Hillsborough County Basketball Showcase Standouts: Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The basketball talent in Hillsborough county is growing. Coaches in the area have recognized it and put on a camp to highlight the top prospects in front of college coaches. Below are the standout guards from Saturday's slate of games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1055777' first='Derek' last='Delgardo']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going into the event, I've considered Derek more of a scorer. In a setting built for someone to get buckets, he found his big man, took care of the ball, and won 50/50 balls. Delgardo showcased the jumper, quickness, and space creation without forcing the action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060241' first='Israel' last='Vargas']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vargas was one of the quickest guards in the gym. He's an unselfish ball handler that will give space to ball-dominant players and still make an impact. He makes hustle plays, is a willing passer, and hits shots within the flow of the offense. His overall numbers dropped while playing with superstar freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1301737' first='Caleb' last='Williams'] expecting the return of 18 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, and nearly 3 steals a game player we saw his sophomore year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1296009' first='Elijah' last='Dawson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawson is going to be a steal for the right team. He's an incredibly athletic wing that needs to develop his handle and shot to reach his full potential. Until then, you'll get a guy who looks like he's been shot out of a cannon when he crashes the boards or drives to the rim. Dawson defends multiple positions with his physical tools and has a ton of upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1163620' first='Daniel' last='Delgardo']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Danny is a high IQ guard that knows how to get everyone involved. He makes the right play, has good hands on defense, and has touch on his shot. Danny's not the most aggressive lead guard, but if you're looking for someone who won't turn over the ball, feeds his teammates, and plays mistake-free ball, he's your guy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1380026' first='Jordin' last='Bell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankle sprain limited Bell to the first few minutes of action. His limited showing highlighted his 6'2 size, quickness, and handle. He knocked down a three off the dribble and got to the rim. Bell's stock continues to rise. This showing could have put the county on notice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>George Kimble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimble continues to improve as a lead guard. The physically mature 6'3 guard spread the ball around the court like a high-level floor general. He's passed guys open, collapsed defenses with his handle, and made plays in transition. Kimble still locks in on defense, but his newfound vision stole the show.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1301766' first='Sian' last='Morris']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris is a tough smaller guard that can get after it on both ends. He's a shifty quick guard that can knock down pull-up jumpers and floaters. He has a space creating handle and floor general abilities. On the defensive end, he gets into the body of ball handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1055792' first='Chris' last='Moliere']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moliere is a talented scoring guard. He's a crafty finisher with the athleticism to finish at tough angles. Moliere is an ok shooter but an overall efficient bucket getter when given the opportunity. He's a solid defender who exerts much energy on the less glamorous end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EJ Bryant</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryant is a long 6'5 good with a smooth game. He scored well in transition and used his athleticism on both ends. He didn't finish in the setting, but anyone who gets to the rim with this much ease is worth believing this was a rare occurrence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1457207' first='Nate' last='Boakye']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boakye is a jack rabbit athlete at the guard spot. The 6 footer is lightning quick, is a scrappy defender, and gets paint touches in a flash. The junior makes quick moves to get past defenders and can score off the ball with his jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->