Classic at Damien Guard Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>December 26th-28th I attended the prestigious <strong>Classic at Damien</strong> High School. The annual event hosts some of the best teams on the West Coast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Basha, Sunnyslope, San Tan Charter and Ironwood took the trip to California and competed at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were some of the Guard standouts </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323294' first='Will' last='Gordon'] San Tan Charter (Pictured)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good showing for the sophomore guard. He is a catch and shoot three point shooter with a plus motor to rebound and defend multiple positions. He can pull-up from mid-range plus score in transition.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1676630' first='Kristo' last='Jackson'] San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring guard has a tight and quick handle to get downhill. He is very hard to stay in front of him with his shift. He rebounds well and defends multiple positions. He takes contact well with a stronger upper body and he could go on his own runs.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285934' first='Zaire' last='Richardson'] San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick leaner combo guard is good getting downhill. He can hit the three off the catch and is very quick in the passing lanes. He has a fast fist step to touch the paint to score or make a play. He can also grab a board and go coast to coast with great body control.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1986796' first='Peyton' last='Lubash'] San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talented freshman point guard will drive and kick it to teammates. He takes contact surprisingly well despite his size once he blows past his defenders. He is almost automatic on free throw line and shoots the three with an ultimate quick shooting release.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1555180' first='Delton' last='Prescott III'] Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the pure point guards in the West has real speed in the open court. He hesitates and bursts past his defenders. He consistently makes the right pass and slithers passed his defenders constantly. He can shoot it from the perimeter or use the tear drop.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1482165' first='Rider' last='Portela'] Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A taller wing can pull-up from mid-range with confidence. He likes to hesitate to get to the basket with long strides and can throw it down or finger roll it in. He keeps showing glimpses of his upside on the break and makes big shots. He and Jai Anthoni have the tall task of defending the top wings on every team.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150901' first='John' last='Mattingly'] Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A highly skilled and cerebral PG who can score. He fills it up with back door cuts, mid-range jumpers and catch triples in rhythm. He gets hot quickly once his feet are set. His feel, skill and toughness standout each game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323290' first='Mason' last='Magee'] Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lightning quick pure PG with a super tight handle, speed in close quarters and next level passing skills. He can blow by with speed layups on the baseline. He will drive and kick and throw it straight into a teammates shooting pocket. His quickness on defense is next level stuff as he shut down multiple next level D1 college opponents. He also got hot from the three off the catch during games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131993' first='Izaih' last='Johnson'] Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough senior point guard who can score on contested layups, floaters, runners and catch and shoot jumpers. He makes shots with either hand and brings a motor on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1337025' first='Drew' last='Hall'] Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized combo guard is a catch and shoot three point type but has a high feel and next level passing skills. He rebounds really well for a guard and is highly competitive on defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131992' first='Sam' last='Zanoni'] Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A skilled shooting guard with some size. He can pull-up off the dribble from mid-range and catch and shoot threes off the catch. He can come off a curl and shoot it quickly. He rebounds well in his area and is a perfect player off the bench.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681102' first='Blake' last='Carabio'] Ironwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A physical guard is a catch three point shooter. He is tough physically on the ball defensively and he handles contact well getting to the basket. The senior is a leader for them on both sides of the court.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1135515' first='Noah' last='Gifft'] Ironwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The catch three point specialist is highly skilled and plays a good floor game. Not many set up and shoot it better in the AIA for the senior class. His step back three is nearly impossible to defend. It is very sudden and he gets his feet set and squared instantly.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1354953' first='I'yar' last='Shadowvine'] Ironwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick on quick scoring point guard. He is tough and runs the team. He threw a couple dimes threading the defense. He can score on blow by layups with speed. He is very quick on the ball defensively and sets the tone for the team.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2311522' first='Jadden' last='Jones'] Ironwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A physical and tough combo guard plays on or off the ball. He is a good rebounder in and out of his area. He can get hot and make threes and gets to the basket through contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->