Over the Horizon: 2025 Guards

<p>The guard climate at the 5A level is in great hands, with a variety of guards bringing a myriad of skillsets. These dudes displayed unusual patience and craft in their games that only a handful of guards at the sophomore, let alone freshman levels have.</p> <p>Jayden Kelsey - Overland</p> <p>Standing tall already at 6'5, Kelsey is a knock down shooter off the catch, yet has some off-the-dribble flare that is hard to find at his height. Throughout nine games, Kelsey is shooting a staggering 54% from distance (4.3 att.), with his size and quick form there is little anybody can do to stop him. He has impressed as an off-the-dribble creator as well, proving to get by defenders with simple yet effective 1-2 dribble moves, often leading to quality looks for teammates. Given Kelsey's size, he needs to continue to get stronger to improve his finishing around the rim, as he is still much more comfortable finishing with the left hand. Kelsey is currently boasting 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as a starter.</p> <p>Lorenzo Contreras - Smoky Hill</p> <p>Contreras is one of the craftier scorers in his class, demonstrating a myriad of ways to get tough shots over the defense. While only about 5'9", the guard made a concerted effort to become deadly with high arcing floaters along with a quick jump-shot coming out of the pick and roll. He is not just a scorer, Contreras has confidence making highlight level passes through small windows. By far his greatest strength right now is his ability to control the pace, never being sped up due to his elite handle and awareness. Through six games, Contreras is averaging 6.7 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals.</p> <p>Anthony Nettles - Douglas County</p> <p>The wiry strong 5'9" guard plays with at 100 miles an hour, while doubling down as a defensive disruptor.  Capable of handling in the pick and roll, Nettles will take advantage of defenders choosing to go over on screens. Another needed skill for small guards is the jump shot, where he 33% from beyond the arc, already a knockdown shooter off-the-catch. Averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, Nettles will keep Douglas County's guard rotation in good hands for years to come.</p> <p>LaDavian King - Eaglecrest</p> <p>Already a dependable shooter off-the-catch, King has been a pleasant surprise for a competitive Eaglecrest team full of guard and wing depth. King is a volume shooter, currently at 36% from distance on 5.5 attempts per game. He is most dependable from a standstill, regardless of an opponent contesting his shot. At just over 6' tall, allowing him to be a consistent on-ball defender against a large variety of perimeter threats at the 5A level.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1369810" first="Cole" last="Scherer"] - Valor Christian</p> <p>Starting at point, Scherer plays above his age, proving he is a consistent threat with averages of 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.3 steals a game. Scherer is not a necessarily flashy player, but he excels with the little things, such as controlling the pace or closing the gap on a screen. He is still adjusting to the speed of the game, where he could improve his shot selection from time to time, however he is showing the ability to get to his spots.  </p>