2023 Rankings Update: The Top 10 Guard Newcomers

<p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/58-Tre-Carson.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290450" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/58-Tre-Carson-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288925" first="Trevian" last="Carson"] (Valley) [30]</strong></p> <p>Far and away the highest-ranked newcomer guard in the 2023 rankings, Carson emerged as a strong piece for the Tigers following the holiday break when they lost standout Eli Raridon to a season-ending injury. Carson is a 6-3 playmaking combo guard who can get to the rim, get others involved, rebound, and defend. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/92-Kaidan-Ivory-crop-2172x1427-1640894141.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1356607" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/92-Kaidan-Ivory-crop-2172x1427-1640894141-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1067655" first="Kaidan" last="Ivory"] (Waukee) [128]</strong></p> <p>A strong lead guard with good size at 6-3, Ivory does a good job playing with pace and using his bigger frame to bully his way to the bucket for finishes. He’s efficient (53.8% from the floor as a junior) and contributes well on the glass. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469745" first="Joshua" last="Thurm"] (Humboldt) [152]</strong></p> <p>A 6-0 off-ball guard, Thurm helped lead the Wildcats to the state tournament by knocking down nearly 38% of his 3-point attempts as a junior. He moves really well off the ball and has a quick release off the catch. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469747" first="Rico" last="Byrd"] (Assumption) [157]</strong></p> <p>An athletic, slashing guard who is at his best when he’s playing downhill, Byrd provided a spark off the bench for the Knights as a scorer and defender. He’ll have a chance to shine next year following a number of key graduations. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469776" first="Jaden" last="Tyler"] (Bettendorf) [163]</strong></p> <p>Tyler is a 6-1 off-ball guard who can get hot from the arc and carry a team for stretches. He’s a streaky shooter, but his form and release look pretty good and he should improve upon his 32% from the arc during his senior year. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469777" first="Luke" last="Ramsey"] (Liberty) [165]</strong></p> <p>A 5-11 off-ball guard who started 20 of 23 games for the Lightning as a junior, Ramsey is a gunner who had nearly 75% of his field-goal attempts come from behind the arc last season. He’s a talented shooter who moves well off the ball and has a quick release.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469783" first="Caleb" last="Egesdal"] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck) [177]</strong></p> <p>A 5-10 off-ball guard who complements [player_tooltip player_id="1167671" first="William" last="Kiburis"] well, Egesdal is a knockdown shooter off the catch who does an excellent job moving without the ball in his hands, finding spaces in the defense to get his shot off. He showed some ability as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker as a junior as well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1469788" first="Aiden" last="Stoltz"] (Pella Christian) [184]</strong></p> <p>A 6-0 and athletic 6-0 off-ball guard, Stoltz can score inside and out, create for others, and he’s a strong on-ball defender. Like many others on this list, he’ll have a chance to really have a breakout year next season following a number of graduations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288855" first="Dakota" last="Heimbaugh"] (Indianola) [186]</strong></p> <p>A 5-9 scoring guard, Heimbaugh provided some scoring punch off the bench last season for the Indians, averaging 5.6 points with 47-42-64 shooting splits. He can score from all three levels and showed that he can also be a reliable ball-handler when called upon.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/68-Carter-Kuehl.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1290466" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/68-Carter-Kuehl-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288894" first="Carter" last="Kuehl"] (Heelan) [191]</strong></p> <p>Kuehl led the Crusaders in assists as a junior, showing not only his ability to get others involved but also some explosive scoring punch as well. He’s a quick guard who can break down the defense and get to the bucket for finishes, and he’s a better shooter than his percentages last year showed.</p>