Under the Radar 2A and 1A Guards
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These guards are impact guys heading into the playoffs, whether they are their teams’ go-to guys or high-level secondary players, they have what it takes to swing the outcome of a game. Check out some guards deserving of the bright…
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Continue ReadingThese guards are impact guys heading into the playoffs, whether they are their teams’ go-to guys or high-level secondary players, they have what it takes to swing the outcome of a game. Check out some guards deserving of the bright lights as postseason ball approaches.
It’s hard to keep him and his brother separate at times because they do so much of the same stuff out there, but Toby seems to be more of an off-guard who can be relied on to sink the tough shots. He stands out as a guy who can get shots in tough situations and also as an opportunistic defender. He has great feet and works hard to stay in front on defense, but he also has the instincts to pull off his man and get a backside steal off a ballhandler and create open breaks. He likes to push the pace and shows no fear taking drives right at defenders.
Another member of the well-balanced Pullman Greyhounds, Barbour is counted on to be a smart player who really holds the seams of the offense together. While he doesn’t score a ton, he does have the ability to hit from three and make solid finishes at the rim. He doesn’t need to do a lot of scoring with Jaedyn Brown Jaedyn Brown 6’3″ | CG Pullman | 2023 State WA and Champ Powaukee Champ Powaukee 6’4″ | SG Pullman | 2024 State WA leading that department, but Barbour takes care of the ball and makes smart play after smart play to ensure things run smooth and steady for the Greyhounds.
Hunter Ackerley Hunter Ackerley 6'2" | CG Seattle Academy | 2024 State WA
Hunter Ackerley Hunter Ackerley 6'2" | CG Seattle Academy | 2024 State WA
Ackerley was a new find for me, and he’s really established himself as a key guy in the Cardinals’ backcourt. He has good size and strength going to the hoop and shows the necessary burst to get by the initial defender and into dangerous areas. He does a little bit of everything attacking on offense, can hit the 3-point shot pretty well and has a confident handle that allows him to float between guard spots, though he looks more comfortable as an off-guard.
You can’t really talk about one Trichler without mentioning the other, and together they have Sultan as one of the top teams in the Emerald Sound Conference at 16-2 heading into the district tournament. Eli is the point guard of the two and runs the show with great instincts on both ends. He’s able to score in a number of ways and uses his awareness to stay a step ahead of opponents. He’s a calm player who has a nice stroke and controls the pace of the game.
Fried isn’t a flashy player but he has gotten the job done helping West Valley to a 15-2 record and just a game behind Pullman in the Greater Spokane League. He has a patient approach, stays on balance and finds gaps in the defense to draw defenders and dish, or hit the mid-range jumper. He isn’t the quickest player, but he works hard on defense, can find creases on offense, and takes care of the ball.