SoCal Fall Prep Classic: Top Guard Performers (Pt. 4)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CHINO — Gerry Freitas' SoCal Fall Prep Classic featured 47 teams from Southern California, Northern California, Arizona and Nevada in a two-day event format that featured matchups of some of the region's best teams. While we weren't able to see all of the teams over the weekend, we got our eyes on most of them, and here are the guards who turned in standout performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='994974' first='Maurice' last='Wright'], Jr., 2023. St. Paul</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright is a dynamic athlete who uses his combination of speed, shiftiness and balance to slash his way to the rim for paint finishes in transition. The 6-foot-2 point guard has an explosive first step out of the triple threat that allows him to blow-by defenders for paint touches in the half-court setting. Wright is a smothering on-ball defender who does a great job of speeding up offensive players and forcing them out of their comfort zones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1434750' first='Parker' last='Strauss'], 2023, Pacifica Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The newly-committed senior showed plenty of flashes of why Northwestern made him a priority target in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-4 point guard is as true to the position as they come: A high IQ game manager who is an extension of the coach on the floor. Strauss is an elite passer with elite court vision who plays with an unselfishness that permeates through the rest of the team. Strauss isn't just a great passer as he can knock down perimeter jumpers and is a guy who is willing to sacrifice his body on the defensive end for the benefit of his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1434418' first='Rodney' last='Brown'], 2023, Rancho Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was our first look at a fully healthy [player_tooltip player_id='1434418' first='Rodney' last='Brown'] for a couple of months and his performance reiterated what we already knew: He's really good. The unsigned senior, who will be targeted by many Division I schools until he decides on one, is a rangy 6-foot-6 combo guard whose impressive scoring feel is highlighted by his ability to also run a team as the primary ball handler. Brown is a smooth shooter from three-point range who also showed that he can expose mismatches in the mid-post with a back-to-the-basket skill-set. Brown's length and lateral speed on the defensive end allows him to guard multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1502821' first='Scotty' last='Belnap'], 2024, Mater Dei</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belnap was on fire from three-point range throughout this event. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has deep and consistent range on his deep ball and understands how to move without the ball - coming off of screens, lifting or dropping to the level of the driver - to get a clean look at a jumper. Belnap is also a fluid and athletic straight-line driver who can finish above the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Shadale Knight, 2023, Rancho Cucamonga</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knight is a quick and shifty point guard whose aggressive attacking mentality sets the tone for a tough and high-tempo Rancho Cucamonga squad. The 5-foot-11 senior is always looking to push the pace in transition where he can get two feet in the paint and either finish with a crafty layup, floater or find one of his many knockdown shooters for a three. What Knight does that younger point guards need to take note of his play with a high motor on both ends. He's first on the floor for 50/50 balls, communicates on the defensive end and is always playing with a sense of urgency.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->