#PHMidwestShowdown: Max’s Guard Standouts

I was a fan of how Joey orchestrated the offense for a Wisconsin Playmakers team that went undefeated over the weekend in Appleton. Excelled at dribbling towards the wing and then threading the needle to a teammate cutting backdoor. Would lead his teammates perfectly with well-paced passes allowing for them to catch and finish with ease. Gets to his spots off the dribble while constantly keeping his eyes scanning the floor. Had some moments where he took over scoring the ball on his own as well as he has good body control to go right into taller defenders and finish through them.

Isaiah makes this list for his defense, as he would check into the game and act as a pest on opposing point guards. Constantly sitting deep in a stance and moving his feet with quickness to make every dribble attempt difficult. Had one play where he forced the ball handler to turn multiple times, ripped the ball from him, and then tossed an alley-oop off the glass to an athletic wing in transition. He was constantly working to pick up stops and force turnovers, and was able to make winning plays without having to shoot the ball much.

Chan had some impressive flashes in the two games I watched of MN Lace Up. He has the quick first step and shiftiness on the ball that can’t really be taught, and when you combine it with his long frame he’s tough to keep away from the basket. Chan has a nose for the rim and crafty finishing ability with either hand once he gets there. All weekend long defenders had a hard time staying in front of him, and once they were forced to sag off, Chan showed he’s capable of hitting the open jumper. Makes plays defensively jumping passing lanes and with his ability to sit deep in a stance and defend either guard spot.

Rashaad showed the ability to take games over down the stretch for Wisconsin PGC 15u. Whether he was helping his team pull away late, or putting a game away for good by further extending his team’s lead, Davis was able to step his game up consistently in the 2nd half. Defenders all weekend long had a difficult time staying in front of him as he plays with advanced change of speeds, and is an unpredictable finisher in the paint. He can finish off either foot and with either hand, able to extend for a lay-up under shot blockers, or putting up a high arcing floater to go over them. Davis was constantly drawing in extra defenders while having the vision to quickly locate the open man and get his team good looks.

Brooks is a skilled, poised, and mature point guard for Wisconsin Playmakers. Against a loaded PGC team on Friday night he had his team close late in the game due to his ability to not only score on his own from beyond the arc, but also put the ball in the right places at the right time. His coaches could trust him to make smart decisions with the ball in his hands, and create both on his own and through the offense. Seems to always have a quick reaction to whatever the defense throws at him, and that ability to make quick reads allows him to impact the game at a high level.

Another player making this list for his high level defense is Isaiah Oliver Isaiah Oliver 6’0″ | SG Middleton | 2026 State WI . Not sure I saw a better on-ball defender all weekend as he can sit deep in a stance and apply heavy pressure the length of the floor. Makes every dribble difficult for his man, and fights to get over ball screens. Already has a solid frame as just a 2026 prospect, and his combination of strength and lateral quickness makes him all the more dangerous defensively. On the offensive end he’s a high IQ player who doesn’t force his own shot, and makes the right play any time the ball is in his hands. Can hit the outside shot or attack a gap and finish with the left hand at the rim.

Jamal put up some huge scoring numbers on Saturday night. The unsigned senior out of Minnesota was creating space with ease as he covers so much ground with a single dribble, and his change of speed made him very unpredictable on the ball. Gets good elevation on his pull-up jumper with a dangerous mid-range game. Would get his man on his hip and then had him at his mercy as he could burst to the rim or stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper. Minnesota prospect still on the board in the 2023 class.