This Weekend's Top Guards

As the season begins gaining momentum with the second week of tournaments, we covered the Gonzaga DC Classic on the first and last day while fitting in an invitational event featuring some of the local top teams in between. Success at both the HS and college levels begins and ends with guard play. Let's tap in with several standout guards from this weekend that impressed for a variety of reasons.    30p 3r 2a 3s 1b 1 charge drawn vs Roman   -The senior captain of the Colts did everything to keep his young team in the game against a very good Roman Catholic squad, showing the scoring versatility that has him heading to Hampton University next season. Cooper hit shots off movement, created his own looks from the midrange and beyond the three point line, got to the rim, made his free throws, and was relentless attacking the basket in transition. He's honed his shot selection while remaining aggressive, and the Colts need every bit of the DCIAA POY's scoring prowess this season as a player that can handle extra help defenders being thrown his way. Love the improved use of his pivot and the overall footwork in his shot preparation to get into pull-up's or faders off a reverse pivot to maneuver around the defense for the most high percentage look.     20p 3r 1a 1s 1 charge drawn vs Lane Tech   -Moultrie is starting to see and understand when to attack gaps in the defense to get to the rim more efficiently and without losing the ball/losing control on his way to the paint. The handle has improved to change direction in tight spaces and he consistently works his way to the line every game to get himself into a shooting rhythm. Moultrie is becoming much more efficient with his dribble because of how he has sped up his pre-catch reads, getting straight into a face-up and sweep to blow past his defender and get into the teeth of the defense. Moultrie's defensive awareness continues to improve, seeing man and ball better before timing his rotations to cut off opponent's paths to the basket-- these improvements culminated in a big charge call that he got late in the win. Scored in double figures in all 3 games this weekend against some good competition.     9p 5r 2a 1s vs Sidwell   -Lincoln does a little bit of everything for a Knights team that is working in a lot of new faces this season. A heady PG that plays with good pace, Lincoln understands when his team REALLY needs a bucket to stave off a run or spark a comeback in a tight game. The senior guard's feel has developed nicely over the years, consistently looking to turn a good shot into a great one for himself or his teammates off the bounce. Defensively- he has improved a bit, ratcheting up the activity off the ball to match his activity on the ball as a versatile defender that can guard 1-3 and some forwards at the HS level.     -Siska finished with 18 points in a win over New Hope, showing his versatility as a scorer that operates at a pretty high level from the midrange--especially at the top of the key. Siska scored within the flow of the game but really asserted his will midway through the 4Q to put the game out of reach for Bethel Academy. The talent senior used a deep bag of dribble combos to get to the rim and free himself up for uncontested looks in the paint. With his size, skillset, and versatility-- he can develop himself into a sleeper D1 prospect if he packs more weight onto his frame to not only absorb but dish out more contact.     20p 5a 4r 2s vs Lane Tech   -Carter's ability to control pace, take care of the rock, and vacillate between scoring and distributing continues to impress scouts and college coaches alike. Against Lane Tech he established himself as a scoring threat early, hitting a stepback 3 after cashing out on a C+S 3 point look from the corner midway through the 1Q. Carter is playing through contact much better this season, not allowing himself to be bumped off his path to the rim and knifing in from the perimeter off of quick jab moves on his perimeter catches. Carter is the type of PG that will make sure the big dogs eat in the paint and usually does a good job locating his shooters on the perimeter. I want to see him stay home more often defensively. He's coming away with more steals because he's shooting the gap to dig away a steal as a helper or timing his lunges at the basketball as a POA defender. But at his size-- if he's out of position, it's difficult for him to get out of jail without fouling while riding his defender's hip. Still, the skillbase and year-to-year development speak to his upside as a Ivy/Patriot league prospect.     10p 1r 2s vs Sidwell   -One of my favorite players to watch in the area because of how hard he plays defensively and how willing he is to do the dirty work at both ends of the floor. Caulker has a nose for the basketball, coming up with loose balls or long rebounds in traffic before making the right play for a teammate to get the ball moving in transition. A guard/wing tweener that can do a bit of everything, it was encouraging to see him hit a big C+S three to make it a 1-possession game late in their upset win over Sidwell. Caulker also converted an on-ball steal into a coast to coast drive and lay at the opposite end of the floor, then spent the next few possessions finding teammates from the wings. If he's able to consistently knock down open looks from the perimeter and tighten his handle, I expect his recruitment to pick up.     9p 5a 3r 1 charge drawn vs Roman Catholic   -Heard that he played better the next day in a game that I wasn't able to make it out to, scoring 20+ points efficiently in a loss. But I like that he bounced back in the 2H against Roman and found ways to impact the game outside of scoring on a day where he wasn't getting a great whistle and missed shots he usually makes in the paint. A savvy floor general that operates well off the ball on a team with a D1 senior commit, Gray weaves through traffic well in the halfcourt and could've finished with double digit assists if his teammates were able to convert at a higher clip around the basket. As he matures and learns how to navigate screens by taking sharper angles to fight over the pick before it arrives-- he'll be able to take advantage of his quick hands and feet. If he's able to

As the season begins gaining momentum with the second week of tournaments, we covered the Gonzaga DC Classic on the first and last day while fitting in an invitational event featuring some of the local top teams in between. Success at both the HS and college levels begins and ends with guard play. Let's tap in with several standout guards from this weekend that impressed for a variety of reasons.