Live Period: Shifty Guards in Anaheim

These ball-handlers use their live dribble to create more space for their shot. Sometimes the shifty guards use an extra dribble to make another defender comment, so they can free up a team member. The guards below were talented enough to overthink the primary defender but have a move to ready to go for the secondary defenders.    Jeremiah Cooks was an absolute joy to watch. He plays with passion, creativity, personality, and nonstop energy. I originally came to the tournament focused on covering the California teams, but the SCSB Nevada squad—and Cooks in particular—quickly caught my attention. Watching him break a press off the dribble while keeping his head up the entire time was captivating. Cooks also stood out as a vocal leader, constantly cheering on and encouraging his teammates.   Defenders struggled to stay in front of him in the half-court, and in transition, they had no chance of slowing him down. He consistently finished tough moves with crafty layups using either hand or soft floaters in the lane. Cooks has a unique ability to make simple plays look electric and difficult plays look effortless.     [player_tooltip player_id='1988352' first='Alex' last='Osterloh'] has mastered the art of keeping the game simple and effective. He showed multiple ways to get into the paint using just three dribbles before coming to a controlled jump stop. From there, Osterloh had an impressive arsenal of counters—rising up for a jumper, stepping through for a long layup, reverse pivoting into a fadeaway, or faking the fadeaway into an up-and-under move. His ability to get into the lane consistently created scoring opportunities, often leading to assists as the short corner opened up or perimeter shooters found themselves wide open. Although Osterloh knows how to keep the game simply, he showed plenty of athleticism. He eluded defenders in a variety of ways which led to highlight finishes around the hoop. Alex even snuck in a dunk or two over Team Esface's 4-0 weekend!     The Best Kept Secret   Don't judge a book by its cover—Jack Levey may not have the most imposing physique, but his game tells a different story. He's deceptively quick and incredibly shifty, leaving defenders on skates as he blew past them and created space with ease to get into high-percentage looks. Levey's skill set even includes some crafty post moves, taking a page out of Kyrie Irving's bag to score over taller defenders. He's a true diamond in the rough, and as an incoming junior, he's poised to make a name for himself this season. It's no way Levey goes unranked another season.     GJ Hill is a dynamic 5'9" guard whose deceptive handle and explosive finishing ability make him a serious problem for defenders, especially those who underestimate his bounce.   Hill helps continue that great conversation of "bring the small guards back." Despite standing at 5'9/5'10", he has a bag full of herky-jerky moves that naturally flow right into his shooting pocket. Off that unpredictable rhythm, he can hesitate and explode into a push dribble, blowing past defenders with ease. Opponents should think twice before attempting a casual chase-down block on Hill. He has a knack for rising up for an initial layup and then flipping his hand over the rim, often leaving defenders on the wrong end of a highlight. Hill is right in line to carry on the great point guard tradition at Bishop O'Dowd     [player_tooltip player_id='1826998' first='Xavier' last='Barnett'] is a big 6'3 guard with a deep bag and a polished feel for the game. He has a knack for lulling defenders to sleep by constantly switching up his dribble cadence, keeping them off balance. In transition, Barnett showed an impressive ability to avoid charges, often using smooth side steps or euro-steps to glide around defenders.   What stands out most is his composure—he never looks rushed and always plays under control. Highly cerebral, Barnett approaches the game like a seasoned pitcher in baseball, using each move to set up the next. Leading his team Cali Elite to a 4-0 weekend, Barnett showed exactly what you want in a true point guard: poise, creativity, and leadership.

These ball-handlers use their live dribble to create more space for their shot. Sometimes the shifty guards use an extra dribble to make another defender comment, so they can free up a team member. The guards below were talented enough to overthink the primary defender but have a move to ready to go for the secondary defenders.