California Live: Stock-Rising Guards (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The second annual Boys California Live scholastic event was held at the Roebellen Center in Roseville - about 20 minutes north of Sacramento. The event drew 170-plus teams from California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. In this piece we take a closer look at the guards who raised their stock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1819470' first='Aiden' last='Rollins'] | 2026 | Franklin</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time I watched Rollins was between his freshman and sophomore years at the Pangos Frosh/Soph Camp and it's fair to say he has continued to improve since then. The wiry 6-foot-4 guard is best in transition as a slasher and finisher or in half-court situations where he can break his defender down off the dribble and get to the painted area. Rollins' best overall attribute might be his defensive presence. He really understands how to use his length and lateral athleticism to contain ball handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">AJ Johnson | 2026 | Anaheim Canyon</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was our first good look at Johnson since he transferred from Pacifica Christian/OC to Canyon and he looked comfortable with his new squad. The 6-foot-2 lefty is a crafty ball-handler in the half-court setting, doesn't get sped up under pressure and showed the ability to make high IQ reads in set offense and in the open court. Johnson looked confident getting to his mid-range pull-up going to his left or right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1530333' first='Ardarius' last='Grayson'] | 2025 | Oakland Tech</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grayson is a quick and shifty ball-handler who thrives in isolation settings where he can break down his defender to get into the lane where he draws in the defense to kick to a shooter or score at the rim with a crafty layup. Grayson is a 6-foot combo guard with a balanced pull-up jump shot that he can elevate straight in to or hit in step-back fashion. Grayson has good playmaking feel, doesn't force the issue offensively and plays with good energy and effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1703078' first='Caeden' last='Hutcherson'] | 2026 | Archbishop Mitty</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hutcherson is already a highly-ranked prospect in Northern California but I thought he helped himself with his play in front of college coaches. The 6-foot-4 guard has good size for his position and a translatable skill in his ability to knock down perimeter shots off the catch. Hutcherson has fluid and fundamental shooting mechanics that make him a consistent shot-maker from multiple spots on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Connor Sheets | 2025 | Buchanan</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sheets is a hard-playing point guard with true feel for the position. He has good burst in the open court and half-court, is a determined driver and playmaker for teammates and a prospect who competes at a high level on the defensive end of the floor. Sheets flashed some high level shot-creating ability for himself with a variety of stop-and-pop jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Da'vian Brooks | 2025 | Knight</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooks could be the next sleeper-type prospect to come out of the high desert. The 6-foot-2 point guard is a shifty downhill attacker of the rim who uses his quick twitch athleticism and changes of speeds and direction to get to the rim. Brooks has a good pop of vertical athleticism around the basket and elevates quickly into a crafty finish at the cup. The rising senior has great court vision in transition and is a willing hit-ahead passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1776801' first='Elijah' last='Perryman'] | 2025 | Clayton Valley Charter</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perryman is a strong-framed point guard who plays with poise under pressure and has the basketball IQ to run a team efficiently. The 6-foot-2 senior is a physical attacking guard whose strength allows him to absorb bumps on drives and continue into the lane where he can score or dish to an open teammate. Perryman operates with good pace in ball-screen action and has the change of speed and direction to keep defenders off-balance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->