Twin Cities Takedown: Jack’s Top Performing Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The summer season is wrapping up this weekend at the Prep Hoops Twin Cities Takedown. Here are the seven guards who stuck out to me on day one of the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1574223"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eCJ has been a prospect who has impressed me all throughout the spring and summer. He has all the tools to be an elite scorer and was putting them on full display on Saturday. His ability to create off the dribble opens so much up for him in isolation situations. He can get downhill and finish at the rim, or hit tough shots from the perimeter. The 2025 guard is also an exceptional athlete, rising up for transition dunks and big time blocks. Armstrong has loads of potential and it will be fun to watch him continue to develop. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762de9b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560835"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eTian turned in an excellent performance in a win over a really good Team Haliburton squad. He found most of his scoring success around the rim, as well as a couple of shots in the mid-range. He was able to blow by defenders with his quick first step, usually only making one or two moves to work himself inside. The 6'3” guard has fantastic body control, allowing him to make some super tough finishes through traffic. Chatman continues to prove himself as one of the top incoming sophomores in all of Minnesota. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762def9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1381408"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eZach really impressed me with some of the finishes he was able to pull off in Saturday's rout over [program_tooltip program_id='2075447' first='[program_tooltip program_id='2075447' first='E1T1' last='']' last='']. Playing up a grade, [program_tooltip program_id='2075702' first='MN' last='Lightning'] was able to put up 108 points behind a big game from the 2025 guard. He is an exceptional athlete and was rising above defenders for layups with either hand. He was often hanging in the air to contort his body to avoid being blocked with reverse finishes. I also saw him go to a floater and grab an offensive rebound for a second chance basket. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762df49"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560868"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eJoseph is an electric scoring option and was finding success creating shots for himself off the dribble. He is so quick and can change directions in a flash to get around his defender. He is a capable scorer from all three levels and so hard to predict when he has the ball in his hands. He is a lights out shooter from deep, as well as in the mid-range and was absorbing contact from larger defenders for finishes inside. Mitchell was a varsity level player at Apple Valley last season as a freshman and will be at CDH as a sophomore. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762df9e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1975416"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThis was my first time seeing Khaliq play and was astonished when I saw that he will only be in the 8th grade this upcoming school year. He plays with the poise of a high school player and handled the majority of the ball handling duties for the Pack 2026 team. He looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands and connected with multiple shots from the outside, including a clutch catch-and-shoot three in the final minutes. The 2028 guard was also bringing the energy on defense, coming away with a handful of steals. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762dfec"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1574226"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ePeyton can positively impact the game in a variety of ways for his team and that was evident on Saturday. He is a gifted facilitator with the ball in his hands, showing off his vision with some impressive passes to teammates. He was scoring the ball from inside and outside as well, getting downhill to convert some difficult looks at the cup and knocking down shots off the catch from the outside. The 6'3” guard is running with a stacked Team Supreme squad this weekend. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762e03a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1413391"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eKhijohnn is mostly known for his game on the football field, but was electric in the action I saw on Saturday. He only stands at 5-foot-11, but used his strength to make a difference in the paint, whether it was with finishes through defenders, rebounding, or defending. He is pretty creative with the ball in his hands, finding openings for himself to get a shot off from the perimeter. Cummings-Coleman is a confident player who often looks to get out in space with transition opportunities. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5b1762e087"} /-->