The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Top PGs/Combos

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PHI closed out the summer with The Last Dance in Chicago!&nbsp; We examine the best prospects from Illinois position by position including here in <strong>The Last Dance: Scotty B's Top PGs/Combos</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Levine (Big 3 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levin is a lead guard from York that was the top performer over the weekend for Big 3.&nbsp; He is a good ball handler that got to his spots converting crisp pull up jumpers from two and an occasional three.&nbsp; Coast to coast takes weaving in and out of the defense getting to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braeden Carlsen (Fundamental U 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsen is a 6'3” shooting guard that had a breakout weekend for Fundamental U.&nbsp; The rising junior is a scrappy guard that contributed on the boards, was a capable shooter and mixed in drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nate Kasher (Fundamental U 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Fundamental U guard that made a name was Kasher.&nbsp; The Glenbrook South 6'0” point guard is a plus three point shooter that bombed them in throughout the weekend at a high level.&nbsp; Good defender getting steals and taking charges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1048322' first='Collin' last='Wainscott'] (IBA Illinois Stars 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Marmion Academy combo guard is one of the top perimeter marksmen in the state.&nbsp; He displayed that in one of the games we caught with an array of triples.&nbsp; He can also stop and pop from mid-range along with a floater game that has become a major weapon in his offensive arsenal!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1436513' first='Leirre' last='Collier'] (Chicago Lockdown 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collier helped himself quite a bit this summer.&nbsp; The rising senior guard can really make shots with a clean looking jumper.&nbsp; Also finished well in the paint with and-1s and showed some improved passing feel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='939072' first='Marcus' last='Pigram'] (Illinois Jaguars 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big bodied combo guard from Whitney Young that is one of the premier guards at posting up his opponent in the paint and scoring on the block.&nbsp; The majority of his damage comes in that way or playing bully ball overpowering his opponents getting to the rim for scores.&nbsp; Plus rebounder and is an excellent perimeter defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215314' first='Cordy' last='Johnson'] (Flee Club 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had it rolling in their Friday game as the Michelle Clark 5'9” point guard was lights out from distance.&nbsp; Smaller guard that can get hot with his shooting like he did in this game.&nbsp; Shifty ball handler that plays with flair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285497' first='Luke' last='Kinkade'] (Basketball Paradise 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kinkade is a lefty point guard from Neuqua Valley that had to carry more of a scoring load with their star out.&nbsp; Crafty guard that is effective playing both on and off the ball.&nbsp; He can hit shots off the catch and pulling up.&nbsp; Finishes well on floaters and nifty layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1113525' first='Caden' last='Hawkins'] (Illinois Bears 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hawkins is one of the better combo guards in southern Illinois.&nbsp; The biggest reason for that is the Carterville guard can hit threes and pull ups at a super high rate.&nbsp; Did that on Saturday morning for the Bears.&nbsp; Plus shooter that is a microwave scorer.&nbsp; More than just a shooter he has become a threat in transition finishing with his athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='989273' first='Grant' last='Fridley'] (Illinois Bears 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKendree commit is a high IQ guard that makes excellent decisions with the ball.&nbsp; He is a true floor general in every sense of the word.&nbsp; The Trenton Wesclin guard can make others better while still finding his opportunities to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215313' first='Rokas' last='Castillo'] (Full Package 17U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Castillo had a consistent weekend in both games we saw of Full Package.&nbsp; The 2023 Lemont star is an all-around guard that makes an impact on both ends of the floor.&nbsp; He is such an active on ball defender getting steals in bunches.&nbsp; On the other end he is excellent at creating for others and hitting open spot up triples.&nbsp; Moves well without the ball too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285524' first='Jack' last='Stanton'] (Breakaway 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanton is a 6'1” combo guard that can really shoot it from distance.&nbsp; He displayed that on Sunday in Breakaway's win nailing pull up twos and threes on the regular.&nbsp; Moves well away from the ball to get open and is a tough kid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->