DeKalb Shootout: Backcourt Names to Know

The DeKalb Shootout showcased plenty of impressive guard play, with several backcourt prospects standing out as names to watch. These players made their mark with skill, passion, and production from the start.    Smith immediately caught my eye with his defensive intensity and high motor. He plays with confidence, applying pressure early in the halfcourt and using his lateral quickness to stay in front of ball handlers. Offensively, he shows burst off the bounce to get past defenders and create paint touches, creating plays around the rim. He mixes in sharp passes from the perimeter with dump-offs to bigs on his drives. Smith plays with consistent effort on both ends and brings a competitive edge throughout.     Brings competitive energy and an unselfish playstyle, which was evident in a high-intensity matchup against Normal University. Consistently poked and prodded the defense, creating opportunities with kickouts and extra passes. Displayed a good feel for lob entries to his bigs and worked well within the offense. Also showed flashes of absorbing contact on drives and finishing through it. Off the ball, he set up and used screens effectively to create space. Would like to see him more willing to take open looks from beyond the arc when available.     Shows strength, balance, and speed with the ball in the halfcourt. Plays with toughness and a clear willingness to take on contact and battle through it. Utilizes runners and floaters effectively—showing nice touch in the lane, which is important given his smaller guard size. One thing that stood out was his instinct to follow his own misses, often securing the rebound or keeping the possession alive. Projects as a valuable senior leader heading into November.     Displays a mature feel for the game with his ability to find cutters and read defenses. The senior guard brings defensive intensity—creating steals, picking pockets, and disrupting passing lanes with active hands. Plays with a high motor, consistently running the floor in transition to generate fast-break points and put opposing defenses on their heels. Massey is one who can provide a spark and create winning plays.     Miller is going to be an intriguing prospect to watch grow. The Plainfield East point guard has grown to 6'6", and with his size and position, he reminds me of young Michael Carter-Williams, only Miller has the deep range in his arsenal. His three-point shooting remains his biggest weapon, but he's also shown the confidence to pull-up in the mid-range with tight coverage, and accuracy on his shot. He's improving at attacking gaps in the defense and making more aggressive reads. Defensively, his length is a major asset—disrupting passing lanes, generating deflections, and contesting shots around the rim.     The 2027 two-guard looks poised to be the go-to option for the Sobos following the graduation of high school phenom Ross Robertson. He showed flashes of his potential in a matchup against Larkin—starting a bit slow but eventually finding his rhythm. Brings extended three-point range and shoots it with both volume and accuracy. Also showed some bounce at the rim. Another long guard with the tools to be productive, though continued skill development will elevate his game even further.

The DeKalb Shootout showcased plenty of impressive guard play, with several backcourt prospects standing out as names to watch. These players made their mark with skill, passion, and production from the start.