Jan 29-Feb 2nd: Freshmen Guard Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week I viewed 10 games consisting of 5 varsity, 3 JV and 2 freshman games.&nbsp;The varsity games I viewed were on Monday I watched<strong> Rancho Solano Prep Mustangs </strong>defeat<strong> Phoenix Country Day Eagles 64-59.</strong> Tuesday I watched<strong> Mesa Jackrabbits </strong>defeat<strong> Mesa Mountain View Toros 44-38. </strong>Wednesday I viewed<strong> ALA Gilbert North Eagles </strong>defeating<strong> Eastmark Firebirds 60-57. </strong>Thursday I viewed<strong> West Point Dragons </strong>defeat <strong>Maricopa Rams 70-54</strong> and finally Friday I viewed<strong> Desert Vista Thunder </strong>defeating<strong> Gilbert Tigers 63-58. &nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the Freshmen Guard Standouts from the week</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2146175' first='LJ' last='Diamond'] Desert Vista (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger PG who changes speeds so well. He scores with euro moves downhill with very long strides and a very tight handle. He handles contact well and has a tough spin move into a floater. He will blow by his opponents often as it is very hard to stay in front of him. His left hand is just as good as his right and times his passes perfectly. He also has a high motor to compete on defense as a tenacious on-ball defender to rip some pockets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2149097' first='Carter' last='Watson'] Gilbert&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring PG has a tight handle and is very shifty. He will drive and kick and moves the ball well. He is very patient in the post, with euro steps and can kiss it off the glass with high skill or use the floater. He changes speeds to get the defenders off of him and he has range on his three with consistency. He had nearly 20 with multiple assists.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2339785' first='Zack' last='Vendrell'] Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized combo guard has a strap. He hit six threes in the game and scored 28 points. He has a polished runner, speed in the open court will score with either hand in transition. He has quick hands to collect steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2146266' first='Douglas' last='Sweatt'] Mesa Mountain View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong scoring PG is a one man press break. He will take the ball off the glass and essentially blow by everyone on the court with his next level speed. He loves putting his foot down and will drive to the basket with his burst and score on floaters and runners. He has very quick feet to defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2280210' first='Joshua' last='Stewart'] Mesa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A highly skilled combo guard can score it with mid-range pull-ups with a few dribbles, catch threes and get himself to the FT line with his right hand. He has the floater game after he hesitates to get the defender off of him.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2146269' first='Daijon' last='Grayson'] Mesa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized point guard has a tight handle and is always in facilitator mode. He can speed dribble to the rim with layups and he changes speeds and can burst by quickly.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2325954' first='Isaac' last='Massey'] ALA Gilbert North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A physical point guard will rebound and take it coast to coast. He consistently makes the extra pass and threaded in a few others. He had an impressive chase down block and played some on varsity. Look for him to play more of a bigger role next year on a top 4A team and start as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1747849' first='Elijah' last='Schmidt'] Mesa Mountain View&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized point guard has a very quick handle. The ball is on a string for him and he uses the pick and roll game to his advantage. He knows how to change speeds and burst by to the basket or will find the open teammate. He can hit the deep three and has the floater. He plays with a lot of fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2337276' first='Brigg' last='Standage'] Mesa Mountain View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams specialist has a very clean three point shooting stroke. He will collect steals in the passing lanes and seems to always be shot ready to let it fly. He has big confidence and seems to always be moving to free himself to get open.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2337439' first='Rio' last='Arnett'] Mesa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong scoring guard can dribble drive thru contact and can hit the three. He has a good frame to rebound for his size and will rip some pockets. He is very comfortable around the basket to score and he may be their top freshmen defender.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2325972' first='Nash' last='Jensen'] ALA Gilbert North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard with decent size. He can hit the catch three with range and handles the ball well. He is quick in the passing lanes and made a huge block late in the 4th quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2109031' first='Conner' last='Koester'] Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring guard has a high IQ to make plays. He scores with threes off the catch, he can jump stop into a pull-up from mid-range, as he creates his own shot, get downhill and score thru contact. He will get on the glass and he had nearly 20 points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2339786' first='Maxwell' last='Sprotts'] Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard can score and make plays. He made a few impressive passes that usually led to scores. He can pull-up from mid-range and has a few counter moves in the post to score. He has a quick first step to get past his initial defender and is a very good on-ball defender. He is quick in the passing lanes and has great body control in the air. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->