Palmer came into his senior season as one of the most doubted players in the state. Is he as good as advertised, or is he just on a good team is the question that many had before the year. I believe that he put those questions to bed as Rangeview lost the most talent in the state from one year to the next and his leadership and play have them doing the same thing that they’ve been doing; winning. Palmer is a proven winner that has his team on the longest winning streak in CHSAA history. The Raiders have surpassed the 50 straight games won streak, and his play has been a big reason why. Palmer is averaging 16.5 points a game, which leads the team, but his play as a more ball-dominant guard has been the team's best revelation. Palmer is averaging 7.4 assists a game which leads all seniors. He’s still a sharpshooter that must be defended the second he crosses halfcourt, but his ability to carve an opposing team up in different ways has been something to watch this year. He was easily one of the top guards to watch this season.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] – Regis</strong></span></h2> <p>If you go watch three different [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] games, you are going to get three different type of [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] games and that is what makes him special. In one game, he might light it up from deep. On the other, he might take over primary ballhandling duties and get others involved, and then there are the times that he looks unstoppable where the shot is falling. Still, he is also rotating the ball and moving and getting others involved.  Wolf is one of the state’s best snipers from deep, but what has gotten overlooked his ability to rotate the ball and find his spots. Wolf is a reliable option as he never misses FT’s, forces the defense to know where he is at all times, and has improved as a defender. With a  few different injuries on his team, he has stepped up as a scorer, and that is what we saw from him this summer and what he seems to be most comfortable with. Wolf is averaging 17.2 points a game, has put up double digits in every game this season, and elevated his game in their absence. He’s having his best season as a facilitator and is a big reason that Regis will head into the playoffs as a top seed.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] – Cherry Creek</strong></span></h2> <p>Purchase is my favorite player in the state, so everything that I say after this will be unbiased. All jokes aside, he is one of the few players in the state without many flaws, and although he is a stat-sheet stuffer, plenty of what he does goes beyond the scoreboard. Purchase has elite athleticism to be a point guard, and his work on the defensive side of the ball gives Cherry Creek their grit and identity. Purchase plays with an unmatched swagger, and he has the skill to back it up. He is having his best year yet as he has upped his numbers to 15.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.5 steals a game. He perfectly times passes, baits guards into errant passes, and dictates a game with his talent. Purchase gives you a bit of everything as he is one of the better two-way players that we have, and he has his team as the No.1 team in the state.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1143383" first="Xavier" last="Torres"] – Prairie View</strong></span></h2> <p>Torres is one of the better facilitators in the class that makes sure to get others involved. He is one of the class's better passers who is putting up 5.2 assists a game. He is operating the offense, putting teammates in positions to score, and always has his head on the swivel. Torres has great court awareness, runs the offense, and makes plays for others. He is an unselfish leader that understands what is needed of him and stars in his role, and that deserves some credit. Prairie View will not make the postseason with the team shutting it down for the rest of the year, but he was able to make an impact on his teammates while he played and was an interesting player to watch this season.</p>