2024 Rankings: Guards Who Left Their Mark

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Several backcourt players in the final 2024 rankings left their mark during their final high school season, and here are a few…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2257660' first='Jackson' last='Murphy']&nbsp;</strong>(6'2/CG/'24/McGill-Toolen)<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Jackmurphy.2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JackMurphy324</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jackson is the prototypical lead guard. He is very heady and does a good job controlling the tempo. He is a maestro at the position. He always seems relaxed and patient, waiting for the play to develop so that his squad can get what their coach desires. His leadership and experience were seen throughout the year as he had a calming presence on the ball while at the same time being a relentless competitor at the head of the snake. He carried his team this year and had his team looking at a playoff run.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1715065,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Ian-Johnigan-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Ian-Johnigan-C.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1715065" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103013' first='Ian' last='Johnigan']</strong>&nbsp;(6'2/SG/'24/Helena HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ian.johnigan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @IanJohnigan2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ian has been known as a three-point specialist over the years, but this year he showed advancement in his game. He moved from being a c&amp;s guy to a player who could put the rock on the floor and get to his middle game. He was very efficient throughout the year from both the mid-range and behind the arc, and his shooting was a huge part of helping Helena get to the Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2026738,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Elijah-Thomas-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Elijah-Thomas-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2026738" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2258162' first='Elijah' last='Thomas'] </strong>(6'0/SG/'24/Hoover HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: youngbull_e.t</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @ET20241</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Elijah was a solid player in the shadows of Hoover's Big 3. He provided scoring and secondary ball-handling, which helped Hoover to repeat as state champion. Even though he was not one of the primary options when the situation called for him to provide scoring or set-up opportunities for his teammates, he stepped up at the moment. He made winning plays, which were not always scoring plays but had a tangible impact on the game's outcome. He was engaged defensively and did a good job keeping his man in front of him on dribble penetration.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2392812,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/PH-Robert-Flynn-C1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/PH-Robert-Flynn-C1.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2392812" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335151' first='Robert' last='Flynn']</strong>&nbsp;(6'2/SG/The Altamont School)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: robert_flynn1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Robert had a dynamic year as he emerged as the primary scoring option for his squad. He played at a nice pace and was a reliable ball-handler. He had to play on and off the ball as well as balance scoring and facilitating. He has a good understanding of the game and showed his leadership skills throughout the year. He scored from all levels, did an excellent job getting his teammates open looks, and wasn't afraid to take pressure shots when his team needed a bucket. Despite being limited athletically, his basketball IQ kept him a step ahead of most opponents.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310934,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Willie-Townsend-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Willie-Townsend-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310934" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2257891' first='Willie' last='Townsend']&nbsp;</strong>(6'0/PG/Central-Phenix City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: yg_.willie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @bucket_willie10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Willie proved to be a solid floor general on a team that made its second straight appearance in the final four. His play in distributing the rock to his scorers was valuable throughout the year. He did some really good things as a playmaker and an initiator of the offense, particularly in the pick-and-roll, making impressive on-time and on-target passes for easy looks and buckets. Willie had a solid mindset and was a good leader, and his play helped his squad be one of the top teams in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1724799,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Jeremiah-Gary-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Jeremiah-Gary-C.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1724799" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1565365' first='Jeremiah' last='Gary']</strong>&nbsp;(6'3/CG/Homewood HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jeremiah.8795</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @jeremiahgary24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jeremiah had an impressive season as he was one of the senior leaders who led Homewood throughout the year and had the team right in the midst of a playoff run. He proved to be a multi-level scorer, a tough shot-maker, and one on the team who could go and get a bucket when the offense got off schedule. He proved to be a secondary ball-handler and facilitator. Jeremiah is not overly athletic, but his ability to shoot from beyond the arc and finish off the bounce made him a player opposing coaches had to account for as they prepared the scout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->