2024 Guards On the Rise
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After a month of play we’re really starting to see who’s put in the work in the offseason and finding out what juniors are making that big leap in their third high school season. There are a couple of familiar…
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Continue ReadingAfter a month of play we’re really starting to see who’s put in the work in the offseason and finding out what juniors are making that big leap in their third high school season. There are a couple of familiar names on this list that can still rise higher, but a lot of these names are kids working to get on the map and prove themselves as viable guards at the next level. They have made some early statements with their play and should continue to grab our attention as the season goes on. Here are some stellar 2024 guards on the rise.
Trey Spencer
Trey Spencer
I saw Spencer take on WF West without star player Tait Spencer Tait Spencer 6’3″ | SG Great Futures Prep | 2025 State WA . However, Trey Spencer stepped right in and lit the place up from downtown. He got all his Christmas shopping done that night and was hitting without hesitation from way back behind the arc. It’s the kind of stroke that needs just a little space and some opportunity. If Trey can continue to shoot like this, with Tait Spencer Tait Spencer 6’3″ | SG Great Futures Prep | 2025 State WA returning to the lineup, they’ll force teams to cover sideline to sideline against Battle Ground. He also showed some real grit on the defensive end, hustling back to block a couple of shots.
This kid was super impressive at The Hardwood Invite and has been an excellent complement to Cesar Hernandez Cesar Hernandez 6’0″ | PG Davis | 2025 State WA in Davis’s backcourt. They really mirror each other’s game with Lee bringing a little more in the way of shooting, and Hernandez doing a bit more playmaking. But Lee has shown the ability to get hot from three and swing a game in a span of a few minutes. He’s also a fairly strong and crafty finisher inside and can provide a good scoring boost in a hurry. He took over at least one game at The Hardwood Invite and can steal a quarter here and there with his tenacity and shooting ability.
This one might come as a surprise. Whitten is already a top 15 player in his class, so how much further can he really rise? Whitten often finds himself matched up with the opponent’s best backcourt player, taking on a huge defensive responsibility for a team that relies on defensive astuteness. He’s also a big floor spacer for the Vikings who have a number of players who like to slash inside and make plays in the paint. So how does Whitten get better? Next year, Curtis loses four of their top six players (not including Whitten), and a huge chunk of scoring and playmaking. I can see him making big strides in his senior year lined up next to Diallo in Curtis’s backcourt and taking on more scoring and playmaking duties. He’s already a strong guard but adding more strength in the offseason could help him improve his interior finishing and flesh out his potential as a scorer. Keep tabs on him the rest of this season; there will be plenty of big moments to be had for the Vikings as they defend their state title.
Klatush plays for a WF West team that is best known for their big man, Soren Dalan Soren Dalan 6’10” | C W.F West | 2023 State WA . However, Klatush has exhibited a style of play that fits super well with the talented big man. Klatush has the shooting touch to drill from outside, hit from the mid-range, and really excels at pulling up off the dribble to nail shots. He’s got a decent little handle too and works well to find looks off of screens, switching up his pace and reading how defenders react to the screen. He could have some big games entering the new year, especially if he can continue to play off of Dalan more and more.
Highlights
I’ve seen flashes of Gionet for a while now, but it seems he’s finally finding that consistency and confidence to be a big part of an overlooked West Seattle squad. He’s a big guard that is an asset defensively, chasing down smaller guards to block shots at the rim, and using his length to disrupt passing lanes and create turnovers. You’d think with his size he is more of a rim player and slasher, but Gionet thrives offensively as a floor spacer. He’s got a nice, high release point, extended range behind the arc, and has been hitting with excellent consistency early in the year. He’ll still mix it up inside and get involved on the glass, but his potential as a 3-and-D guard is rising quickly.