Week 2 Scouting: 2023 Guards
In this article:
Week two has come and gone and I continue to shed light on some prospects who caught my eye throughout my travels. I broke down the guards and now it’s time to move to the guards of the 2023 class.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWeek two has come and gone and I continue to shed light on some prospects who caught my eye throughout my travels. I broke down the guards and now it’s time to move to the guards of the 2023 class.
Austin Abrams Austin Abrams 6'3" | SG Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State MD | 6’2 | Mount St. Joseph
You won’t find a bigger fan of Abrams than myself. Not only because he’s a dead-eye three-point marksman, but also because his approach and decision-making have both taken huge strides since last high school season. The 6-foot-3 guard led the Gaels to a dominant win over Calvert Hall earlier this week with 19 points. He has textbook form, knows how to make himself available for shots based on other’s penetration and knows how to utilize pin down screens to get himself free. Another thing about Abrams’ game is the fact that he gets into a triple-threat stance on every catch. It’s simple and fundamental, yet a forgotten aspect in today’s game.
Mike Williams Mike Williams 6'3" | CG Bishop Walsh | 2023 State #141 Nation MD | 6’3 | Calvert Hall
Calvert Hall’s roster is made up of young prospects under new head coach Gary Neal. Williams is expected to carry the load offensively and despite a lopsided loss to Mount St. Joe, the 6-foot-3 combo guard showed tough shot-making ability as he led the Cardinals with 19 points. He knocked down a couple pull-up three’s in transition, a few mid-range shots after two dribbles and had a number of strong takes to the rim.
Carlton Carrington Carlton Carrington 6'4" | CG St. Frances | 2023 State #84 Nation MD | 6’4 | St. Frances
I caught Carrington in action last weekend against DeMatha where he finished with 12 points. It was a high-level game especially in the backcourt and Carrington showed that he belonged among the high-major prospects. He knocked down a big three in transition late in the game after leading the break. As he usually does, Carrington worked his way into the mid-range area for pull-ups where he showcased good balance on his jumpers.
Ace Valentine Ace Valentine 6'2" | PG Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State MD | 6’2 | Mount St. Joseph
I’ve seen Valentine a couple of time already this season and the biggest takeaway is how healthy he looks. His burst in the open floor has stood out. Last year it didn’t seem like he could (or was quite confident enough) to go into the next gear, but now he’s able to do so and in most cases, blow by his defender to get to the rim. It’s actually pretty dramatic when you compare his speed from last year to this season. He had to handle much of the ball handling and initiating role for the Gaels against Calvert Hall with 2024 Bryson Tucker Bryson Tucker 6'7" | CG IMG Academy | 2024 #15 Nation FL out. He did a nice job of controlling the pace, getting his teammates into sets and also remaining aggressive as a scorer when the opportunities presented themselves.
Sean Clark Sean Clark 6'1" | CG Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State MD | 6’1 | Mount St. Joseph
Clark has helped his stock with his willingness to buy into what head coach Pat Clatchey needs of him this season. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, the 6-foot-1 guard is expected to provide his team energy as a defender, knock down open shots and use his athleticism in the open floor. So far, he has checked all of those boxes by containing the opposing team’s top perimeter threat and offensively being an efficient scorer. His decision-making with the ball has also improved, as he isn’t forcing passes or shots as he did last season.