Five RIIL Guards to Watch this Winter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our preseason look at the six high school associations in <em>New England</em> heads to <em>Rhode Island</em> and the <em>RIIL</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll start in the backcourt with a look at some of the state's top guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five prospects to know before games kick off in the coming weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2341426' first='Josh' last='Bergeron']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeron, a dynamic scoring guard, will look to fill the go-to scoring role at <em>Lincoln</em> this season. Arguably the top scoring guard in the state, he's proven to be an effective scorer from behind the arc and in the mid-range. He's a willing ball mover, has some potential as a secondary ball-handler, and can get hot in a hurry when he gets it going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2546943' first='James' last='Caldarella']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big lead guard, Caldarella will have the keys to the offense this winter at <em>Bishop Hendricken</em>. A heady guard that can really score it from behind the arc, he has shown to have some serious potential as a playmaker. He does a nice job of changing speeds, can keep the defense off balance with shots fakes and hesitations, and is a crafty scorer around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2547090' first='Michael' last='DeOrsey']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeOrsey, a creative lead guard, should be the engine behind the offense at <em>North Kingston</em> this winter. A quality decision maker, he does a great job of creating open looks for his teammates. While capable as a scorer from behind the arc, he does a great job of getting a piece of the paint off the bounce, can score in transition, and does a good job as an on-ball defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">John Ramos</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The youngest guard on this list, Ramos is a true three-level scorer out of <em>Central High School</em>. A long combo guard, he has the ability to break down a defense off the bounce and shows capable of finishing as a scorer at all three levels. He's a disruptive defender that thrives in the open floor, showing the ability to finish on the break or create easy baskets for his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2547070' first='Jakob' last='Reyes']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reyes, an athletic shot-making guard, will team with Caldarella to give <em>Bishop Hendricken</em> one of the best backcourt combos in the state. He thrives in catch and shoot situations, doing a good job of setting his feet and showing his hands early. He's a tough defender that does a good job of guarding in space and has proven capable as a scorer in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->