Fastest Guards in VA

<p>While we’ve been updating our rankings and breaking down content on those, we decided to take a look at some of the best specialists in different areas of the state. Today, we take a look at some of the fastest guards in Virginia.</p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="902006" first="Devin" last="Ceaser"] | 6’1” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes ’22</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ceaser-Devin-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148101" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ceaser-Devin-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">I’ve covered and evaluated high school players in the Virginia area for close to 6 years now, and I’m not sure there’s anyone I can remember being just flat out as fast as Ceaser. The Buffalo commit blew up in the June live periods when coaches saw his end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands and his explosion on both ends of the floor. He can literally start a fast break by himself on a normal inbounds, he closes ground very quickly defensively and he plays like he’s just shot out of a cannon all the time.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815578" first="Knasir" last="McDaniel"] | 5’9” | Paul VI ’22</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201614" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Michigan commit has been known for his quick twitch and lightning fast first step, and when he’s in the open floor he just glides and looks like a blur. Not only is he fast end-to-end, he has the ability to move laterally as well as anyone on the defensive end and he’s able to change speeds and use his explosive first step with the ball in his hands. He’s a one man playmaking wizard with his speed and ability to live in the paint and carve up the defense.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Robbie Matos | 5’9” | Blue Ridge ’23</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Matos has always been very fast since he first came in as a freshman, but it looks like he’s taken it to a different level now as he’s not only faster but much more explosive and dynamic too. He can fly in the open floor with the ball in his hands, he has a lightning quick first step and he’s even quick off his feet. He can move laterally to guard the ball and he is so tough to stay in front of for even the quickest guards.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="1231823" first="AJ" last="Wills"] | 5’10” | LC Bird ’23</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wills is set to have a breakout year with his transfer to LC Bird where head coach Troy Manns is known to play very fast and it will suit Wills perfectly. He’s fantastic in the open court where he can use his speed to apply pressure, and he has good burst when he makes his first few steps. He can change speeds and is a capable playmaker and scorer as well as a pest defensively.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="992530" first="Trevor" last="Smith"] | 5’11” | Woodside ‘23</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1187190" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Smith is a little different than some of these guys as it looks like he glides more than he does explode, but when you watch him in the open floor and on his first step guys simply can’t keep up with him. What makes his speed even tougher is that he’s excellent at changing speeds and pace, he moves well laterally and he’s very shifty with the ball in his hands.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="1259542" first="Ben" last="Hammond"] | 5’8 | Paul VI ’24</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ben-Hammond.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1172182" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ben-Hammond-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Of course there’s two Paul VI guards on here, and Hammond is already reminding people of a young Dug McDaniel who was mentioned above. He’s a super quick guard that is shifty off the bounce, he can fly in transition and make plays for others and he is quick and fast enough to guard the ball the length of the floor too.</span></p>