2023 Guards Taking a Leap (Part 2/2)

Clayton Conover

December 11, 2022 @ 06:13 AM

Through the second week of this season, a variety of guards have ascended into their program's starting lineups while contributing to winning basketball. These names bring a variety of tools to the table, ranging from athletic scoring around the rim to volume shooting beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='1139828' first='Cai'Reis' last='Curby'] - Aurora Central   DNP → 22.5 PPG   Curby has demonstrated composure as a key playmaker for Aurora Central, leading the team on the offensive end. Through his first couple games, Curby has posted 22.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game while knocking down 53% of his field goal attempts. Although a key shotmaker for this group, Curby is equally valuable setting up his teammates for quality looks given his relative gravity as a driver. Through high to low passes into the low post or a skip passes to weak side shooter, Curby is adept leveraging his skillset to help teammates. The guard will be a crucial creator for Aurora Central, keep tabs on his free throw rate through this season, likely a crucial aspect of his points per game.    Antonio Joseph Martinez - Fountain Fort Carson   DNP → 22.8 PPG   Martinez has kicked off the start of the season on fire, catapulting himself onto the forefront of the state's top scorers through the opening weeks. Within his first four games, the guard has posted 22.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game while knocking down 41% of his three point shot attempts. While these are phenomenal numbers, Martinez broke Fountain Fort Carson's scoring record with 41 points and made threes in a game with 9 makes (of 15 attempts). The guard has shown unlimited confidence taking and making shots out beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='1555219' first='Bryce' last='Spradling'] - Legacy   8.9 PPG → 16.6 PPG   Spradling has shown two way impact as a gritty guard who fears nobody within the paint. The senior out of Legacy has proven himself as a physical interior defender, especially for a guard. Look no farther than his per game numbers on the defensive end. Spradling has been averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.6 blocks per game. For reference, those block numbers would put Spradling sixth within 6A regardless of position or class. As well, the senior has been especially efficient through their first six games, notching 59% from the field and 63% from his eight attempts beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='1420175' first='Austin' last='Mohr'] - Denver East   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/unnamed-5.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/unnamed-5.jpg?w=945" alt="" class="wp-image-1690097" width="195" height="211" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: David Johnson CHSAA, <a href="https://www.davidjohnsonphotography.org/">www.davidjohnsonphotography.org</a></figcaption></figure>   2.6 PPG → 14 PPG   Mohr has put up consistent numbers throughout his first four games, proving to be a valuable secondary shotmaker at 6'3. The senior shooting guard has taken a notable jump while retaining effective efficiency of 42% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc. Mohr has been a dependable floor spacer for this group, playing a valuable role stretching out defenses for East's rim attackers. Mohr's top performance has come against Poudre, posting 26 points while knocking down 7 of his 11 shot attempts. Throughout this season, the guard is averaging 14 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2 steals per game.

Through the second week of this season, a variety of guards have ascended into their program's starting lineups while contributing to winning basketball. These names bring a variety of tools to the table, ranging from athletic scoring around the rim to volume shooting beyond the arc.