More 2023 Senior Backcourt Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The value of a senior guard who can drive the bus can not be quantified in HS basketball. Today we look at a handful of seniorswho will be given the keys to the offense at their schools. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1402079' first='Bryce' last='Stokes']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryce-stokes/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 6'3” | G | Paterson Eastside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stokes is going to be the leader who gets the job done on both sides of the floor for the Ghosts. He can utilize his well built frame to his advantage on the boards, which college coaches should love to see from a guard. An go-to-guy in the clutch, evidenced by his game winning FT in the 49-48 win over DePaul in the Passaic County Tournament. His play continued to improve as the season went on and he showed he was a big game player—His best game was their last one, going for 24&amp;10 in a playoff loss to Ridgewood. Could earn an offer when its all said and done from the D2 level if he has a big senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013069' first='Malachi' last='Johnson']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/malachi-johnson-2/"></a> | 6'0” | G | Union</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is one of the top returning guards in Union County for this year that plays for a public school program. A solid ballhandler and good shooter, especially from beyond the arc. He's a scorer--primarily a slasher--and gets to the basket with confidence. He had 19 vs Holmdel and 22 vs Union Catholic among his top games last winter.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1269732' first='Kamal' last='Lee']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kamal-lee/"></a> </strong>| 6'0” | G | Saint Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is a tough guard who can break down defenders and has a quick first step. He's also a tough on ball defender. Shoots well from beyond the arc. He can also facilitate and dished out over 100 assists as a junior. He'll be asked to be the driving force for the Trojans as a senior leader in the backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1270515' first='Brandon' last='Dean']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-dean/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-dean/"></a> | 5'11” | G | South Plainfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dean is an explosive scorer who was the leader for South Plainfield, leading them to a 23-6 record last winter. He's a skilled ballhandler who can play a lead guard but can also take over games and score at multiple levels with a soft touch jumper and explosive first step to the rim. He scored over 600 pts last winter, including 37 vs Spotswood, 36 vs Pingry and 24 vs St Joes and Colonia. He has a great chance to break the SPHS scoring record, currently held by 2005 alum Marquis Jones(1,436 pts). If the ‘Rona season was a full one, he probably would have broken the record already, if not been there in December. He's a scholarship level guard who has been under the radar throughout his time in HS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150278' first='Sutan' last='Fitzpatrick']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sutan-fitzpatrick/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sutan-fitzpatrick/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;| 5'10” | G| Newark East Side</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fitzpatrick got a sample of being a go-to-guy as a junior after gaining experience as an underclassman. Coach Tavares and Coach Garvin will expect him to be a backcourt leader as a senior. He has good ballhandling skills and can shoot it from deep. He can break defenders down off the dribble and get at the rim as well. Top games as a junior vs Columbia(27), Pemberton(23) and Caldwell(22).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->