Notable 2025 Guards Stepping Into Larger Roles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are a few juniors who showed readiness to take on a larger role through this upcoming season. Intriguing upside for these upcoming guards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1687876' first='Boudy' last='Melonas'] - Grants</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melonas brings energy once he checks in, making every possession count. Proving to be an effective floor spacer off the catch or while stepping into the shot, not fazed by an incoming contest. Another benefit of Melonas' impact has been the willingness as a passer, not afraid at sending one handed skip passes across the half court for a shotmaker. Defensively, the guard is relentless from help and at the point of attack, doing his best to slow down opposing shotmakers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2680987' first='Jordan' last='Brown'] - Moriarty&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is an assertive downhill scorer, taking advantage of openings in the driving lanes. Effective at reading the floor for drives, the guard is effective getting to his floater while in traffic, not fazed by a collapsing defense. Another aspect of his offense is thanks to his willingness to run the floor, getting out into advantageous positions before the defense can recover. Brown shows value rotating urgently towards perimeter shooters, getting a hand up quickly to contest those shot attempts. The guard proved himself as a consistent perimeter shooter last season, exciting career ahead for Brown, who commands gravity off the catch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Horacek - Grants</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horacek is an excellent complement for fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1687876' first='Boudy' last='Melonas'], active as a shotmaker on kick out opportunities. Capable of rising up for shots off the catch, the guard adds valuable floor spacing for this group. Especially aware of how to most effectively space the floor, Horacek is constantly searching for ways to get open while without the ball. Either cutting backdoor from the weak side or cutting up into open space following a teammate's drive, Horacek works to get openings. This is complemented by a quick, compact shooting form that has upside to be leveraged off of movement down the line. Between Horacek and Melonas, Grants has an encouraging future ahead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1518835' first='Damiran' last='Smith'] - Alamogordo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is actively pushing the pace in transition and defense, asserting himself quickly within those situations. The guard possesses a wide reach, capable of defending well beyond the three point line to pressure opponents at the point of attack. The guard is a willing passer, either from off the bounce or while stationary. Smith has shown value as a communicator on defense, holding teammates accountable to set up a crucial front line versus lead ball handlers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1913769' first='Mikey' last='Beck'] - Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beck is an athletic guard who excels through his grittiness and willingness to crash the glass. Possessing a wide reach and high base leaping up vertically, the guard holds notable defensive upside going into his junior season. Beck has been an effective scorer inside the arc, capable of attacking downhill off of rip throughs to blow by his defender. His willingness to attack downhill has granted the guard plenty of free throw opportunities, another area to grow his scoring volume. His continued progression as a perimeter shooter will be intriguing, given the gravity he brings attacking downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->