2028 Watch List: Shooting Guards

An off-ball guard who can really shoot it from deep, Allen has a pure release off the catch and moves really well without the ball in his hands. He's a pure shooter who gets great rotation on his shot, and he does a nice job using the threat of his shot to open up the rest of his offensive game, hitting opponents with backcuts to get to the rim. He has some secondary playmaking ability, seeing the floor well and finding open teammates.     Another guard who can play with or without the ball, Buckley is a good shooting threat who moves well without the ball in his hands and he shoots it well off the catch. He can also play downhill and attack off the dribble, showing that he can absorb contact and finish through it around the bucket with either hand.     Chase is a high-level shooter off the catch, getting his feet set and ready to fire with a quick release and extended range. He can attack overly aggressive closeouts by putting the ball on the floor and getting into the teeth of the defense, where he can score or flash his vision and find open teammates.     Christiansen does a great job playing with pace, changing speeds and using a great first step to help blow by defenders and get into the teeth of the defense. He shoots it well off the dribble and can create plays for his teammates off the bounce as well.     Crawford can play with or without the ball in his hands, handling it well and finding open teammates. He's a quality three-level scoring threat who can knock down shots off both the dribble and the catch, and he's great in the mid-range area, knowing how to get to his spots and getting the ball into his shooting pocket in the blink of an eye. He's a good on-ball defender who moves his feet well and utilizes his above-average length to make life difficult for opposing ball-handlers.     Another wing with really good size that he uses to impact the game on both ends of the floor, Gammon can knock down shots off the catch or make plays off the bounce. He has the size to get to his shot against smaller defenders, and he can create space with his off-ball arm and footwork to get shots off against bigger defenders.     Heying is an aggressive, downhill guard who loves to get to the rim off the dribble. He finishes well at the bucket with either hand and has the ability to finish through contact at the rim.     Hickie is a long wing who does a great job getting into passing lanes on the defensive end as well as contest shots on the perimeter. He moves his feet really well and has a high IQ, positioning himself well on that end of the floor. Offensively he can score from all three levels and play with or without the ball in his hands.     Kasperbauer looks like he may end up being one of the top players in the '28 class, an impressive blend of length, size, athleticism, and talent. He shoots it at a really high level off both the dribble and the catch, with a high release and great rotation on his shot. He plays with good pace, attacking the rim off the dribble and changing speeds well to help get by defenders. He covers a ton of ground on both ends of the floor with his long arms and strides and can provide some versatility on the defensive end.     A pure shooter who moves well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release off the catch, Larsen can get scorching hot from deep and carry his team for stretches. He has range well beyond the high school line and is improving his shooting off the dribble as well.     A talented playmaker with the ball in his hands, Lovely sees the floor well and is a skilled ball-handler and passer. He can get to his spots in the mid-range and 3-point range off the dribble, and knocks down shots at a high clip off the catch. Defensively he moves his feet well and has quick hands that he uses to pick opposing ball-handlers clean.     Perkins is a hyper-athletic guard who loves to play off the dribble and attack downhill, putting constant pressure on opposing defenses with his vision, finishing ability, and the skill that he has as a mid-range shooter. He should be a big piece for Waterloo East early in his career.     Runge may end up becoming more of a point guard as he progresses through his high school career because of how reliable he is as a ball-handler. He doesn't get sped up against pressure, sees the floor really well, and can score from all three levels.     Smith can play with or without the ball in his hands, serving as a reliable ball-handler against pressure looks. He can get to his spots off the dribble and knock down shots, or he can shoot it at a high clip off the catch.     Smith shoots it well off the dribble, knowing how to get to his spots in the mid-range as well as knock down shots from deep. A lefty with a pure stroke, he can also create plays off the dribble for his teammates, attacking the painted area and getting the defense to collapse.     Strasburger may be the next in the Kennedy production line of tough, skilled guards who can play with or without the ball in their hands as well as dominate the game on the defensive end. He's a tenacious on-ball defender who moves his feet well and has the toughness and length to defend bigger bodies in the paint. He's a really good finisher around the rim who loves to play downhill and attack, and he's a skilled playmaker with the ball in his hands, finding open teammates when the defense collapses on him.     Despite being one of the smaller players on the floor, Whitehouse is a tenacious rebounder on both ends of the floor. He knows how to get to his spots off the dribble, especially in the mid-range, and he shoots it well off the bounce.