Look Ahead: Top Senior Guards in 6A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2024-25 basketball season approaches, the spotlight will be shifting to the top senior guards in the state. These players are gearing up for one last high school season and are likely to make the most of it. In this preview, I'll go over some of the best guards in the 6A, ready to make their presence felt from November to March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1588348"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c68c6122e39"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wagler can do it all. He's a versatile athlete with great length and a scoring threat wherever he gets the ball. He has a great sense of pace and ability to get to his spots and knock down jumpers. Also a creative finisher, Wagler utilizes strength and finesse to score inside. Wagler is a willing rebounder who makes the most of second-chance opportunities. In transition, Wagler gets out ahead of the defense and can create for himself or his teammates with consistency.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1402310"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c68c6122d6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Watson is one of the smoothest guards in the state. He's super explosive and very effective in transition, able to finish fast breaks with a dunk. Off the dribble, Watson is creative enough to make space to get a shot off from just about anywhere. Defensively, Watson's jumping ability makes up for his size, allowing him to contest or block the shots of other guards. He is also disruptive in passing lanes and good at rushing ball handlers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1372285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c75a738bff8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mboule is a quick guard that can get hot in a hurry. He has a quick release, is always ready to shoot, and doesn't require much space to get his shot off. Mboule is good at recognizing when he should shoot or drive, allowing him to be productive as a driver and playmaker. On defense, Mboule is a quick defender with good hands who can cause trouble for opposing guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1962889"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c75a738c050"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Collins plays more of a complimentary role at SMNW but would be the first scoring option at almost any other school in the state. He's a great shooter with a quick release and solid range. If a team has to over-help on [player_tooltip player_id='2209778' first='Ethan' last='Taylor'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1588348' first='Keaton' last='Wagler'], there's a high likelihood Collins will get a good look. He is also a consistent straight-line driver, able to finish at the rim or find open teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2169828"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c68c6122dfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benning does a bit of everything for Northwest. Last season, he led the team in points, assists, steals, and blocks. He was also second on the team in rebounding. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he led the team in all those categories this year. Benning is a high-volume scorer, capable of driving to the basket, shooting threes, or finding a mid-range shot. Benning is also an elite defender with great instincts. He is capable of grabbing 5 or more steals on any given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2321612"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c68c6122dbc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Austin is a unique kind of 3-and-D player. He is a pure shooter who is lethal in a catch-and-shoot. He has a high release, great range, and is always ready to shoot, making him a dangerous perimeter threat. A high flyer, Austin is capable of blocking shots in transition off the backboard and playing around the rim on offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->