Shifty Scoring Guards: NOVA Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the preseason for high school basketball, we will take a look at some different categories of players and those that excel in those roles in different areas of the state. Today, we take a look at some of the top scoring guards in the Northern VA part of the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259543' first='Tavarres' last='Riley'] | 6'1” PG | Westfield 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1172183,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Tavarres-Riley.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Tavarres-Riley.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1172183" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley was one of the top scorers in the entire state of VA last year, as he put up big numbers and multiple games over 30 points last year for Freedom Woodbridge before announcing he'll transfer to Westfield this year. The 6'1” guard is a talented shot maker who can create space and has a quick release from deep and in the midrange, he changes speeds and has good burst to get to the rim where he's a good finisher and he's crafty and gets to the line often too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580611' first='Kye' last='Robinson'] | 6'1” PG | Alexandria City 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1763621,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-10.50.03-AM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-10.50.03-AM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1763621" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson is a talented guard who has helped turn around the AC program, and he was one of the top guards in Nova last year as he showed his ability to both be a go-to scorer and a distributor too. He's a strong guard with a good handle who can get his shoulders past defenders and is a good finisher at the rim, he can create space and knock down shots from deep and when he gets it going he then makes others better as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580730' first='Dezmond' last='Hopkins'] | 6'0” CG | Patriot 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopkins is just a natural bucket getter who plays within a winning system and efficiently scores the ball in a number of different ways. He plays with great pace and knows how to touch the paint where he's a good finisher and has a good midrange game as well, he can move off the ball where he's a good shooter and he can get hot quickly and ring off points in bunches when he gets it going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259671' first='Jahleel' last='Jackson'] | 6'1” PG | Hayfield 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1603395,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jackson-Jahleel-1-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jackson-Jahleel-1-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1603395" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson may have been overshadowed last year by a Hayfield team that was chock full of senior talent, but this year he'll be more of a go-to guy and he'll have the chance to put up big numbers. The 6'1” guard is strong and quick and is able to get in the paint where he can play through contact, he is shifty off the bounce with a good handle and the ability to change directions well and he can really knock it down from deep off the catch and off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956065' first='Jackson' last='Britt'] | 6'3” CG | Evergreen Christian 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Britt is set to be a breakout player on an Evergreen team that could be a breakout team in the state, as they have a lot of athletes surrounding Britt who is a crafty guard who can both fill it up and make others better. The 6'3” guard has a tight handle and is a crafty finisher around the basket with both hands, he can knock down shots from all three levels and he has a silky smooth stroke from deep with effortless range as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782690' first='Silas' last='Devonish'] | 5'9” PG | Bishop Ireton 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1620465,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Devonish-Silas-Ireton-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Devonish-Silas-Ireton-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1620465" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Devonish has wasted no time showing he's one of the top young guards in the WCAC as he is a two way impact player with a mix of athleticism and skillset that is well beyond his years. While he isn't the biggest guy Devonish has blazing speed off the bounce and can stop on a dime to change directions or get into his shot, he's a knock down shooter from deep who gets hot quickly and fills it up in bunches and he has blow by speed and the ability to change speeds to get into the paint where he's a good finisher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->