De La Salle MLK Showcase – Session 1 Standout Guards

Session 1 of the MLK Showcase gave a strong look at the depth of talent across multiple classes, with high-level athletes, skilled shot-makers, and poised floor generals all making their mark. From explosive wing play to steady point guard control, the session featured players who impacted winning in different ways and at different stages of their development.    GJ Hill | 6'0 G | 2027   GJ Hill once again showed why he's one of the most natural scorers in his class. He finished with 16 points, but the bigger takeaway was how he controlled the game. Alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2887430' first='Erick' last='Thome'], Hill calmly broke Sacramento's high-energy press, keeping the offense organized and avoiding turnovers.   Hill played a balanced, composed game. His scoring came within the flow, with eight points in each half, never forcing shots or speeding himself up. He picked his spots, managed pace, and made winning decisions, showing growth as both a scorer and a floor general.     [player_tooltip player_id='2952258' first='King' last='Griffin'] | 6'0 PG | 2029   [player_tooltip player_id='2952258' first='King' last='Griffin'] continues to stand out as one of the most creative guards I've seen this season. He finished with 14 points, but the scoring only tells part of the story. Griffin is elite at handling the ball in traffic, right there with the best in Norcal, with [player_tooltip player_id='2212735' first='NJ' last='Gray']. He's comfortable navigating tight spaces and still making plays at full speed.   What really separates him is his ability to get everyone involved. Griffin has a natural feel for putting teammates in position to score, whether it's finding 6'1 Demere Taylor for the highlight alley-oop or hitting [player_tooltip player_id='3142824' first='Jamare' last='Garrison'] in rhythm for crunch-time threes. When other scorers get going, Griffin knows how to feed them and keep the offense flowing.   Defensively, he showed his athleticism with a block in the paint on a bigger player, proving that size doesn't limit his impact. [player_tooltip player_id='2952258' first='King' last='Griffin'] plays with confidence, creativity, and competitive edge, and there's very little on the court he can't do.     [player_tooltip player_id='1826998' first='Xavier' last='Barnett'] | 6'2 PG | 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='1826998' first='Xavier' last='Barnett'] continues to be one of the steadiest guards on the floor. He finished with 16 points, consistently getting to the rim and into his mid-range game without forcing the action. This season, Barnett has taken a noticeable step forward offensively, playing with more aggression while still maintaining control.   What remains constant is his defensive impact. Much like his brother, Xavier takes pride on that end—jumping passing lanes, creating deflections, and turning defensive stops into easy offense. The game versus Riverside Poly, Xavier became The King's Academy all-time leading score with 1181 points. His ability to balance scoring, and decision-making as an innate skill.      [player_tooltip player_id='2136794' first='Isaiah' last='Clendinen'] | 6'0 PG | 2027   [player_tooltip player_id='2136794' first='Isaiah' last='Clendinen'] showed exactly what it looks like when a guard truly knows how to run a team. He finished with 16 points, knocking down two threes, while controlling pace and keeping the offense organized from start to finish.   Clendinen does a great job keeping defenders on his back as he probes, patiently reading the floor before deciding whether to score or deliver the pass. He's shifty, plays with excellent tempo, and has real touch on his jumper when he gets into his spots.   One of the standout moments came right before half time when he recorded a strip steal, immediately pushed the ball in transition, and capped the sequence with a behind-the-back pass to Donovan Edwards who laid it in before the buzzer sounded. Plays like that sum up his game—poised, creative, and always under control.     [player_tooltip player_id='2894463' first='Scotty' last='Beamish'] Jr. | 6'1 G | 2029   [player_tooltip player_id='2894463' first='Scotty' last='Beamish'] Jr. continues to look more and more comfortable in an interchangeable point guard role. He does a good job directing teammates to their spots and keeping the offense organized, showing confidence and awareness that we saw glimpses of the opening game.   When Beamish decides to be aggressive, he can get by his man and use his body to finish in the paint. He also showed off his smooth lefty stroke from the outside, knocking down a three and a midrange jumper. Beamish Jr is not playing like a freshman and will be ready come state playoffs.      [player_tooltip player_id='2952322' first='Isaiah' last='Dotson'] | 6'2 G | 2029   [player_tooltip player_id='2952322' first='Isaiah' last='Dotson'] brings activity and disruption every time he's on the floor. The long, wiry 6'2 guard finished with nine points, but his impact went well beyond scoring. Dotson has a knack for getting his hands on everything, creating deflections and extra possessions through sheer effort and anticipation.   Offensively, he's a slasher who's extremely quick to the basket. He uses a series of herky-jerky moves off the dribble to keep defenders off balance, allowing him to get downhill and draw fouls at a solid rate. Dotson also rebounds exceptionally well for a freshman guard, showing no hesitation attacking the glass.   In addition to scoring, he's comfortable stepping into a secondary ball-handling role, keeping the offense flowing when needed. With his quickness, length, and aggressiveness, [player_tooltip player_id='2952322' first='Isaiah' last='Dotson'] is a guard who consistently impacts the game in multiple ways.    Session 1's Guard play of the Game    [player_tooltip player_id='3142825' first='Damare' last='Taylor'] | 6'1 G | 2026   [player_tooltip player_id='3142825' first='Damare' last='Taylor'] delivered one of the top plays of the showcase in transition. On a fast break, [player_tooltip player_id='2952258' first='King' last='Griffin'] threw the ball halfway up the square, and Taylor went up strong with two hands to bring it down for a highlight-level alley-oop dunk. The play showcased his athleticism, timing, and fearlessness at the rim.   At 6'1, Taylor's ability to finish above the rim separates him and makes him a constant threat when the floor opens up. His energy in transition and willingness to attack plays head-on give him momentum-shifting potential every time he's on the court.

Session 1 of the MLK Showcase gave a strong look at the depth of talent across multiple classes, with high-level athletes, skilled shot-makers, and poised floor generals all making their mark. From explosive wing play to steady point guard control, the session featured players who impacted winning in different ways and at different stages of their development.