Stars at State: Undervalued Guards

<p>Ballers come from anywhere and everywhere. These dudes are sprinkled among lower division schools across the state and are converging at the 2A and 2B state playoffs. You may not know them yet, but keep your eyes peeled and you'll see some of the best-kept secrets in Washington hoops. These guys are tremendous talents that will be difference-makers in the state tournaments.</p> <p><strong>John Lustig 6’3 G Colfax 2022</strong></p> <p>I only know of Lustig by sheer chance. I flipped on the district 7 2B championship game just to see if anyone stood out. Lustig came down ready to run the play and threw the ball right out of bounds. I chalked it up as a miscommunication between teammates. Next time down, Lustig sets up the play, gets the ball back, goes between his legs then hesitates, between his legs again, darts in, and pulls up for an icy jumper - cash. Sometimes all it takes is seeing one play and you know - it was too good to be lucky. From that point on my eyes were fixated on Lustig. He continued to bury pull-ups, step-backs, deep threes, getting space with a variety of moves. Just when I thought I knew his game, he went back door and rose up for a two-handed jam. He’s an outstanding scorer, without forcing shots, and wastes very little movement in his approach. Lustig is going to turn some heads in Spokane.</p> <p><strong>Jaedyn Brown 6’2 G Pullman 2023</strong></p> <p>Anyone who’s played Pullman this year can tell you about Jaedyn Brown. The kid can flat out shoot. He can fire it off the dribble, coming off screens, on the catch and shoot. Don’t worry about getting a hand in his face, he can hit that too, but generally he creates enough space to give himself the optimal look. Brown is a patiently crafty scorer who happens to also be an elite shooter. He has great ball control and even when defenses are keying on him, he can find room to the hoop. He’s had six games this year with at least seven made threes - three of those with eight. There is so much talent at the 2A level this season, and Brown’s 20-2 Pullman squad as a four seed is exactly why.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1046516" first="John" last="Barbee"] 6’1 G Franklin-Pierce 2022</strong></p> <p>Barbee has a sort of unassuming aggression. His game can seem quiet and reserved, then he explodes by a defender and finishes at the rim with a dunk. He reads passing lanes, jumping them for steals, and finishing fast breaks with either hand. He attacks the boards like it’s his only job and can spot up to knock down the three-ball as well. What makes him unassuming is his awareness. Players like Barbee that affect every phase of the game, yet go relatively unnoticed, usually do so by making things look a little too easy. He brings much-needed senior leadership to the Cardinals and sets the tone for the whole team. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933892" first="Tayshawn" last="Colvin"] 6’1 G Liberty (Spangle) 2022</strong></p> <p>Colvin is a floor general who is always talking - talking to teammates, coaches, referees - he always wants to know what is going on, and how to react. He’s got great eyes heading down the court. He can anticipate where defenses are weak and how he should attack. He can step back and hit the long-range shot or make himself small going through defenses inside to the cup. He has his hands on the ball a lot and excels at collapsing defenses for four quarters. Colvin and his Liberty squad are 19-2 and the number two seed in the 2B state tournament.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1270714" first="Kobe" last="Parlin"] 6’1 G Mark Morris 2023</strong></p> <p>Parlin is a show runner. He checks all the boxes you look for in a star and a leader. He’s patient, plays in control, shows outstanding hustle, can contribute in every facet of the game, and when you need him most - he can take over and create a basket. The key to his game is balance. He scores, but he dishes. He’s fast, yet strong. He is a supreme creator, yet he doesn’t turn the ball over. Parlin contributes however his team needs, and for an undersized squad, that means on the boards too. He’s the definition of a gamer and leads a sneaky Mark Morris team that can erupt at any time.</p>