Warrior Classic: Wednesday Standouts (Guards)

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri was at St Charles West High on Wednesday to take in the semifinals of the Warrior Classic. Marquette defeated Duchesne in the first semifinal and Fort Zumwalt South defeated district rival Fort Zumwalt West in the second game. </p> <p>Here is a look at the top guards from Wednesday night’s action at St. Charles West.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1315426" first="Peyton" last="Blair"] 6’2" Fort Zumwalt South: The 2022 guard scored a game-high 19 points in the Bulldogs' victory over West. He scored 13 off those points in the second half as he sparked the Bulldogs' rally from a 10-point deficit. The lefty is an energizer bunny who pushes the pace and is looking to attack on the drive at every opportunity. He finishes well while going at full speed, which is very impressive. He's also very active on the defensive end at the top of the zone defense with his quick hands and constant activity to get into the passing lanes.</p> <p>Raynard Horry 5’9" Fort Zumwalt West: The 2022 guard scored a team-high 17 points in the semifinals. He is an exciting performer to watch as he is an explosive athlete with the ability to create shots off the dribble. He elevates well in the mid-range area to shoot over defender and he hit some 3-pointers with deep range. He's also very aggressive on the defensive end with his ball hawking and on-ball pressure.</p> <p>Blake Struemph 6’2" Fort Zumwalt South: The 2022 guard was one of the most impressive perimeter shooters that I watched during the evening. He scored nine points in the semifinals and all of them came on Corner 3s, in which he hit three of them. His stroke was pure and his release was quick.</p> <p>Josh Baker-Mays 5’11" Duchesne: The 2023 point guard came off the bench to score 10 points in the Pioneers loss to Marquette. He provided an instant spark with his speed and quickness. He also knocked down a 3-pointer on his first touch of the game. He stays low on the dribble and he's able to get where he wants to go.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1312116" first="Landon" last="Engelage"] 6’3" Wentzville Holt: Before the semifinals started, I arrived a little early to see a little of this 2022 guard in the consolation semifinals victory over Ritenour. He's a versatile player who does the bulk of the ball handling and playmaking while also being able to produce points and rebounds. He's a very resourceful offensive player who can score at a variety of spots on the floor.</p>