2024 Review: Up & Coming Combo Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These combo guards bring a myriad of skills to the table, effective on or off the ball. They all bring value on the defensive side of the floor, competing however possible. Exciting futures ahead this season for these prospects, all of whom bring immense value along the perimeter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1680000' first='Tyler' last='Kozlowski'] - Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kozlowski has been an effective perimeter shooter for years, this past summer was no different. Possessing a quick, compact form on spot-up attempts, the guard was effective regardless of an incoming contest. Effective either stepping into three's or stationary, he is among the most effective perimeter shooters in the class. Proving effective at getting to his spots inside the arc, the guard lets the offense come to him, picking apart weaknesses in the defense to facilitate his finesse shot attempts. Equally valuable stepping into floaters or quick trigger mid-range jumpers, Kozlowski is knockdown from all over the floor. Through last season, the combo guard put up 14.3 points while converting 36% of three point attempts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1295236' first='Raul' last='Stanford'] - Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanford has a quick trigger off the catch, effective stationary or while flowing off of movement for jumpers. THe guard does an excellent job of relocating while away from the ball, quickly moving towards open space to remain a threat. Given Stanford's low center of gravity, the guard is fairly quick laterally, capable of taking the bump while retaining position. He grabbed quite a few steals throughout the summer while taking the hit, getting a hand into the opponent's comfort zone to tip away the ball for easy fast break layups. Like most small guards, Stanford is especially scrappy for loose balls, having no trouble diving to the floor to secure possession if necessary. His defensive instincts are impactful around the basket, actively getting into position early for charges versus bigger opponents. Continuing to add value as an on-ball playmaker will be important for Stanford, who already commands plenty of gravity along the perimeter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1295244' first='Suge' last='Valles'] - Las Cruces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valles is a fundamentally sound guard, effective at surveying the floor while remaining impactful as a shooter. He relies on the fundamentals to set up the game for himself and teammates, often getting to jump stops and pivots to make extra passes. He consistently keeps his eyes up to survey the floor, often getting deep into the paint to draw help, sending a dump off pass to a finisher at the rim. Valles has shown value on the defensive end, quickly anticipating passing lanes, getting out early to put a hand in the lane for the steal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1295243' first='Yeh-Nhi' last='Wilson'] - Organ Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson is a twitchy perimeter defender who possesses very quick reaction speeds to his opponents. Complemented by a wide reach, the guard can get into opposing ball handlers' comfort zone with greater ease. A gritty perimeter defender, Wilson is especially active diving to the ball on 50/50 opportunities. Another aspect of his game is his passing ability, capable slinging one handed bounces passes through tight windows, often towards rolling teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->