#NEXTLonestarStateShowdown: Playmakers

Mansfield, Texas — The Prep Hoops Next Lonestar State Showdown consists of a wide margin of talent that filled the gym and produced various high-scoring games. Here we take a look at some of the top-performing lead guards that ran the show for their squads and set themselves as well as their teammates up with success.

Dreyden Montgomery | Albuquerque, NM | ABC Flight Force 2027

Dreyden Montgomery was one of, if not the top playmaker of them all. The 5-foot-10-inch point-forward controls the game with his limitless motor and extreme productivity. Montgomery put his stamp on several different areas of the game, his ability to score from anywhere within the arc made him a threat each time he was on the floor thanks to his quick first step and fast catch and turnaround jumpshot. Once Dreyden had the defense watching for his scoring his passing game opened up and he made sure to get his teammates involved.

Ti’ler Hamilton | Shreveport, LA | Louisiana Cardinals 2027 Black

Another standout playmaker from the in the 12U division was Louisiana Cardinals’ lead guard Ti’ler Hamilton, a highly confident and fearless playmaker that moves at a quicker speed and pace than his peers on both ends of the floor, he’s someone that creates a turnover on defense and set teammates up on offense. The kid is a pure dime dropper with a knack for putting the rock in spots where only his teammate could catch it and go straight up with it. Incredible full-court vision, Hamilton saw open guys from way down the floor and displayed the ability to throw it accurately to the open man with jaw-dropping full-court bounce passes. 

Avis Rhodes | Jacksonville, AR | Next Page Force 2027 

High motor ballplayer, Avis Rhodes came in off the bench and immediately changed the pace of the game, upping the tempo by pushing the ball down the floor every time he had it, setting the tone for the offense and getting the ball out in transition. On the other end of the floor, Rhodes displayed talent as an incredible lockdown on-ball defender causing 5-second violations, forcing ball-handlers to over-dribble or get out of character, and making opposing teams settle for bad throws due to his defensive pressure. While defending on the ball, Rhodes clamped his man down with insanely quick and active feet, he didn’t give up any space and made his man work for every inch they got, opposing guards either picked up their dribble, passed the ball, or forced their way through resulting in charging foul calls. You can always count on Avis Rhodes to make his presence felt one way or another.

Evan Nanez | Roswell, NM | ABC Spotlight 2027 

Pure point guard, Evan Nanez is a 2028 prospect playing up and not only holding his own but also standing out in a major way. Nanez showed off an abundance of talent and creativity while running the show, proving to be a dynamic ball-handler that is very comfortable making instant decisions with the basketball. Incredibly unselfish, loves to keep others involved, reads the defense well, constantly looking to get his teammate a shot before his own, can throw it over the defense’s head, and hit cutters with bounce passes through traffic, Evan has a way of throwing his guys open and also hitting his teammates the moment they have free space whether they’re in the paint or beyond the arc. 

Chris Martinez | Dallas, TX | Southern Assault 2029 Elite

This kid commands attention at the point guard position, he stood out all weekend as a high-level ballplayer with an even higher basketball IQ and an impressive ball-handling skillset. Chris Martinez is a dribbling machine that was tough to stay in front of due to his ability to get to any spot going left and right, he’s already ambidextrous with the ball and breaking ankles with shifty hesitations and deadly crossovers. Martinez did a great job of finding free space and recognizing holes in the defense to attack the basket, getting into the lane where Chris continuously showed off his phenomenal drive and kick abilities, making everyone think he was going to shoot by touching the paint before turning his body to throw it out to the corner. Another aspect of Chris Martinez’s game that made him so special was his tough on-ball defense, he traced his man’s movements very well and didn’t give up many points off the bounce.