2024 Rankings Update: Unsigned Guards Who Get to the Baja

Chad Graham February 1, 2024 @ 06:32 PM

Under the new high school rules, there's no more “bonus” once a team reaches 7 fouls; the “double bonus” begins (each quarter) as soon as they reach 5. This structurally benefits teams who attack the basket and puts teams that foul a lot at a disadvantage. That makes the players who can create paint touches even more valuable. With that in mind, not only can the following unsigned seniors get to the baja (i.e. the rim), they also don't need a screen to get there. Take a look:   #14 [player_tooltip player_id='2229148' first='Bahsil' last='Laster'] | 6'5 G 2024 Academy of the New Church Because his arms and legs are so long, all Laster needs is a small crease to slice through defenders and get deep into the paint. Even when it's crowded, he can access passing windows and finishing angles between the defense. Laster can also create paint touches for others with his height and vision by quickly throwing the ball overtop to his bigs as soon as someone helps off. He prefers to pass, but his team is even better when he's aggressive as a driver.   #52 [player_tooltip player_id='2226362' first='Kevin' last='Saenz'] | 6'4 G 2024 Exeter   Saenz looks more like a point guard than a combo guard. While others drive to score, he drives to pass. Against Archbishop Carroll, he turned paint touches into hook passes or Haliburton-style jump-passes back out to the perimeter for three. And when he chose to call his own number, Saenz used long strides and step-throughs to get to the chicken. Him finding the right blend of scoring and playmaking should bode well for his recruitment and the Eagles.   #53 [player_tooltip player_id='1477716' first='Kevin' last='Rucker'] Jr | 6'4 G 2024 Bonner-Prendie   When “Pop” wants to get to the cup, he's almost impossible to stop. He has the bend and burst to turn the corner on whoever is defending him. And when Rucker gets two feet in the paint, he can finish through contact above the rim and/or draw fouls. His ability to generate paint touches has been clutch over the first few games of the season and should come in handy on the backend for his Friars squad.   #64 [player_tooltip player_id='1281774' first='EJ' last='Campbell'] | 6'1 G 2024 Spring-Ford   As a prospect good enough to command on-ball reps at the next level, Campbell has proven he can contribute to winning in different ways. If the Rams are out-matched athletically and have trouble scoring, he has no problem putting his head down and getting to the cup without a screen. Or when the paint is heavily protected, Campbell will still use his drive-and-kick game to collapse the defense for his shooter.   #94 Yadiel Cruz | 6'2 G/W 2024 Reading   Cruz is an outlier on this list because he has a good-not-handle. He gets to the chicken as a cutter and off-ball mover. A guard with a high feel in the low post, his ability to get to open space around the basket is invaluable. So even when he gets the ball off of a cut and the rim is protected, Cruz can decelerate, then get to a quick post up. That's how he routinely gets a “sneaky” +20 points.   #406 [player_tooltip player_id='1850321' first='John' last='Mobley'] | 6'1 G 2024 Lower Merion   The veteran guard is the craftiest or most explosive athlete, but he understands how to use his body. With his strong torso and powerful legs, Mobley slashes and bruises his way to the cup. There, he's able to play off of two feet and find angles to finish. Mobley is fundamentally sound. All he needs is a ball-fake to get you where he wants you to be and a pivot to get where he wants to be.

Under the new high school rules, there's no more “bonus” once a team reaches 7 fouls; the “double bonus” begins (each quarter) as soon as they reach 5. This structurally benefits teams who attack the basket and puts teams that foul a lot at a disadvantage. That makes the players who can create paint touches even more valuable. With that in mind, not only can the following unsigned seniors get to the baja (i.e. the rim), they also don't need a screen to get there. Take a look: