Summer Challenge - Max's Top Point Guards

The Prep Hoops Summer Challenge brought high level teams from across the Midwest to the Chicago area last weekend, and the talent at the point guard spot was deep. After taking in games all weekend, these are seven of the floor generals who stood out most! [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"] (5’10 2022 PG, Wisconsin PGC UAA)- Jack’s energy and quickness in Playground’s last game of the weekend alone would be enough to get him on this list, but he provided production in the other two games as well. Possibly the quickest ball handler in the state, Jack can pretty much get to any spot that he wants to off the dribble. Facing off against taller point guards, Jack blew by them with ease to get to the rim for finishes with either hand, while also being able to deliver accurate passes while running full speed past defenders. He’s the type of player who’s constantly bringing energy on the defensive end, picking up deep and sitting low in a stance to move his feet and disrupt ball handlers. Add in some deep makes from three and a few flashy passes, and Jack looks ready to bring in a few more scholarship offers this July. [player_tooltip player_id="994376" first="Luke" last="Bara"] (6’1 2022 G, ABC Young Lions-Black)- Capable of playing either guard spot, Luke ran the point for his team in the game I caught on Saturday. One thing that you immediately notice when watching Luke play is that he’s constantly communicating. There’s never a quite moment for his team on defense because he’s constantly calling out screens and calling out his position on the floor. Not only does he communicate, but his effort to slide his feet and jump passing lanes to create turnovers is also high. In transition he has the quickness and tight handle to weave through defenders while keeping his head up to locate the open man streaking to the rim or spotting up in the corner. It’s also obvious just how much reps he puts in shooting the ball, as his footwork and release remain consistent every time he puts up a three, allowing him to connect at a high rate. [player_tooltip player_id="1048712" first="Tavari" last="Johnson"] (6’ 2022 PG, Young & Reckless)- Not sure I’ve ever seen Tavari play a bad game, as he’s constantly finding ways to produce. His feel for the game and basketball IQ is extremely high, and that’s evident with how he handles the ball in pick & roll situations. He finds ways to react to defenders in a variety of ways to make plays, whether it be hitting a pull up jumper, lobbing a pass over the top, splitting defenders to attack, or threading the needle with an accurate bounce pass. No matter what the defense throws at him he’s able to remain calm under pressure. Against a talented Wisconsin PGC team that went undefeated on the weekend, Tavari had a strong outing scoring at all three levels and dishing out a handful of assists. [player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"] (6’ 2022 PG, Playmakers Showcase)- I’ve seen two of Andre’s games this summer and he’s put on a show in both of them. The shifty point guard started off Sunday’s game on a solo scoring run, breaking the double digit mark just minutes into the game in versatile fashion. His quick handle allows him to blow by and get into the paint to make plays, or create separation in order to get off a clean jumper. There’s a lot of talent around Andre and he makes sure to keep all of them involved, and he does a nice job of feeding his posts and rewarding them for running the floor. If you’re looking for a quick guard that can put up points or facilitate at a high level, look no further than [player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"]. [player_tooltip player_id="1210369" first="Trey" last="Pettigrew"] (6’3 2022 PG, Mac Irvin Fire)- There were a couple of games where Trey was Mac Irvin Fire’s only started under 6’7, meaning his team heavily relied on him for ball handling. Trey’s a fast player at 6’3 with the ability to quickly change directions to beat defenders off the dribble. One thing that really stood out was Trey’s range, as he was knocking down shots from beyond the NBA line, and even excelled at drawing a few fouls on his outside jumpers leading to easy points at the line. On the defensive end he’s a tough competitor who was able to move his feet easily with smaller guards and fight to get over screens. His size at the point guard spot also allowed him to switch off and guard wings, making him a more versatile defender. [player_tooltip player_id="865837" first="Chevalier" last="Emery Jr"]. (6’1 2022 PG, Wisconsin PGC)- Despite coming off the bench for a deep Wisconsin PGC team, "Ice" still managed to make a big impact on both ends of the floor. On defense he’s as tough as nails, able to sit right on his man and apply constant ball pressure with his quickness laterally. His effort applying pressure leads to 1-2 turnovers just about every game, and he’s always one of the first players on the floor for loose balls. Offensively he can finish explosively at the rim, but also stretches the floor with his shooting where he gets some great elevation on his jumper to score over the closeout. Shot the ball at a high level while impressing on the defensive end against some talented competition. Alijah Matthews (5’11 2022 PG, Gallo Sports Center)- One of the most under-the-radar players in the 2022 class, Alijah waited his turn behind two D1 point guards and now looks ready to play a strong role for Racine St. Catherine’s as a senior. Though he doesn’t have ideal size, Alijah is an explosive athlete who catches opponents off guard with his ability to elevate for offensive rebounds or to block shots around the rim. He does a nice job of reading and reacting to jump passing lanes and get out in transition where he is a crafty finisher. Alijah is strong in the pick-and-roll as he can read the defense and either turn the corner to get to the rim or deliver accurate passes. He also showed that he can knock down the open jumper from three.