Senior Season Stock Risers: 3A Guards

Let’s start with the bad news; none of these seniors finished their careers with trips to the state tournament. The good news? These guards did just about everything in their power to see their teams to a state tournament berth, and because of that, they should be recognized for their effort and desire alone. It just so happens they are filthy on the court too. These seniors were some of the hottest stock risers of 2022 among 3A guards, so take another look before they’re gone. [player_tooltip player_id="1203975" first="Jeremiah" last="Sibley"] 6’1 G University Sibley blew me away the first time I saw him. He blew away most of his opponents too. This guy is electric on the floor and lights it up using elite body control, tight handles, and a legit collection of moves that leave defenders lost and looking for momma. He has a rare combo of quickness and smarts, using ball fakes and the triple threat to throw defenders going one way while he goes the other. He’s got the jumper to keep defenses honest but can blow by them too. If you know Sibley, you know he’s a scorer, putting up just under 20 a game this season. What you might not know is he was third on his team in rebounding at 6.5 RPG, snagging double-digit boards four different times this past season. He leaves it all on the floor. Whoever gets him at the next level is getting a gamer. Sibley was almost able to lift University to State but fell to a red-hot Mt. Spokane team that placed fifth at the Hardwood Classic. [player_tooltip player_id="931318" first="Parker" last="Androy"] 5’10 G Lincoln What Androy lacks in size he more than makes up for in quickness. He’s a prototype pass-first point guard who sets up a lot of his assists by driving and drawing defenders, then hitting a teammate with the dump-off. Don’t get it twisted though, Androy has the skills to finish inside too. The best way to describe his game is "change of pace." It’s the variation from his stop-and-go dribbling, Oscar-worthy shot fakes, and ability to pull defenders back and forth on a string that makes him a highly efficient guard. Lincoln’s season ended in a high-paced game against Gig Harbor in the second round of districts. Down only six at the half, Lincoln started to see Gig Harbor pull away in the third until the Abes went with a full-court press. Androy kept the energy up, creating turnovers and keeping the game close. But in the end, it wasn’t enough, and Lincoln’s season was over. George Morales 6’0 G Lakes Lakes finished the season 1-20. That isn’t too impressive of a final tally, but the Lakes Lancers got that lone win in the last game of the season. Nothing to play for but pride, and they came out and finished the season the best they could. That is resiliency. As one of three seniors on the team, Morales was counted on to not only provide valuable minutes, but leadership that only comes from experience. He’s a player that chips in across the board; 7.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.3 SPG. All among the top five on his team. He had to work hard, creating a lot of his own looks, but showed an ability to knock down outside shots and split defenses, making something out of nothing. Morales took some tough shots along the way but was able to develop a knack for finishing off balance. Darnell Green 6’0 G Central Kitsap This is a player that understands how space and timing play out on the court. The off-ball movement from Green is a skill hoopers only get from spending time around the game. He knows when to pop up and help out on the ball. He has a feel for when to stand, when to move slow, and when to burst into open areas. There is an ere of calm confidence that follows him around the court. Altogether, he is an intelligent player that makes the right plays, all while needing to be a scoring force for his squad. While the intangibles stand out, his tangibles are there too. His pull-up is a knockdown shot for him and he’s able to make contact finishes thanks to his controlled approach and sturdy balance. Central Kitsap finished fourth in the South Sound Conference that put Gig Harbor and Timberline into State. The Cougars had an abrupt end to the year, losing in the first round of districts to Silas. [player_tooltip player_id="1145121" first="Tayon" last="Sessoms"] 6’3 G West Seattle Sessoms was a part of a highly underrated backcourt that was the catalyst for a West Seattle squad with big expectations. He ran the show next to a highly regarded [player_tooltip player_id="929622" first="Isaiah" last="Watts"] and fit in perfectly. The two guards played nicely off each other with Sessoms able to set up the show with his excellent vision and provide a nice scoring boost with his soft touch and ability to hit from all spots on the floor. Whether he’s walking into a three, hitting a turnaround from the block, or pulling up from mid-range, Sessoms showed he has a stroke that plays all over. The fact that he wasn’t able to take West Seattle state-bound is more an indication of the strength of the Metro League than a knock on the Wildcats. They beat state qualifier Eastside Catholic twice in the regular season, but came up just short against Seattle Prep on two occasions as well, the final time knocking them out for good. Nathan Visdal 6’1 G Liberty Visdal is a guy who can provide a spark in several ways. He does a ton of little things that only a high IQ player can consistently pull off. A pesky defender, Visdal has the tendency to hide in the weak side of the defense, baiting entry passes and jumping on them when they come. He’s a quick guard that takes this attitude as an irritant on ball as well, using good hands to sneak up on ball handlers too. On offense, he distributes the ball and has a nice stroke. Though he might not shoot as much as other guards around the league, he has proven the ability to hit from distance, even with a hand right in his grill. Visdal makes the right plays and was a key piece of a tough Liberty team that was upset in the first round of districts by a Ballard team that was one bucket away from upsetting Rainier Beach in the next round too. [player_tooltip player_id="674443" first="Mack" last="Hepper"] 6’4 G Stanwood This guy’s last name fits him well. It’s got a little pep to it, a little bounce, so does Mack. He’s a big, athletic guard that is comfortable running the break or finishing it, and his incredible speed with the ball often has him running and finishing. Hepper is a showrunner that has great instincts off the pick and roll. He can find the roller in a multitude of ways, using a quick pass, or waiting for the roll to open up, understanding there is more than one window. Or, if the roller gets covered, Hepper can muscle his way around defenders and bang one out himself. He’s the rare package of athleticism, size, and passing ability. Stanwood was one game away from Regionals twice, losing to Ferndale and then Shorecrest to end their season short. Zack Reighard 6’0 G Mead Reighard is definitely a player who would have gotten some looks had Mead found their way to State. He’s someone you notice right away with his combo of wiggle to the hoop and his ultra-quick release from long range. If you’re not careful and playing ready defense, Reighard will dribble down and splash one in your eye, and he’ll keep going until you step up. The Mead Panthers were another team that had more than one shot to clinch their bid to State, but lost to two teams hitting their strides at the right time; Kennewick and Mt. Spokane. Ryan Brush 6’6 G Bellevue Brush is known as a shooter and rightfully so. With his size and repeatable shot, he’s a danger in any offense to get going from three. But, the more I watch the tall guard from Bellevue, the more I see unrealized potential for an all-around game. He displays great instincts attacking the hoop, moving the ball, and shutting down shots inside. Brush can be that lengthy shooter you depend on for three’s, but also someone who is going to contribute in other ways, keeping the offense dynamic, while also being a weakside defender who can send shots back and swing momentum. I’m not going to pretend to know how the district two playoffs were seeded, but Bellevue (as the six seed) played O’Dea who was an 11 seed at districts, but a three seed at state. Needless to say, it was a tough draw and Bellevue got bounced early in districts.