Freshman Showcase: Small Guards, Big Impact

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2116965' first='Reece' last='Brown'] - Eaglecrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown did especially well at the point of attack versus opposing guards, proving especially quick laterally. Alongside his quickness, the guard did well reacting for steals in passing lanes or taking contact before ripping it away for the immediate opponent. Brown's value was catapulted off of his defensive impact, perfectly effective as a downhill scoring threat while in transition. Should the defense fail to put up a contest, trust that Brown was prepared and ready to knock down the open triple. What set apart Brown from many others was his motor on the glass, proving especially productive grabbing offensive rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayes Watts - Bridgeport (NE)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2120149,"width":252,"height":168,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/10-Hayes-Watts.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/10-Hayes-Watts.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2120149" style="width:252px;height:168px" width="252" height="168" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watts had the ball on a string at all times, proving effective as a lead ball handler. Few guards from this event were as twitchy playmaking with the rock. He used his low center of gravity to turn the corner on his defender, digging into their hips to leverage a driving angle. Although not the tallest, Watts sought out driving lanes going either direction, not fazed by an immediate defender. One of the ways Watts got downhill was by utilizing the ball screen to reel out the defense, eventually getting his defender on the hip before exploding downhill. Watts's passing vision was another dependable skill, given his confidence handling the ball under pressure.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2120958' first='Tyson' last='Smith'] - Douglas County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":2120151,"width":252,"height":168,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/13-Tyson-Smith.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/13-Tyson-Smith.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2120151" style="width:252px;height:168px" width="252" height="168" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although not the tallest, Smith brought heart and a refined perimeter based skillset. The incoming freshman was excellent taking charges while on defense, rotating early to put the opponent in a tough situation. Smith did especially well transitioning from the defensive end into fast breaks, finding ways to sling outlet passes or becoming the recipient of such passes himself. There was no shortage of transition situations for Smith, proving capable of getting out on the break to become an immediate threat. Within the halfcourt, Smith was effective as a decisionmaker, leveraging his shooting gravity to be a facilitator if the defense failed to match up effectively.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121572' first='Noah' last='Scrivani'] - Northglenn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2120153,"width":230,"height":153,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/15-Noah-Scrivani.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/15-Noah-Scrivani.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2120153" style="width:230px;height:153px" width="230" height="153" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scrivani trusted his shooting ability throughout this event, proving to be a consistent shotmaker out on the perimeter. The guard was notably active with his consistent movement off the ball, searching for open space to be a scoring threat. At all times Scrivani was shot ready, already in a low stance for the shot, complemented by his quick release.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1981792' first='Kyle' last='Perez'] - Moore Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":2120182,"width":242,"height":161,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/80-Kyle-Perez.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/80-Kyle-Perez.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2120182" style="width:242px;height:161px" width="242" height="161" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perez was an impressive primary ball handler, equally dangerous as a downhill scoring threat with either hand. There is no doubt the guard is confident in his handle, as he was among the most effective backcourt facilitators in attendance. Although very quick, Perez was patient to play his hand, instead slowing down the face to read the floor before exploding off a move.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2257249' first='Mason' last='Manzani'] - Rocky Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2120147,"width":238,"height":158,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/8-Mason-Manzani.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/8-Mason-Manzani.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2120147" style="width:238px;height:158px" width="238" height="158" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manzani proved capable of attacking the rim, boasting quick reaction speeds to attempted steals. Should he get the initial advantage attacking downhill, the guard could react to a reach in and bring the ball down or way up to force the opponent into a tough position. Defensively, Manzani was always prepped to jump passing lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->