Stock-Riser Candidates: '27 Guards

The DMV continues to churn out premium talent year after year, causing prospects to go a bit more under the radar as opposed to different hotbeds due to the volume of high-level guys. We wanted to start off by highlighting the rising senior class as they head into their last year of AAU basketball. We're excited to highlight some of the prospects our staff thinks could make a big leap this summer. Let's dive in!    -A true magician with the ball in his hands, the handle has really sharpened to allow him to create more space for himself off the bounce and he's been using it to get to the rim with more frequency. A knockdown shooter with range, Nelson can be used coming off of screens or create his own looks. I like the progression he's made on the defensive end of the floor, staying down for shot fakes while keeping his man in front and collecting some help side blocks.     -Scott steps onto the EYBL circuit with TTO after a productive season as the POY on a conference champion with Meade. Scott's change of pace with the ball in his hands makes him difficult to stay in front of, he operates like a smooth cadillac in transition weaving in and out of traffic. His creativity with the ball in his hands is one of the best in the area, finding a way to squeeze through tight gaps because of his ability to anticipate the defender's movements. I expect his recruitment to take off this summer in a competitive environment.     -Strickland's evolution from a W/F tweener to a slashing guard has been a joy to cover and I only expect that progression to continue. With a good first step and long arms, he's adept at making his defender miss before getting into the teeth of the defense. Would like to see him play off of two feet more often in the paint to allow him to adjust to help defense converging on him to create for teammates in the key.     -Shifty guard that was a good spark plug for the PG County champion Lions this past season. Ashe's handle improved and he cut down on some of the turnovers that happened more frequently his freshman year trying to fit passes through tight windows. Ashe can knock down shots, attack closeouts, and really improved on his passing reads off the bounce over the course of the season.     -Coach Singletary always keeps a shooter or two in the rotation to space the floor for the Quakers and Williams should fill that role nicely after a summer with Virginia Elite. An absolute sniper that can get off his shot in a hurry, he's learning when to take the shot versus getting downhill to create-- especially from the corners. How comfortable he is putting the ball on the floor and guarding his yard will be key to his usage.     -Lee is a quick guard with a ton of perimeter wiggle with the ball in his hands. He doesn't need a ball screen to get to his spots and does a good job of scanning the floor pre-catch to get downhill in a hurry based off the closeouts that he faces. Love his burst and ability to make plays for others and score from all 3 levels.

The DMV continues to churn out premium talent year after year, causing prospects to go a bit more under the radar as opposed to different hotbeds due to the volume of high-level guys. We wanted to start off by highlighting the rising senior class as they head into their last year of AAU basketball. We're excited to highlight some of the prospects our staff thinks could make a big leap this summer. Let's dive in!