Classic at Damien: Best Guards on Opening Day (Pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LA VERNE — The Classic at Damien tournament kicked off Tuesday with our focus on the opening round games in the Silver Division. Below are the top guard performers from the first day of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Jason Crowe, Jr. | 2026 | Lynwood</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's pretty safe to assume Crowe will finish with 35 or more points in any game he plays in at least three quarters and that was true again Tuesday. One of the top-ranked 2026 prospects in the country finished with an opening day high 46 points with a variety of off-the-bounce jumpers, crafty layups and trips to the free throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502794' first='Jaden' last='Hubbard'] | 2024 | Orange Lutheran</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hubbard has earned the right to be in the conversation as one of the best three-point shooters in SoCal and again proved why. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard knocked down six three-pointers and finished with a team-high 25 points in Orange Lutheran's loss to Tahoma of Washington. Hubbard has deep range off the catch, off the bounce and when on the move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2305540' first='Jovan' last='Jester'] | 2024 | Pasadena</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jester is a really talented combo guard whose ability to break defenders down off the bounce, get into the paint and finish around or above contact is his best trait. The 6-foot-3 senior used his length and long strides to blow by defenders with ease and get to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131788' first='Kayleb' last='Kearse'] | 2026 | Gardena Serra</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearse is an extremely quick and crafty point guard who uses his speed and slithery ball handling ability to to create for himself and teammates off the bounce. Despite his slight 5-foot-7 stature, the sophomore is best when getting into the lane where he can finish with a floater, runner or slick up-and-under layup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mark Jones | 2025 | Hesperia</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones didn't crack double-figures in the scoring column but it was the rest of his game that spoke loudly in Hesperia's win over St. Monica. The 6-foot-2 guard has a strong frame and athletic archetype that allows him to be a great on-ball defender and rebounder for his position. Jones did a really nice job on his defensive assignment and created for teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502793' first='Mister' last='Burnside'] | 2024 | Paraclete</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-3 point guard finished with a team-high 18 points in a loss to San Gabriel Academy and showed that his explosive first step and ability to absorb and finish through contact makes him an under-recruited prospect in SoCal's 2024 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->