Updated 2023 Rankings: Guards (25-16)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our senior class rankings in the state of VA, and we will take a look at each positional ranking from guards, wings and forwards. Obviously some of these players are positionless players that can fit in multiple spots, but we did our best to categorize them based on their skillset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part one of our rankings for point and combo guards in the new rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25) [player_tooltip player_id='1107884' first='Stylz' last='Gardner'] | 5'11” CG | Peninsula Catholic (#96 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1459326,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1459326" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gardner is one of the top players in the 757, and he's showing it with a huge senior season where he's putting up big numbers night in and night out. The 5'11” combo is a silky smooth scorer who knows how to create space off the bounce and can make contested shots, he can knock down shots off the catch and he plays at a different cadence than most making him very difficult to guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24) [player_tooltip player_id='1748223' first='Bobby' last='Gardner'] | 5'11” PG | Fulvanna (#94 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gardner makes his debut in the updated 2023 rankings and he's shown this year that he's one of the top players in the 434. The 5'11” guard is a dynamic athlete who has great speed in the open floor and is an explosive finisher at and above the rim, he can create in the half court off the bounce for himself and others and he can score the ball from all three levels consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23) [player_tooltip player_id='999631' first='Aiden' last='Filipiano'] | 6'4” CG | Catholic (#92 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Filipiano, who is committed to D2 Notre Dame College in Ohio, is one of the best glue guys you'll come across as he can impact the game in a number of different ways without scoring. At 6'4” he has good size as a guard and can handle and see over defenders to make passes, he can guard multiple positions and is a very good defender and he picks his spots and can score it efficiently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>22) [player_tooltip player_id='1298728' first='Brian' last='Weiser'] | 6'3” CG | Washington-Liberty (#75 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weiser is one of the best shot making guards you'll come across in Northern VA, and he has the ability to go off every time he steps on the floor. At 6'3” he has good size to get his shot off, he moves well off the ball and sets his feet to let it fly, he can attack closeouts and get in the lane and he's a good finisher in traffic too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>21) [player_tooltip player_id='1483055' first='Amir' last='Crawford'] | 6'2” CG | Woodberry Forest (#70 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crawford is the pulse for this Woodberry Forest team that has seen a lot of success this year and he brings a calming presence of playmaking to the group. He handles pressure well and plays with good pace to beat defenders and get in the lane, he has good footwork as a finisher and he can make plays for himself and others off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20) [player_tooltip player_id='999652' first='Troy' last='Giles'] | 6'0” CG | Hargrave (#69 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1008199,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/Giles-Troy.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/Giles-Troy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1008199" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giles is having a good season for a Hargrave varsity team that is looking like the surprise group in VISAA D2, and he's been a big reason for that as he brings a lot of different things to this group. At 6'0” he's a good athlete who can get to the rim and finish at and above the rim, he plays with good pace and knows how to break down defenders and he sets the tone on both ends of the floor as a defender and playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>19) [player_tooltip player_id='1241905' first='Corey' last='Caulker'] | 5'11” PG | Bishop O'Connell (#66 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caulker moves up quite a bit in the updated rankings, as he's been a big reason that Bishop O'Connell has been so good this season while playing one of the toughest schedules in the state. Caulker's a rock at the point guard position as he handles pressure and gets them into sets, he knocks down shots from deep consistently and off the bounce he's able to make plays for himself and others with his ability to touch the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18) [player_tooltip player_id='1483009' first='Tristan' last='Alvarez'] | 5'10” PG | Virginia Academy (#64 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alvarez is a rock for this VA Academy team, as he does all of the things you want a floor general and lead guard to do as the primary ball handler and decision maker. He's a good shooter and shot creator off the bounce who picks his spots and scores it efficiently, he makes great decisions and puts his teammates in spots to score and succeed and he sets the tone on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17) [player_tooltip player_id='1049866' first='Jovani' last='Galarza'] | 6'2” CG | Fairfax Christian (#59 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Galarza is a big reason that Fairfax Christian is sitting as the favorite for the VISAA D3 championship, as he's put up big numbers and been very consistent this year. He has great size at the point guard position to see over defenders for passes and shoot over them, he is highly skilled and knows how to get to spots and he can create space and make tough shots too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16) [player_tooltip player_id='999633' first='Ryan' last='Hite'] | 6'3” CG | King's Fork (#58 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1008197,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/Hite-Ryan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/Hite-Ryan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1008197" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hite is a big reason that King's Fork is considered one of the best teams in the 757 and the favorite for the VHSL Class 4 this year, and he's the heart and soul and the guy who does the little things for them. He's a strong and athletic guard who can play above the rim in transition and in the half court, he brings toughness as a defender and makes the hustle plays fighting for loose balls and rebounding well for his position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->