2023 Guards Set To Rise As Seniors

Alex Fydryszewski

October 30, 2022 @ 11:09 PM

With a deep class of 2023 at the guard position, there are college prospects throughout our rankings lists that are going to be leaders, all county and maybe even all state type players in their classifications who aren't getting as much attention as they should. Today, we look at a handful of plays who are in line for big senior seasons and should be on the radar of college coaches.     [player_tooltip player_id='1466415' first='Matthew' last='Nervi']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-nervi/"></a>  | 6'1” | G | Scotch Plains-Fanwood   Nervi was bus driver for the Raiders last winter. He's got a great understanding of the sport, what a lead guard does to facilitate an offense and his basketball IQ of how to be a scorer is also there. He can get up the floor in transition and can also pull up off the dribble. He runs fast breaks to perfection--right to the foul line-- and has a fantastic head fake that makes defenders jump through the roof. Academic D3s should have a ton of interest in Nervi, who seems to be a coaches dream. He had 24 vs Union Catholic and 21 vs Summit as top games last year. He could make an All-County run as a senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='902747' first='Chris' last='Venturoso']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chris-venturoso/"></a><a></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chris-venturoso/"></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chris-venturoso/"></a> | 6'3” | G | Lacey   One of the top returning players in Ocean County. He crossed the 1,000 point mark as a junior. Venturoso is a player who can score at multiple levels–He can hit shots from beyond the arc, attack the rim off the dribble or play back to the basket if needed. He also crashes the boards hard at both ends of the floor. He kept Lacey competitive almost single-handedly last year. He had 33 vs Lakewood and 26 vs Mon Don as his top games as a junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1401553' first='Essam' last='Assaf']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/essam-assaf/"></a><a></a> | 6'0” | G | Elmwood Park   A guard with a good basketball IQ. Barring a season ending injury in the next month, Assaf will go beyond 1,000 points early this season. He's a crafty guard who's at his best in transition, but he's also capable of pulling up from deep. He hit for 20+ nine times. D3 schools should be paying attention to his senior year.   David Forzani | 5'9” | G | Elmwood Park   Assaf's backcourt partner as Elmwood Park looks at a big year for them as a program. A facilitator who drives at the rim and creates shots for players on the perimiter and is tough getting through traffic. He exploded for 31 vs Lodi and 28 vs Westwood as his top games last winter. He should be of interest to D3 programs like his teammate, giving Elmwood Park one of the top backcourts in the NJIC.   Makhi Williams | 6'0” | G | Leonia   Williams had a solid junior year for Leonia, averaging 13PPG and went over 20 on several occasions. A tough on ball defender who runs the floor well in transition and finishes at the rim. He's also got range beyond the arc and can hit it from the wings with accuracy.  He had 24 vs Bergen Charter, 23 vs Pal Park and 22 vs Lyndhurst.

With a deep class of 2023 at the guard position, there are college prospects throughout our rankings lists that are going to be leaders, all county and maybe even all state type players in their classifications who aren't getting as much attention as they should. Today, we look at a handful of plays who are in line for big senior seasons and should be on the radar of college coaches.