2024 Rankings: CG Positional Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The end of the high school season is the best time to throw a fresh update on class rankings and our latest 2024 update went live earlier this month. In this piece we break down how the combo guard position is shaping up in SoCal's 2024 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1188984' first='Robert' last='Hinton'] checks in as our top overall combo guard</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton's skill-set and style of play are the things we look for when determining combo guard from point guard. At 6-feet-4, he plays mostly off the ball alongside our top point guard in the class, [player_tooltip player_id='1502769' first='Trent' last='Perry'], but does have the ability to handle and initiate offense in transition or half-court offensive settings. Hinton's ability to be effective and efficient with or without the ball in his hands are the traits that puts him at the top of the combo guard list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Next Up...</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502773' first='Eric' last='Freeny'], Corona Centennial: No. 2 CG, No. 9 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeny is an interesting prospect because while size-wise he's of the guard-mold he can also play inside as a scorer and defender. For the case of how he projects to the next level, we imagine the 6-foot-4 junior being of the secondary playmaker mold. Freeny can exploit mismatches either way: bigger vs. smaller or smaller vs. bigger due to his versatile offensive skill-set and his ability to dribble and pass with his shooting improvement make us think he can be an impact Division 1 player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502797' first='Jon' last='Mani'], Beverly Hills: No. 3 CG, No. 14 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mani is one of the more talented scorers, ball handlers and all-around playmakers in SoCal's 2024 class. He has great size for the position at 6-feet-6 but handles, creates, shoots and scores inside with the skill-set of a guard. Mani is a fluid athlete who uses hesitations and changes of speed to get defenders off balance, then does a nice job of getting into the lane where he uses his footwork to get into his consistent mid-range jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502785' first='Tyler' last='Hunt'], Venice: No. 4 CG, No. 19 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt can do a little big of everything from lead the break and score in transition to breaking down defenders and getting into the late in isolation situations. What makes the 6-foot-4 combo guard difficult to defend is his ability to operate in the post as a scorer or passer. Hunt is comfortable getting touches with his back to the basket and can finish with either hand or hit an open shooter if any help-side defense presents itself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1817879' first='Nasir' last='Meyer'], Agoura, No. 5 CG, No. 25 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meyer's creativity with the ball in his hands and his ability to slide off the ball and still be a primary scorer are the biggest reasons why he's in the mix as a top five combo guard in the class. The 6-foot-5 junior's wiry frame and ability to mix shiftiness with smoothness off the bounce keeps defenders off-balance when defending him. Meyer flashed that he can make perimeter shots off the bounce and off the catch but can also get to the basket and use his length to finish over rim protectors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->