UIL Playoff Previews - 6A Region 3 - Guards (Part 1/2)

Access all of Prep Hoops

Subscribe for access to all premium articles and rankings.

The regional quarterfinals in the UIL playoffs are complete and the semis are up next! The 6A Division started with a total of 128 teams with the top 32 teams from each of the four regions. Texas has some of the greatest players in the nation and it has already been quite a show this year with teams full of talent across the board, with plenty more tough and exciting matchups to come. Below we preview some of the top guards that represented or are still representing their teams in the 6A Region 3 playoff bracket.

Angel Johnson – 6’1″ – PG – Senior – Atascocita

Johnson, the leading guard of the Atascocita Eagles, is a ferocious 2-way point guard that plays with grit in every aspect of his game. His defense on the perimeter is elite. He sees how plays will develop before even the offense knows what they’re going to do next, allowing him to decisively attack passing lanes and come away with numerous steals per game. He fights on every single defensive possession, going after 50/50 balls, bodying up his matchup for good positioning, and simply disrupting the offensive flow in every way possible. He’s a fantastic point-of-attack defender with quick hands and a nose for the ball, and he is an exceptional off-ball help defender with his constant aggression and drive to make an impact play. He can do it all on offense, but his biggest strength is his extremely quick release off the catch with deep range. He also has a solid handle that helps him break free of defenders fairly well, creating just enough space to get up a long range shot off the dribble. He seems to barely jump on his catch-and-shoot attempts which only further contributes to releasing the ball very quickly after receiving it, giving defenders virtually no time to contest him if they give him any sort of breathing room off the ball. When attacking the basket, he doesn’t necessarily always go at full speed to blow by defenders, instead using his body to protect the ball and using his toughness to force his way into the paint, coming away with a tough layup through traffic or finding the open man as the defense collapses on him. He’s been a vital piece for the Eagles as they’ve had three straight convincing wins in these playoffs so far, and now he leads them into a tough matchup against Fort Bend Clements in the regional semifinals.

Marcus Millender Marcus Millender 6'0" | PG PSAT Academy | 2023 State TX – 6’0″ – PG/SG – Junior – Clear Brook

Marcus Millender Marcus Millender 6'0" | PG PSAT Academy | 2023 State TX , also known as Smurf Millender, the younger of the two Milly Boys, is Prep Hoops’ #4 ranked point guard and #29 overall in the class of 2023 in Texas. He had an amazing junior season averaging nearly 17 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and just under 2 steals per game, leading the Clear Brook Wolverines to an impressive 28-7 record. He does everything well on the court with very few weaknesses in his game, if any. He’s a very solid catch-and-shoot threat from deep with the ability to also hit off the dribble if the defense refuses to guard him on the perimeter. He has a solid finishing touch around the rim and he’s never afraid to attack the paint and fight through traffic to get the ball up for a layup through contact. He’s also extremely fast with incredible acceleration, where he can get downcourt in the blink of an eye to finish off a fast break. He sees the floor extremely well and is unselfish enough to distribute the ball to the right guys if they have a better look at the basket than him, giving him a complete offensive package. On defense, he has very good anticipation on passes to jump in and steal the ball, which he also utilizes on help defense to bring the double teams just at the right moment when the opponent least expects it. He is solid on the ball, as well, with relentless footwork to stay in front of his man on the perimeter and knock the ball loose at the most opportune times. Millender and Clear Brook were primed to make a run in the playoffs this year but unfortunately ran into a hot Dawson team that made an impressive run of their own. The Wolverines ended up losing by 10 points to the Eagles in the first round, but Smurf will undoubtedly be back next season to lead Clear Brook to new heights.

Kemauri Millender Kemauri Millender 6'0" | PG Clear Brook | 2022 State TX – 6’1″ – SG/PG – Senior – Clear Brook

Kemauri Millender Kemauri Millender 6'0" | PG Clear Brook | 2022 State TX , known by many as Kemo, created a dynamic and dangerous backcourt duo this year with his younger brother, Smurf, for the Clear Brook Wolverines. He’s a fantastic catch-and-shoot threat, finding the open spots in the half court, and positioning himself well for an easy pass from his teammates that drive the lanes and collapse the defense. He has a solid touch around the rim, as well, with impressive agility, getting in the paint with his creative ball handling and finding various ways to get a layup to fall through traffic. He also loves to push the pace, utilizing his speed to get down court quick and finish in the open court. On the other end, he is extremely sneaky as a defender, baiting the offense into passes and then leaping in at the last second, utilizing his long arms, and stealing the ball to sprint the other direction for a fast break. He is a very solid on-ball defender, moving his feet well and using his body to stay in front of his matchup, then getting his long arms in there just at the right times to knock the ball loose and force turnovers. Kemo’s high school career ended with a tough first round loss in this year’s playoffs, but he’s got to feel good knowing he is leaving Clear Brook in good hands with his younger brother stepping up as a senior next season.

Christian Bradshaw – 6’2″ – SG/PG – Senior – Clear Brook

Bradshaw is a flat-out scorer and extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands. He can get to his spots whenever he wants to with a quick and sharp dribble and has a smooth transition into his pullup jumper, stopping on a dime and rising up from anywhere on the court for a picture-perfect shot. He can hit off the catch too, but his dribble pullup is his true bread and butter, hitting from midrange and from deep under any kind of pressure. He had fantastic footwork in the midrange, as well, attacking the from the perimeter at full speed, stopping short before getting too deep in the paint, and then utilizing his calm and controlled footwork to get the defense off balance with a quick fake spin or jab step before pulling up for the clean shot. He’s also a creative finisher in the paint, utilizing hop steps to get to open spaces, using his body to protect the shot, and throwing up convincing pump fakes down low to get a clear look at the rim. He even has the awareness and wherewithal to notice when a teammate is open on the weakside, dumping the ball to them as he attacks the paint, and the defense focuses on stopping him. He’s an extremely energetic and relentless defender, as well. He’s a complete pest as an on-ball defender, constantly going after his matchup and trying to disrupt his dribble, and then once the ball is knocked loose, he will do anything to secure it, diving for the loose ball and fighting for it under any circumstances.

Jaden Miller – 6’0″ – PG/SG – Junior – Dawson

Miller led the Dawson Eagles to a very successful 24-6 season and was a vital part in their run all the way to the regional quarterfinals this year, where they ended up losing to an extremely talented Atascocita team. He has a very solid and reliable left-handed shot off the catch and off the dribble from beyond the arc with incredibly deep range. As he’s pushing the offense up the court, he has no fear of stopping at the top of key, or several feet behind it, and pulling up from deep as the defense attempts to get set. Even though he has a very solid shot, he’s the definition of a pure point guard, seeing the floor beautifully well and finding his teammates nearly every time he touches the ball. He has a pass-first mindset and sees where the next pass should go before he even receives the ball. He makes perfect passes from both the stationary position on the perimeter and as he dribbles the ball slashing to the paint. He controls the pace of the offense and is always calm and composed, ready to create a good shot for his teammates. On defense, he has both very active feet and hands, tirelessly moving around the court to stay with his man, attacking passing lanes, and jumping onto double teams, forcing multiple turnovers per game as both an on-ball and off-ball defender. Miller loves seeing his teammates succeed and describes his strengths as being able to “run the floor and set [his] teammates up for good opportunities.”