Junior Achievement: 2024 Guards of Note

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having recently updated its rankings of the class of 2024, now is a good time to take a look at some of the guards who are making noise in the junior class:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2314813' first='Tamir' last='Anderson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Highland Park","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anderson has yet to really get a chance to show all he can do on the varsity scene for the simple fact that the Scots are loaded. Four senior guards take a lot of the minutes, and rightfully so. But when Anderson comes off the bench, the offensive firepower may actually improve. He is accurate from well beyond the arc and finds open shots. He's long and athletic enough to be a presence on the glass and at the defensive end. But his primary skill is from deep. He recently hit five 3-pointers in the first half of a win over Eudora.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d2b2e3c27aa"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1461342"],"_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":"Evans is a remarkably productive guard, getting at least 15 points in nearly every game this season. Evans does it by running the floor at a breakneck pace for high-speed buckets at every opportunity. He gets to the goal and draws a ton of fouls. He's a ball hawk who gets multiple steals every night, and though he's not big, he fearlessly rebounds with quickness and athleticism. The junior is averaging 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1300821"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Andover returned a ton of production from last season. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that Rucker has stepped into the rotation this year with significant minutes and statistical output. He is a big guard with diverse skills. He is another threat from deep for the Trojans, capable of hitting multiple threes in a game. He's automatic from the line, so he's a guy Andover wants on the floor in crunch time too.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2314754' first='Kaason' last='Thomas']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Campus","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Thomas has stepped in to provide Campus nice ball handling and shooting to stretch the defense. His presence on the perimeter takes at least a little of the focus off teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1270094' first='Andrell' last='Burton']. Though he's not big, he's got some explosive abilities that make him a threat at both ends of the floor. He can get to the bucket on the drive or cutting without the ball. He shows nice vision and ability to distribute. His spring is impressive too.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1270290"],"_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":"Williams had to wait for his chance to run the show because the Grizzlies featured several seniors last season. But those who watched him in club action knew just how dynamic he is. He just needed a chance to show it. He is a slick and creative ball handler who can break down a defender and get where he wants on the court. He is ultra quick and pesky on defense, and he hits a solid percentage from deep. As a junior, Williams has doubled his scoring average to 18 points per game, and he deals out 3 assists.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d2b2e3c2909"} /-->