#PHTwinCitiesTakedown: Max’s Guard Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the top guards I saw compete over the weekend at the Prep Hoops Twin Cities Takedown!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2617276' first='TJ' last='Starkey']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rocori","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Minnesota Comets","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"TJ had one of the best shooting performances I saw all weekend against [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat']. The 5'9 guard was so active off the ball, constantly passing and relocating to find pockets of space outside the arc. Could quickly get his feet set on the move, allowing him to catch and get a shot off before his chasing defender could catch up. I had him for five 3's in that game, as the Heat defense just didn't have an answer for him. Also flashed some playmaking ability with a couple of nice passes out of pick u0026amp; rolls.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1437303"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Brogan continues to produce at a high level regardless of who you put out in front of him. Against a [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] team featuring some of the top prospects in the state's 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e025 class, Brogan was the best player on the floor Saturday night. Everyone knew he wanted to get to that left hand, but he continuously found ways to get his shoulder past his defender before bursting to the rim to finish. Seeing Brogan miss around the rim is a rare sight, as he has terrific body control to finish through contact and in traffic, and also has the touch to score with either hand. Defensively he's as tough as nails with his on-ball defense and willingness to get on the floor to attack loose balls. Year-after-year he's been one of the most productive players in the state's 2025 class.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1560835"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Tian brought consistent production in a number of ways for Team FSA. Playing up in the 17u division, Tian was running the point for his team and showed his ability to create for himself and his teammates off the dribble. Was getting into the paint to kick it out to his shooters, could zip in passes from the perimeter using his size to see over the top of the defense, and showcased his pull-up jumper as he could create separation from his defender. Tian plays with great pace, never looking sped up and being able to chance his speed to blow by his man when needed. Good footwork when playing off two feet around the basket to create openings to finish. As always he provided a versatile defense as his size at 6'4-6'5 combined with lateral mobility allow him to defend a variety of spots at the high school level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Kwa Silikpoh","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Champlin Park","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Kwa Silikpoh was running the show for a deep and talented [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 15u team. He was all over the floor making plays, utilizing his quickness to jump passes and get out in the open floor for easy buckets. In the half-court he can maneuver through defenders with ease to get into dangerous areas of the floor, proving to be a tough finisher who can also dump it off to his bigs. Just has a knack for making the right reads with the ball in his hands.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2422046"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Unsigned senior Dhimani Tucker is one of the scrappiest guards you'll find this spring. What he lacks in size he makes up for in quickness and toughness. Defensively he's an absolute pest on the ball, able to turn his man multiple times when picking up full-court, and fighting over screens like it's nothing. Against [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] on Friday night he was using his ball pressure to force mistakes from opposing point guards, and was able to create some transition opportunities for his team. In the half-court he utilizes his quickness to get into the paint where he has tremendous vision creating for his teammates. Had a highlight reel no-look dime in the second half to set up his teammate for an easy lay-up.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1560867"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Christian may have been the most consistent player for [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 16u across the two games I watched. He just goes out and produces at a high level, all with such a calm demeanor. The Wayzata guard just knows what he has to do to help lead his teams to wins, whether it's playing hard-nosed defense against a variety of positions, passing the ball ahead in transition, or passing up on a good look to get a great one for a teammate. Christian came onto the scene as a three point specialist, but continues to grow physically making him that much more dangerous in transition and attacking the basket. High IQ basketball player with tons of potential.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1592856"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"You want find many pure shooters better than Jackson in Minnesota's 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e025 class. The [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans'] guard is a threat to score as soon as he crosses that half-court line, with the ability to knock down threes off the catch or dribble. Against Team FSA he was dangerous running off of screens where he showed he can get his feet squared quickly off the move, catching and elevating for his shot in one fluid motion. Defenders know he wants to get into pockets of space to shoot, but he's so active without the ball that he just finds ways to get shots off. Put in an electric shooting performance against a talented Team FSA on Saturday.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66328b25d57d0"} /-->