Class of 2022 Rankings: Top Point/Combo Guards (Part I)

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the top point/combo guards in the newly updated Class of 2022 rankings. This is the first part of this positional breakdown.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/4E068EF9-4064-400F-83B8-4F3DFE5BFCC8.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1203257" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/4E068EF9-4064-400F-83B8-4F3DFE5BFCC8-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984512" first="Brian" last="Taylor"] 6’4" DeSmet: A talented point guard with size, athleticism and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor. As a junior, he averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals a game in leading the Spartans to the Class 5 state quarterfinals. He had a big summer with the Gateway Basketball Club 17Us during the grassroots season, which garnered him several Division I offers. He ended up committing to Wisconsin-Milwaukee.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_1109562" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/IMG_5242.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1109562" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/IMG_5242-300x214.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="300" height="214" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="984502" first="Rob" last="Martin"] CBC 2020 (Nate Latsch photo)[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984502" first="Rob" last="Martin"] 5’9" CBC: A scoring point guard who has been a standout for the Cadets since his freshman year. He is the top returning player on a team that will be one of the favorites in Class 6 this season. His speed and quickness and ability to knock down jumpers make him one of the most potent offensive players in the state. He averaged 17 points and five assists as a junior. He played with MoKan Elite in the Nike EYBL during the summer grassroots season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/D073870D-48FF-45C1-9D45-F172FAF61DD8.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1221258" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/D073870D-48FF-45C1-9D45-F172FAF61DD8-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1161814" first="Bennett" last="Stirtz"] 6’4" Liberty: A gifted all-around point guard who led the Bluejays to a berth in the Class 6 state championship game as a junior. He can score at all three levels with the ability to pass the ball and make his teammates better. As a junior, he averaged 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in leading Liberty to a 26-5 record.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/920E2071-FAC9-4DFB-8C5B-452A5336DBE7.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1072630" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/920E2071-FAC9-4DFB-8C5B-452A5336DBE7-300x186.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="186" /></a></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1182211" first="Colin" last="Ruffin"] 6’3" Nixa: A talented southpaw point guard who is the leader of a talented Nixa squad that will be one of the top teams in Class 6 this season. He has excellent size, smooth handles and the ability to knock down perimeter shots from well beyond the 3-point line. He can also create offense off the dribble and deliver pinpoint passes to open teammates. As a junior, he averaged 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals to lead a well-balanced team to a district championship.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_1032701" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/IRyan-Allen.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032701" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/IRyan-Allen-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Photo: Peter Spexarth Prep Hoops[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="991576" first="I’Ryan" last="Allen"] 6’2" Ruskin: A transfer from Raymore-Peculiar, Allen will be a big addition to a team that won a Class 4 district championship last season. He’s a smooth ball-handler with size and the ability to get buckets at all three levels. As a junior, Allen averaged 15.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game. He played well during the summer grassroots season with the KC Spurs Black.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/FDEB891F-EAD3-4BB6-BB4D-F1D11C58705C.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1209825" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/FDEB891F-EAD3-4BB6-BB4D-F1D11C58705C-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="985421" first="Casen" last="Lawrence"] 5’10" Westminster: A slick ball-handling deep-shooting point guard who helped lead the Wildcats to a berth in the Class 4 state championship game last season. He has been running the show at WCA since he walked into the building as a freshman. As a junior, Lawrence averaged 12.7 points and three assists a game while making 77 3-pointers. He has committed to NCAA Division II Final Four participant Truman State University.</p>