Five 5A junior guards that stood out this season

<p>We are less than a week away from the end of the season. There have been some solid performers in the 5A class that has led their teams to victory and some that have come up just a bit short. Nonetheless, we acknowledge some of the class’s top guards from a very entertaining regular season.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759278" first="Jaeton" last="Hackley"] – Douglas County</strong></span></h2> <p>Hackley is one of those special kinds of guards that do not come around often. He does everything thing on a basketball court to the best of his ability and works extremely hard on both ends of the floor. Hackley is a player that yields different results each watch, and each one of them are impressive. He will score with the best of them, makes sure to defend the opposing team's best guard, rebounds amongst the trees, and does the small things as well. Hackley has a drive and edge to his game that comes from deep within; he uses it as motivation and wants to continue getting better. This season he was able to lead his team in points (18.0 ppg), assists (6.3 apg), and steals (3.2 spg) a game. He is amongst the state leaders in all and was something to watch as the season unfolded. Excited to see how that team looks in the playoffs.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="717063" first="Xavier" last="Harris"] – Horizon</strong></span></h2> <p>Harris has been known as one of the best perimeter defenders in the state, and while that may still hold true, he also has proved to be a complete player that has plenty to offer on the offensive end as well. Harris is a downhill scorer that attacks his man off of the dribble, gets plenty of blow-by opportunities, finds open teammates, and is one of the better finishers around the rim that the state has. Harris stepped into the role as leading scorer this season, and although he has one of the younger teams in the state, they play the right way. Horizon moves the ball well, feel aligned on the court, and goes as their leader takes them. He is averaging career highs in every single category of 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 steals a game. He’s proving to be an effective two-way player and remains one of the most dynamic guards in his class. Harris played well this season.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139424" first="Danny" last="Spence"] – Pueblo West</strong></span></h2> <p>Pueblo South struggled mightily this season, but dad a bright spot in point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1139424" first="Danny" last="Spence"] that continued to bring it on a nightly basis. The 5’10 pg produced despite the mounting losses and was able to put good games together no matter the competition. Spence had games where he erupted, games where he continued to shoot despite double teams, and was aggressive throughout the process. It will only make him a better player and prepare him for a summer that he hopefully competes in games we get to see him in and a solid senior season. In his junior campaign, he put up 15.6 points a game, rebounded well, and was who the team went through to make things happen. Spence is a scoring guard that understands how to put the ball in the basket.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] – Chaparral</strong></span></h2> <p>Williams came into his junior campaign with the most to prove. He had already experienced success and understood how to take over in games, but the question was, did his play translate? Williams made the switch from 3A to 5A, and the production remained the same. Williams with the primary ball-handler and has a great pulse of the team as teammates player hard around him; he will reward them by making the right decision and prying some open, and he’s a high IQ guard that knows how to put the ball in the basket. As a junior, the Chaparral point guard put up 15.3 points a game this year. He does not force many shots, runs the offense to perfection, and is a solid scoring option/leader for the Wolverines. He has proved that he not only belongs and is just as good as any other guard in the class with his season. How many more heads will he turn in the postseason?  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618875" first="Dominic" last="Marrujo"] – Prairie View</strong></span></h2> <p>Marrujo has been a lethal scoring guard that has been averaging double figures every season that he has been playing high school ball and has been given the keys since day 1. Now that it is his junior year, the game seems to come easier to him as he has the ability to slow the game down. Marrujo navigates the defense, keeps his dribble alive, and attacks off the bounce. He is a scorer that can get inside and creatively finish amongst the trees despite his size and open up the floor with his ability to pass and knock down the 3-ball. This season, he put up a career-high 14.7 points a game while also being the team's best facilitator and playmaker. Marrujo plays above his size, is not attacked on the floor's defensive end, and scores in bunches with other capable scorers around him. Marrujo was one of the players that stood out this year, as he has done every season.</p>