#PHPassionRegionFinals Day Two Dynamic Guard Play

The #PHPassionRegionFinals was loaded with guards leaving their impact on the games… let’s look at a few.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Jermaine-Hines-TP.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513086 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Jermaine-Hines-TP-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Jermaine Hines (5’11/CG)   Team: Elite Playmakers ’24 Instagram: 1jermaine.hines Twitter: @JermaineHines6   Jermaine is a calm and poised combo guard that is comfortable at either the lead guard or off-guard spot. Regardless of what position he is at, his production does not diminish. When the ball is in his hands, he can either orchestrate the offense or create his own shot. <blockquote> When he is attacking off the bounce and getting to the paint and ultimately the rim, he is an excellent finisher. </blockquote> He can get it done at all levels and was one of the best scoring guards I saw on day two. He has a high skill level, an excellent feel for the game, can beat opponents in so many different ways, and should really be a stock riser the last two years of his high school career as he has the game to play at the next level. He appeared to be a little taller than 5’11, but I would advise those looking for a reliable combo guard that can facilitate and score when needed to not look past Jermaine, as they might get a steal. He finished with 24pts in a 62-71 loss to SWFL Hoops ’24.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Emanuel-Befekadu-TP.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513087 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Emanuel-Befekadu-TP-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Emanuel Befekadu (6’0/CG)   Team: No Excuses Elite ’24 Instagram: ucancallmeeman Twitter: @ucancallmeEman   I was able to lay eyes on Emanuel a couple times on day two, and during the contest against Macon Elite ’24, he played a brilliant game while leading his squad to an impressive victory. He played under control, made winning plays, and had an overall mature performance at the lead guard spot. He made good decisions throughout the contest that led to limited turnovers, and whenever you limit your turnovers and get good attempts at the basket, good things end up happening. In this game, he made others around him better as he set the table numerous times by getting to the paint, collapsing the D then hitting open teammates for practically target practice shots. <blockquote> He made the game easy for those around him, and in this game, he was extremely reliable and played with a lot of confidence in leading his team to the 67-45 victory. </blockquote> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Kameron-Alex-McKnight-C.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513090 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Kameron-Alex-McKnight-C-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Kameron Alex McKnight (5’10/CG)   Team: HoopLovers ’24 Instagram: kamm_.2x Twitter: N/A   In the match-up against Miami Ballhogs ’24, Kameron did his damage in the second half. It was his play on both ends of the floor that sparked the comeback victory. He is a small guard that stepped up huge with timely buckets off the bounce in transition and from beyond the arc. <blockquote> He did so many things well, not just offensively but defensively that half, that no one particular thing stood out. </blockquote> What did stand out was his intensity and energy that was infectious throughout his teammates that had them believing they were going to win that game, and ultimately they made enough plays to pull out the win. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Jaden-Wolner-C.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513092 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Jaden-Wolner-C-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Jaden Wolner (6’4/CG)   Team: SWFL Hoops ’24 Instagram: jadenwolner Twitter: @Jaden36567359   Jaden is a smooth combo guard with intriguing tools. He is highly versatile as he can shoot it from outside, put it on the floor, and even post smaller guards. He has solid handles and utilizes his combo dribble to set up defenders in order to get by them off the bounce. He has good positional size and was efficient with his scoring opportunities. If assist were being kept on the stat sheet, the numbers would not jump out at you, but you couldn’t let that clog your judgment on his ability to run the team from the lead guard spot. <blockquote> He controlled the pace and got his squad in their sets when he stepped into the lead guard spot. </blockquote> One thing to note is that SWFL’s rhythm was not affected when Jaden slid over to the PG spot. He showed his ability to score inside and out as he unofficially finished with 19pts in the 71-62 victory over Elite Playmakers ’24.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Steven-Bennett-C.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513094 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Steven-Bennett-C-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Steven Bennett (6’0/PG)   Team: Florida Suns ’24 Instagram: _Sbennett Twitter: @Sbennett_1   Steven was one of the most dynamic guards in the 16u division on day two. He was explosive off the bounce, and Jax Stangs struggled to stay in front of him. Steven played extraordinarily comfortably and confidently as he had to shoulder much of the scoring load for his squad. He played with a lot of grit and swag and was a threat every time he touched the rock. <blockquote> He literally could get buckets anytime, anywhere, and against any defender that Jax Stangs threw at him. </blockquote> Steven is such a dynamic scorer that you would be tempted to overlook his need for a greater commitment to the defensive end of the floor and what seemed to be an ongoing engagement with other players standing along the baseline. Steven has way too much potential to allow things he has complete control over to hinder his possibility of finding his way into a program at the next level. I know the saying is, ’don’t sweat the small stuff,’ but small things that would turn a college coach’s head are not to be considered small stuff. Steven is the caliber player who can single-handedly change the course of a game. He unofficially finished with 24pts in the 57-75 loss to Jax Stangs ’24.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Antonio-Wright-Jr.-TP.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513095 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Antonio-Wright-Jr.-TP-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Antonio Wright Jr. (6’2/SG)   Team: Team TMac ’24 Instagram: _antoniowright_ Twitter: @Antonio96655632   Let me start off with Team Stampede’s coach’s comments about Antonio, which is, ’this kid is killing me.’ AJ unofficially finished with 11pts, but he impacted the game in so many different ways. He elevated his squad’s play every time he was on the court. He was a tough cover, whether he was aggressively attacking the paint or creating for his teammates off the bounce. <blockquote> AJ required multiple defenders to keep tabs on his whereabouts, and even then, they still were limited in options in trying to stop him. </blockquote> He kept the offense fluid and even worked as a secondary playmaker on his squad. You can question his usage just as Team Stampede’s coach did, but it would have benefitted Team TMac if AJ had asserted himself more on the offensive end of the court. With his tenacity off the bounce and his prowess as an iso scorer, he is definitely a player to keep a watch on throughout his junior season campaign.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Brian-Kennedy-TP.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1513097 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/PH-Brian-Kennedy-TP-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Brian Kennedy (5’10/PG)   Team: Man II Man Soldiers ’24 Instagram: 3r.ian Twitter: @Bean1Kennedy   Brian was a well-rounded PG that found a unique balance between scoring and facilitating. Brian was one of the best PGs that I saw on day two. He plays with his head up, sees the floor well, and can deliver on-time and on-target passes. He has a crazy burst of speed off the bounce, and once he gets going downhill, he has the entire defense at his mercy. <blockquote> Some of the passes he made left me wondering how he saw that, which attests to his dynamic court vision and ability to make difficult passes look easy. </blockquote> He doesn’t have a lot of size, but he does not back down on either side of the floor. He has slick-ball handling skills, doesn’t over-dribble, takes care of the rock, and brings his coach a sense of security when the ball is in his hands. His play-making ability at times looks like his best skill on the court, as he makes everyone around him better and makes the game real easy at times. Many will not be able to look beyond the 5’10 number, but there is a program out there that will land Brain, a dynamic PG, one day.