#RamsayTipOffClassic Standout Guard Play
The #RamsayTipOffClassic gathered some of the top young talents in the state. A day full of both boys and girls action saw four boys games and two girls games. In boy’s action, we saw some highly gifted players that could…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe #RamsayTipOffClassic gathered some of the top young talents in the state. A day full of both boys and girls action saw four boys games and two girls games. In boy’s action, we saw some highly gifted players that could fill it up.
Here are some of the standout players at the guard spot.
Preston Davis Jr (PJ) (6’2/Combo Guard/2022)
School: Ramsay HS
Instagram: pjdavisjr0
Twitter: @pjdavisjr1
PJ has been recovering from an injury but looked good out on the court during the classic. He was aggressive off the bounce, especially early in the game as Ramsay worked to establish an aggressive style of play against Brewbaker Tech. He set the tone early for Ramsay as he created off the bounce for himself and his teammates.
PJ is a stabilizing force for the Rams as they can run their offense through PJ or around him.
Defensively he is their best on-ball defender, and he hunts the passing lanes as well. He has to continue working on his perimeter shooting, but his experience and leadership will be something that the Rams need if they plan on making another run to the BJCC.
PJ finished with 13pts against Brewbaker Tech.
Zach Gray Zach Gray 6'7" | PF Spain Park | 2023 State AL (6’6/Shooting Guard/2023)
School: Spain Park HS
Instagram: Zach.25.Gray
Twitter: @ZachGray2225
Zach was hands down one of the best shooters at the classic, and it was not the fact that he can stroke the rock, but he knocked down some clutch threes for Spain Park against Grissom, helping his team stay in step down the stretch. He has excellent size at the SG spot, and his release on his C&S opportunities was one of the quickest I saw throughout the classic.
His ability to keep the floor spaced created driving lanes for his teammates, as his defender had to stay locked on him. Zach is one of the most dangerous shooters in the state, and I was very impressed with something he did late in the game as he went from a sprint to a shot, which is hard for players at this age. Once the film is out, Zach will have very little space to get his shot off as teams will crowd him and run him off the line, but we will then see Zach’s maturation and ability to utilize cuts and screens.
Zach finished with 14pts against Grissom.
DJ Thompson (6’3/Point Guard/2023)
School: Grissom HS
Instagram: D.jhoops23
Twitter: @UptGeneral
DJ brought a lot of energy to the court. He is quick with the ball in his hands and had no problem throughout the game beating his man off the dribble and getting to the rack, and converting. He finds a unique balance between scoring and facilitating and knows when his team needs one or the other. He has an overall good floor game, but he puts it into another gear when he is out in transition. I can only imagine the confusion that goes through a defender’s mind when they see DJ coming downhill in transition, knowing that he has a variety of tools to get a bucket or create a bucket for a teammate.
He has good length at the PG spot, which created problems on both ends of the court for Spain Park guards.
His on-ball defense, accompanied by his length and quickness, forced turnovers, and forced ball-handlers to speed up at times. If Grissom is going to get to the BJCC, DJ will be a significant factor in making that happen.
DJ finished with 10pts against Spain Park.
Kyle Layton (6’0 / Combo Guard / 2023)
School: Mountain Brook HS
Instagram: kyle_layton_
Twitter: @kb_layton
Mountain Brook was clicking on all cylinders early against Carver-Montgomery and was getting high-level play from Kyle. The new kid at the Brook did not appear to be trying to find his place but looked like he fit right into the system. Yes, he plays within the system, but Kyle has a flair with which he can break down a defender off the dribble and get to the rack. The word in the basketball community was how Kyle would fit alongside Mountain Brook’s standout guard Ty Davis Ty Davis 6'5" | SG Mountain Brook | 2024 State #191 Nation AL , and if the play against Carver-Montgomery proved one thing, that is, the two are a dynamic duo.
Kyle has a good IQ, which was evident from plays that he made.
He will need to utilize his IQ to find the balance between staying within the system and operating in his excellent isolation game, which keeps defenders guessing. He shot the ball ok from behind the arc, but look for production to increase in this area as he is known as a player that can light it up from three. He is definitely a piece to the puzzle as Mountain Brook sets their eyes on repeating.
Kyle finished with 14pts against Carver-Montgomery.
Melvin Stringer (5’9/Point Guard/2022)
School: Hueytown HS
Instagram: _.2euce
Twitter: @stb2euce
Melvin was one of the purest floor generals that I saw at the classic. Playing with an explosive player like Corey Stephenson, it is easy to just step outside and watch Corey go to work, but Hueytown is not built that way and credit that to Head Coach Heath Burns and lead guard Melvin. Melvin keeps his team’s offense in rhythm and limits their turnovers.
He knows how to run a team, and as an experienced senior PG, he keeps Hueytown clicking.
Even when Oxford made a run late in the game, Melvin’s calming presence and heady play never allowed his team to get rattled. Hueytown is a well-built machine, and expectations are high around them; and if expectations are going to be realized, the experienced floor general will be the captain on the floor to get them to the top of Class 6A.
Melvin finished with 6pts against Oxford HS.
Jermol Garrett (5’9/Guard/2023)
School: Carver-Montgomery HS
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: @N/A
It is very challenging as a guard to face the defensive game plan and tenacity of Mountain Brook HS, but Jermol handled the pressure for the most part. With the type of pressure he was facing, Carver’s offense was often off-script, and Jermol found himself in attack mode off the dribble, creating plays. He brought a lot of energy to the game and had to do quite a lot to keep his team afloat early in the contest. Jermol is a productive player and impacts the stat sheet in numerous categories.
Offensively he is capable of playing on and off the ball and helped his team in both capacities.
He was well balanced in this game, between facilitating and scoring, but just maybe, he should have been a little more aggressive in looking for his shot. I liked Jermol because when things were not going well for his team, he never gave up and kept fighting, precisely what you need from your PG.
Jermol finished with 9pts against Mountain Brook HS.
More will be coming from the #RamsayTipOffClassic.