2021s Raising their Profiles – Guards

<h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">The spring tournaments provide a chance for some players to show off their game one more time. Some are trying to get noticed or to raise their stock. Others are committed to college programs and want to further their development.</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">Here are a handful of guards from the 2021 class still going strong in the spring season (in alphabetical order):</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">[player_tooltip player_id="1070185" first="Tre" last="Alexander"], 6-foot-4 guard, Kansas Hoggs, Topeka West:</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">The Centennial League co-player of the year, Alexander was a monster for the Chargers, who finished runner-up in 5A. He earned second-team 5A last year with a really solid stat line - 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He’s a monstrous guard who makes his teammates better.</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">Jaxon Brackeen, 6-foot-3 guard, Perry Ellis 34, Newton:</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">A high-scoring guard, Brackeen can handle the ball well and distribute it efficiently. Give him a little space, and he will shoot the lights out, as he did when he scored 24 against Topeka West in the playoffs last winter. </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">[player_tooltip player_id="889520" first="Keegan" last="Harrod"], 5-foot-10 guard, Perry Ellis 34, Life Prep Academy (pictured):</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">The bulldog point guard is showing he can lead a team with Perry Ellis. He directs the offense and protects the ball. While he focuses on running the show, he will drop 3’s efficiently. Harrod is a tough, hard nosed driver and physical defender.</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">[player_tooltip player_id="1073376" first="Jalen" last="Smith"], 6-foot-2 guard, Kansas Hoggs, Topeka High:</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">Smith demonstrated what he could do as a complementary piece to a very talented Topeka High team as a junior. Then he was a warrior for the depleted Trojans last fall. He’s a big, solidly built guard who can get to the goal and score in transition. He’s a tough defender and rebounder from the guard spot for the Hoggs.</span></h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">[player_tooltip player_id="946244" first="Luke" last="Williams"], 6-foot guard, Rise and Grind, Olathe South:</span></h2> <h2 style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ’Times New Roman’; font-weight: normal;">The smooth point guard is a playmaker and distributor. He sets up his teammates by penetrating and dishing the ball, and he passes the ball ahead in transition. He’s shifty and creative with the ball and can create his own shot in the lane.</span></h2>