5 Small School Players to Watch: Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's definitely a “big five” of guards at the small schools entering the upcoming season. [player_tooltip player_id='1080198' first='Jaxson' last='Brandl'], [player_tooltip player_id='1212165' first='Alec' last='Carlson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1080178' first='Britton' last='Dutton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1146270' first='Keller' last='Hurla'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1080187' first='Brekyn' last='Ratzlaff'] (in alphabetical order) are all seniors who have shown for several years now that they are the best. But a handful of stud guards are right there, ready for huge seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five small school guards to watch (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_635ffecdd922f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1461343"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hamel guided the Bulldogs to the state tournament as a sophomore, stuffing the stat sheet with 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The team loses a lot to graduation, which means Hamel will carry and even bigger load this year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1270271' first='Tanner' last='Heckel']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Inman","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Heckel has been producing in multiple sports since day one of his high school career. He's an athletic and skilled competitor who just can do everything well. Watch for him to be the next top guard in 2A after Dutton, Hurla and Ratzlaff graduate this year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1146283"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kaufman (pictured) had some big scoring outbursts last season, and should be primed for a big senior season with a lot of talent around him. He controls the game and guides the team with purpose. He is a smart and creative passer when he's not lighting it up.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1270301"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"One of the top small-school tennis stars in the state, Ryan has racked up some impressive stats on the basketball court in his short high school career. He tossed in 20 points per game as a sophomore for a team that struggled to get wins. But when the chips were on the line, he helped the team get on a role and reach the state tournament. The Oilers were young and may be more consistent this year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Teagan Thompson","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Caldwell","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Thompson led the Bluejays with 12 points per game en route to the state tournament a year ago. They bring just about everyone back, so Thompson will lead an experienced group this year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->