Jan 29-Feb 2nd: Junior 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>&nbsp;Rancho Solano Prep Mustangs&nbsp;</strong>defeat<strong>&nbsp;Phoenix Country Day Eagles 64-59.</strong>&nbsp;Tuesday I watched<strong>&nbsp;Mesa Jackrabbits&nbsp;</strong>defeat<strong>&nbsp;Mesa Mountain View Toros 44-38.&nbsp;</strong>Wednesday I viewed<strong>&nbsp;ALA Gilbert North Eagles&nbsp;</strong>defeating<strong>&nbsp;Eastmark Firebirds 60-57.&nbsp;</strong>Thursday I viewed<strong>&nbsp;West Point Dragons&nbsp;</strong>defeat&nbsp;<strong>Maricopa Rams 70-54</strong>&nbsp;and finally Friday I viewed<strong>&nbsp;Desert Vista Thunder&nbsp;</strong>defeating<strong>&nbsp;Gilbert Tigers 63-58. &nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the Junior Guard Standouts from the week</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1494967' first='Dylan' last='Novak'] ALA Gilbert North&nbsp;(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring PG from all three levels. He made some incredible passes look normal and uses the pick and roll and will dime his teammates perfectly. He scored with dunks, contested layups, hook shots, mid-range pull-ups and euros down the lane. He took a critical charge late in the game showing his fight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1674466' first='Connor' last='Morris'] ALA Gilbert North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger wing had some big moments. He can score with ball fakes into a driving finger roll, shoot it with mid-range jumpers and hit his usual catch triples. He will box out and rebound in heavy traffic. After he sets the screen, he will quickly shoot it from the perimeter. Most of his points were perfect timing.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285501' first='Cezer' last='Sotomayor'] ALA Gilbert North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring combo guard had the clamps on all game. He bothered his opponents all night long with quick hands and feet to stop them or collect steals. He can also score on catch threes and blow by with either hand. He has a good handle and uses the pick and roll well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1193887' first='Rhys' last='Walcott'] Eastmark</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard is a straight bucket. He can go on his own personal runs making it look easy. He has a big bag from the floater game to deep triples with a defender draped all over him. He has no conscience to shoot it anytime during the shot clock but when he gets more attention, he can make a play for a teammate. He scored 21 points and almost upset the #2 ALA GN team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1483891' first='Jackson' last='Woolley'] Mesa Mountain View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guard has confidence and a game to score. He can score with downhill attacks in heavy traffic, perimeter jumpers from both levels off the catch or with pull-ups and he is aggressive to collects steals and rebound.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2326931' first='Matthew' last='Quinlan'] Rancho Solano Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard is a fierce on-ball defender. He ripped many pockets man to man with his quick hands and feet. He get downhill and takes contact well with his strong upper body. He can step back and shoot it from mid-range and is very smart off the pick and roll game. He will rises up from mid or can hit the catch three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1490887' first='Blake' last='Sosnowitz'] Phoenix Country Day&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pure PG who can score. The ball is on a string for him. He hesitates perfectly to get the defense off of him. He is a great passer and ball handler with his right or left hand. He has deep three point range with a super quick release. His mid-range pull-up off the dribble is a very mature move he often uses. He plays smartly off of the pick and roll game and his ball fakes are tough to defend. When he is rolling their team is tough to handle.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1876304' first='MJ' last='Baldwin'] West Point&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick on quick scoring point guard has a tight handle with the ball on a string. He can make plays for others and can score with threes and pull-ups from mid-range, which seems to be his sweet spot.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1911511' first='Gus' last='Cardon'] Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard who has grown about three to four inches. He is one of the teams top shooters on varsity. He will rattle in threes off the catch. He can also drive to the basket with either hand and make some crafty shots in the lane.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2279899' first='Kylend' last='Suon'] Maricopa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough scoring guard likes getting downhill with spin moves and he can use his thicker body to handle the contact. He scores on mid-range pull-ups and uses a deceptive burst to the basket.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->