JV Corner: #SpartanInvitational Emerging Backcourt Talent

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Here are my thoughts on some of the talented guards I saw…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339231,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Drew-Johnson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Drew-Johnson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339231" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Drew Johnson</strong> (6'1/SG/'26/Mountain Brook HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: drewjohnson5_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @thedr3wjohnson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Drew is a backcourt talent who fits into the Mountain Brook system and understands his role. He plays hard on both ends of the floor and is a relentless competitor. He does the small things that help winning. He doesn't overwhelm you with a robust scoring prowess but he captures your eye, because he is always around the ball on defense, he goes to the glass, can score in the paint and from behind the arc, and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339232,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Gizatu-Evans-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Gizatu-Evans-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339232" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2455016' first='Gizatu' last='Evans']</strong> (5'7/PG/'26/Homewood HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: g1zatu</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Giatu is an attacking PG who stayed in the paint. He is constantly creating off-the-bounce and making life easy for his teammates. He has good court vision and passing skills, which helps him as he orchestrates the offense. He is a tough, fiery competitor, an ideal fit for a player at the lead guard spot. He plays unselfishly, is effective as a passer, and showed a really solid basketball IQ for his age, along with his on-court decision-making. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339233,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Kobe-Nicholas-Boleware-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Kobe-Nicholas-Boleware-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339233" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kobe Nicholas Boleware</strong> (5'10/Wing/' 26/Hoover HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: iamkobeboleware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @kobe_boleware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kobe is a two-way talent who came out aggressive early in the match-up against Shades Valley and set the tone for the entire game. He fits perfectly in the team's aggressive nature, particularly on the floor's defensive end. Offensively, he is a good rebounding guard who gets his team out in transition as he rims and runs. He pushes pace extremely hard when leading the break and is a good decision-maker while playing fast. He is tough off the bounce and has the skillset and scoring capabilities to really put up numbers. He did not have to score much in this game, but I would love to see him in action in a more competitive contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339234,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Cartier-Barnes-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Cartier-Barnes-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339234" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2472332' first='Cartier' last='Barnes']</strong> (6'0/SG/'27/Clay-Chalkville HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: cartiier.dge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @barnescartier2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Cartier is a freshman who just got moved up to the JV and is surrounded by a lot of excitement from the Clay coaching staff. Clay is in a similar situation with Hoover as they have a stable of guards in the pipeline, which may leave some players on the outside looking in. Well, that is not going to affect Cartier if he continues to develop according to the trajectory he is currently on. He is a multi-level scorer but really thrives when attacking off the bounce and finishing with his crafty scoring tools. He doesn't have many problems breaking down the defense as his combination of good ball-handling and quick 1st step makes him one of the best creators off the bounce throughout the tourney. Cartier has the tools just needs the right approach to be an impact player on the defensive end.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339235,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Trystan-Kindred-Brooks-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Trystan-Kindred-Brooks-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339235" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Trystan Kindred Brooks</strong> (5'9/CG/'26/Shades Valley HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ihoop.trystan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Trystan showed signs of his ability to score the rock, but his team was up against a squad that was just a better team, and that made life hard on the offensive end of the floor. Trystan is a downhill attacking guard with a solid handle who can create his own scoring opportunities. He can finish off the bounce and at the cup but still has to continue adding to his repertoire over the off-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2339236,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Riley-Kent-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PH-Riley-Kent-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2339236" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2339496' first='Riley' last='Kent']</strong> (5'10/SG/'26/Hoover HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: rileybkent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @rileybkent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Riley is a multi-level scorer but is at his best when letting it fly from behind the arc. He has good shooting mechanics and a nice release time quicker than most his age. He is a smooth lefty off-guard with a nice handle and is tricky to contain in space due to his knack for changing his rhythm when attacking off the dribble. He keeps defenders off balance and guessing because if you play him for the trey, he can blow by you, and if you play the drive, he will light you up from deep. He is one of the many guards who Hoover has in their stable, and it is going to be interesting to see what happens next year because it will definitely be a numbers game.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->