2024 Watch List: Point Guards (Part I)

<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1171662" first="Holden" last="Arnaman"] (West Branch)</strong></p> <p>A heady lead guard, Arnaman worked his way into the starting lineup for a veteran Bears group and was a big-time contributor, averaging 5.6 points and 2.7 assists a game. He posted a nearly 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman and shot a respectable 35.4% from behind the arc. He handles the ball well, values possessions, and loves to get others involved. As he continues to mature physically, he should become a more efficient scorer with an improved ability to finish around the rim through contact. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Joe-Bean.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1068436" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Joe-Bean-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1171667" first="Joe" last="Bean"] (Xavier)</strong></p> <p>Bean didn’t crack the varsity roster at Xavier last year, but he’s a big, physical lead guard who doesn’t shy away from contact around the rim. He has a nice-looking stroke out to the arc and is equally comfortable shooting it off the dribble or the catch. A solid ball-handler and passer, he plays with pace, changing speeds and utilizing those changes to get by defenders. He’s a good on-ball defender with quick hands and great feet. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1171661" first="Redek" last="Born"] (Norwalk)</strong></p> <p>The younger brother of former Norwalk standout [player_tooltip player_id="801831" first="Bowen" last="Born"] had a productive freshman season for the Warriors, averaging 7.2 points with 43-31-86 shooting splits. A 6-2 guard, he showed the ability to score from all three levels while cracking the rotation on a senior-laden roster (seven of their top eight scorers were seniors). Next year, Norwalk is Born’s team. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Trovary-Cavill-2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1027257" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Trovary-Cavill-2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1171658" first="Trovary" last="Cavil"] (Des Moines Lincoln)</strong></p> <p>Cavil is a score-first lead guard who is coming off a big-time freshman season in which he averaged 15.0 points in the state's toughest league. He can score from all three levels, handles the ball well, and is a solid passer as well, dishing out 3.8 assists a game. He needs to become more efficient and make better decisions with the ball to limit turnovers, but there is a lot of raw talent here on both ends of the floor. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kyler-Gerardy.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1179947" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kyler-Gerardy-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1171656" first="Kyler" last="Gerardy"] (North Scott)</strong></p> <p>A compact combo guard, Gerardy is equally adept at scoring or facilitating. He's a good ball-handler and perimeter shooting threat and playing at North Scott, he's going to be a solid on-ball defender as well. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1171664" first="Tanner" last="Jacobson"] (Cedar Falls)</strong></p> <p>The younger of Ben Jacobson's sons is a heady lead guard who sees the floor well, is a solid on-ball defender, and a threat to shoot it from deep. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Carson-Johnson.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1068450" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Carson-Johnson-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1171660" first="Carson" last="Johnson"] (Ankeny)</strong></p> <p>Johnson is small (listed at 5-8), but he was a solid contributor for the Hawks as a freshman, averaging 8.1 points and 1.4 assists while shooting 42% from behind the arc. He's a gifted ball-handler who changes speeds well and uses a quick first step to get to the rim. He's a high-level perimeter shooter both off the dribble and the catch. </p>