Top 250 Expo Film Study: Poised Guards
In this article:
Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Expo in person but over the last week I’ve flipped through the film to dissect some of the top performances from the event. In this Film Study I’m examining a position every…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingUnfortunately, I was not able to attend the Expo in person but over the last week I’ve flipped through the film to dissect some of the top performances from the event. In this Film Study I’m examining a position every team needs, the poised guard. These guys play within themselves, establish pace for their teams and have a knack for creating opportunities. They were some of my favorite players to watch from the event, so here are the five guards I identified as having superior poise from the expo.
Anderson was bar none my favorite player to watch, as he has been the last few times I’ve gotten to see him. He is such a steady presence on the floor and quietly commands attention, leading the attack with smooth, controlled decision-making. The first thing that catches my eye is the pace he plays with. He’s always looking to push the ball but it’s at a controlled, slightly accelerated pace that allows him time to see the whole floor and make the right play. Never hurried, always moving, he creates so many looks for teammates just through his own drives and ability to hold his dribble. He’s a stud in the 2025 class that deserves much more attention than he is currently getting.
He really showed his brain off at the expo, catching other players on their mistakes (loose dribbles, lazy defense) and displaying one of the most controlled handles of all the players there. Time and again, Snellman used his quick crossover to beat defenders and get to the hoop where he finishes strong and with a variety of moves. He was aggressive, controlled, and quietly dominated play with his attacking abilities. The heady point guard is one to watch as he heads back over to Eastern Washington for the high school season.
If you want to talk about domination, we have to mention Luz. He was on fire to start the game I watched, and continued to rack up the points as the game went on. Unconscious from three, he got most of his points there but also went inside finding room at the rim. He was the ultimate aggressor and controlled the flow for much of the game. Luz was someone I watched briefly in the summer where I saw a bit of this ability, but his expo performance blew what I had seen out of the water. Mt. Rainier was a mid-level team last season but Luz looks ready to take them up a notch this winter.
Highlights
This kid continues to perform at a high level, no matter the competition or setting. He’s as calm, cool, and collected as they come, making highlight assists and dictating action to the defense. His three-point shot has really improved over the spring and summer which has further opened up lanes on the drive for him. He plays the game at his own pace and has me thinking Annie Wright might be ready to take home a 1A state title this year.
The playmaking here is apparent; Carter can make some outstanding plays passing and getting to the hoop. He showed off some deep range like usual and affected the game almost every time he took to attacking. At times it looked like things came too easy for him and I can’t help but think there’s another level to his game we haven’t seen yet.