Prep Hoops Nationals: The Guard Standouts

This article is sponsored by VKTRY Performance Insoles - The Official Insole Provider of Prep Hoops.   Seven guards who impressed over the weekend at Prep Hoops Nationals!    [player_tooltip player_id='2121351' first='Tanner' last='Rose'] put together a really nice summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select']. He was one of the best passers I saw all weekend, but also shot the ball well from three in the game I watched. Tanner does a great job of picking his head up and throwing the ball ahead in transition, able to pick up a couple of assists each game just by looking ahead for a sprinting teammate. In the half-court he was able to get into dangerous areas on the floor, force the defense to collapse, and consistently find an open shooter on the perimeter. Does a nice job of dribbling out of pressure and creating a numbers advantage for his team attacking the basket.     Jaylan provided consistent production for [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'], helping lead them to the 15u title. Without their usual starting point guard, Jaylan took over most of the ball handling responsibilities for his team. He did a nice job of handling it under pressure, getting his team into their offense, and even showed off some playmaking abilities on the ball. With his long frame at 6'2 he's able to see the floor well and deliver passes over the top of defenders. Hynes was active on the glass on both ends of the floor, showed he could defend a number of spots, and did a lot of his scoring stopping and elevating for mid-range jumpers.     There's another King coming to Caledonia. Grant was playing up at the 15u level with [program_tooltip program_id='2075702' first='MN' last='Lightning'] over the weekend, and impressed as a passer. He plays with good change of speed, and sees the floor so well as an incoming freshman. Grant never looked sped up, and was able to penetrate, get two feet in the paint, and either score with a floater over size or kick it out to an open shooter. He wasn't doing anything overly flashy, and with that was able to create a lot of good looks for his teammates. Already has good size as 6'2 as well.     Jaylen is an athletic slasher of a guard who helped Powerhouse advance to the quarterfinals in 16u play. Against [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] he had a period in the second half where he just took the game over, scoring a handful of times within a short span, and doing so in a variety of ways. He was so shifty with the ball in his hands, able to stepback to hit an outside jumper, or attack downhill and use his athleticism to finish at the basket. Chances directions so quickly with his 6'2 frame, proving to be tough for defenders to stick in front of. As with most Powerhouse players, he pressures the ball hard, forces mistakes, and doesn't hesitate to get on the floor for a loose ball.     Colin had some nice moments over the weekend for MN Blue Chips. He's a poised and mature point guard who has a strong frame that allows him to makes plays around the rim. Out on the perimeter he makes quick and smart decisions on the ball, rarely making an errant pass. Colin utilized his strength well on the glass, clearing out space and often pulling in rebounds against taller players. Defensively moves his feet well and can take some contact to the chest to avoid fouling with his hands. Pushed [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] down to the final minutes on Saturday, and helped lead his team to a win over AZ Dragons on Sunday.     Ty was one of the best passers I saw over the weekend in Bloomington. He helped [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] push [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] to their limits on Saturday, creating at a high level for his teammates. He's one of those players who seems to see everything on the floor at once, and stays one step ahead of the defense. With that vision he excels at passing his teammates open, spotting gaps in the defense and leading them with a pass perfectly to the basket. Really slippery navigating through tight areas on the floor to get into the lane and locating an open teammate from there.     Eli is a very crafty guard, and had some nice moments running with [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley'] over the weekend. He's quick to get to his spots off the dribble, and can stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper. Excels at getting downhill, and then stopping to elevate for a mid-range shot while his defender goes flying by. Moves quick laterally to defend on the ball, and has quick hands to poke the ball free when the opportunity presents itself. Should form a potent backcourt duo alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1574222' first='Allan' last='Lankfard'] this winter at St. Paul Central.

This article is sponsored by VKTRY Performance Insoles - The Official Insole Provider of Prep Hoops.