Updated 2024 Rankings: Guards (5-1)
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With the recent update of the class of 2024 rankings, we will take a look at how the rankings are broke down by position. Here’s a look at part three of the top guards in the class, ranking the top…
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Continue ReadingWith the recent update of the class of 2024 rankings, we will take a look at how the rankings are broke down by position.
Here’s a look at part three of the top guards in the class, ranking the top 5 point and combo guards in the senior class.
5) Kamren Martin Kamren Martin 6'4" | CG Blue Ridge | 2024 State VA | 6’4” CG | Blue Ridge (#15 Overall)
Martin has quietly been one of the best guards in the state over the past year or so, and he finally got the recognition he deserved earlier in the year and committed to Long Beach State in California. At 6’4” he has a great size that translates to the next level, but it’s more than just that as he has a lot of game that makes him an impact in a number of ways. He’s a good athlete and plays with a high motor on both ends of the floor, he can play on the ball where he has great speed and beats defenders to make plays for himself and others, he can score the ball in a number of different ways and he’s willing to do the little things to help his team too.
4) Christian Anderson Christian Anderson 6'1" | PG Oak Hill Academy | 2024 State #69 Nation VA | 6’1” PG | Oak Hill Academy (#8 Overall)
The Georgian native made a name for himself in one of the best public school leagues in the country before transferring to Oak Hill and he hasn’t slowed up one bit on the EYSL this year. Anderson may not be the biggest guy but he’s a smooth operating point guard who can control the game and doesn’t make mistakes, he can score the ball in bunches from all over the floor, he has great feel and a high IQ and he just makes winning plays consistently. He’s heading to Michigan next year, and will be next in a long line of talented guards the Wolverines have had.
3) Brandon Jennings Brandon Jennings 6'4" | PG St. Christopher's | 2024 State VA | 6’4” PG | St. Chris (#7 Overall)
Jennings came onto the scene the summer going into his junior year at St. Chris, and he doubled down this summer with a great showing on multiple circuits that caught the eyes of a handful of division one schools before choosing to stay home and attend VCU next year. While he’s a pretty big guard at 6’4” with long arms, he gives off throwback point guard vibes with his high IQ and toughness on both ends of the floor. He is shifty off the bounce and knows how to get to spots where he can score it off the bounce in the midrange and at the rim, he knows where his teammates are at all times and delivers great passes, he’s a lock up defender who sets the tone on both ends and he can move off the ball where he knows how to move to get open and get easy shots too.
2) Ben Hammond Ben Hammond 5'10" | PG Paul VI | 2024 State #143 Nation VA | 5’10 PG | Paul VI (#6 Overall)
Hammond turned heads from the moment he entered the PVI lineup as a freshman behind talented guards like Jeremy Roach and Deshawn Harris-Smith, but the last couple of years the Rhode Island commit has shown he can lead one of the top teams in the country in many different ways. Despite being on the smaller side, Hammond is a nightmare to play against with his blazing speed and tenacity on both ends of the floor. He can blow by defenders with a quick first step, he’s a blur in transition with his end-to-end speed, he is excellent in pick-and-rolls where he makes great decisions and he brings toughness on the defensive end as a lock down on ball defender who can bother you the length of the floor.
1) Bryson Tucker Bryson Tucker 6'6" | PG Unknown | 2024 State #22 Nation VA | 6’6” PG | Bishop O’Connell (#1 Overall)
The McDonalds All American has been a nationally ranked prospect for years and even as a freshman at Mt. St. Joe’s in Baltimore it was clear that he’d be a special player and has continued to back that up throughout the years. What’s really interesting about Tucker is that when you study his game it’s almost more tailored toward the professional side of play than it is towards high school, not that he isn’t able to dominate in the high school setting too. At 6’6” he’s a big guard who knows how to use his body and does so when he gets downhill to finish through contact or play above the rim, but he is also very good in posting smaller guards from 15 feet where he can hit the turn around of bully them in the post. He’s extremely efficient in the midrange game where most players are the least efficient, he can make plays for others and he uses his length to make plays defensively. He’e perhaps the most talented uncommitted player in the country and has his choice between multiple high level schools or taking the professional route with G League Ignite as well.