Top Floor Generals in the 757

<!-- 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 floor generals in the Hampton Roads area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259548' first='Brayden' last='Thorne'] | 6'1” PG | Catholic 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1195674,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Thorne-Brayden.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Thorne-Brayden.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1195674" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thorne had a great junior season for Catholic helping lead them to the state semifinals while running the show for them, and he showed he's the epitome of a floor general as he often deferred to other scoring options while also making plays himself. He's a strong guard who can handle pressure and get downhill where he take contact and finish, he has a good IQ as a playmaker and as a defender as well and he pads the stat sheet while being efficient and not turning it over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1260038' first='Ulysses' last='Young'] | 5'11” PG | Oscar Smith 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1366917,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Young-Ulysses.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Young-Ulysses.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1366917" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young started to make a name for himself his sophomore season, and during his junior season he had Smith rolling as one of the top teams in the 757 throughout the year as they looked like a well oiled machine when the ball was in his hands. While he isn't the biggest guy he plays with tremendous pace and is tough to trap or handle off the bounce, he sees the floor everywhere like he has eyes in the back of his head and when teams start to play him as a passer he's able to touch the paint and finish himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259672' first='EJ' last='Joyner'] | 5'8” PG | Peninsula Catholic 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joyner is another small guard that has shown his ability to play with the best as he showed with Boo Williams EYBL, and the son of Hampton Coach Buck Joyner plays like a coach's son with his high IQ and great decision making. He keeps his head up and sees cutters and shooters with ease, he has blow by speed and good shift off the bounce to get by defenders and break down the defense and he's able to make tough passes with both hands effortlessly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1494109' first='Ashton' last='Walker'] | 6'4” PG | Catholic 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1972979,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Walker-Ashton-BWSL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Walker-Ashton-BWSL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1972979" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be tough for anyone to matchup with Catholic's backcourt as Walker and Thorne will team up to both be able to handle the ball and make plays, and Walker's one of the craftiest and smartest guards you'll come across. At 6'4” he has long arms and the ability to see over and deliver passes over smaller defenders, he sets the tone defensively and uses his instincts and feel to make plays, he thrives in transition as a playmaker and he picks his spots and can score it when he needs to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956063' first='Adrean' last='Newton'] | 6'0” PG | Maury 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1933412,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Newton-Adrean.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Newton-Adrean.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1933412" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newton has had the ball in his hands at Maury since he was a freshman, and his ability to run the show as a winning guard has been clearly on display throughout his career so far. Newton exudes toughness which is a great quality in a floor general and makes his teammates want it just as much as he does, he makes great decisions within the sets and in transition, he has great speed and the ability to touch the paint at ease and he's improving as a scorer as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1494116' first='Kassidy' last='Jackson'] | 5'9” PG | Green Run 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is another guard who was thrown in the fire as a freshman and has led his team to great success so far in his career, and he has similar qualities of athleticism and playmaking as well. He's a blur in transition that can get out ahead of the pack and either finish or find his teammates, he is a threat to both score it and make plays in the half court with the ball in his hands and he's a lock down defender that can turn defense into offense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->