Hoop Hall Prep: Aggressive Guards

New readers: Use code Proia30   Every year, NERR and their partners put on the Prep National Championship series to feature top prep schools from across the country to compete in cross matchups between local NE teams and their counterparts across the country. It's always a fun evaluation setting as extremely hungry postgrad and HS products compete in front of college coaches and pro scouts against the top talent in the country. Let's tap in with a few of my favorite guards from the event.    15p 3r 1a 1s vs St Andrews   -Vita's January addition has given WNA a primary ballhandler that can generate paint touches for his team, run the offense, and call his own number to score when needed in the flow of the game. Vita scored two AND1 buckets at the rim, knocked down an open C+S look from the perimeter, and knocked down his FTs from the charity stripe. The way that he was able to push the pace in transition really opened up the game for his team to build up a double digit lead and coast to the finish line.     22p 5r 1a 2s 10/15 FG   -Falko's activity defensively really shown through in this one as a guard that has been much more active in rotations to collect steals and deflections throughout the evening. The handle has improved to allow him to push the pace in transition and his sprinting endurance has taken a nice step forward to allow him to race ahead in transition to catch over-the-head run-out assists. Encouraging signs of skill development to compliment the usual sharpshooting from the perimeter.     25p 6r 1a 6s 8/14 FG 1/2 3P 8/10 FT vs Mt. Zion   -Came away very impressed by the 2-way impact from Samuels, an uber-physical and athletic guard for PSA. Samuels' ability to bait opponents into sailing crosscourt passes or anticipate changes of direction to swipe away steals allowed him to collect 6 steals-- often before heading the other way quickly to switch ends and score before the defense could get set. His speed in the open floor and ability to make sharp turns with the ball in his hands or while navigating screens on the other end makes him a valuable 2-way prospect with a strong floor. The paint touches, FTA numbers, and pace in transition speak to the toughness that he approaches each game with as a physical guard that should see a nice uptick in his recruitment .     21p 8r 1a 2s 10/15 FG vs St Thomas More   -Rollins really had the midrange going against STM, shooting a near-automatic 67% from the floor to open up his driving lanes in the 2H when defenses had to play up on him to try and take away the midrange jumpers. Loved the way that Rollins plays through contact at both ends of the floor as a prospect that imposes his will on the game-- fighting well over ball screens to keep his man in front while flashing his arms to disrupt passing lanes. Rollins also played with good pace in transition as a bull in a china shop driver that will double cross over and get right at you again to attack the outside shoulder to gain leverage on his paths to the rim. Nebraska native enjoying a productive start to his PG season with Spire.     27p 4r 1a 9/13 FG 7/8 3P vs Sunrise Christian PG   -Zilys enjoyed the most nuclear shooting performance of my time at the event with a near-perfect run from beyond the arc in a nice win over a stellar SCA defense. Zilys' shot prep was immaculate throughout the afternoon, sprinting off of screens or to the corners before setting his feet incredibly quickly pre-catch to stabilize his momentum for the shots. His run of four straight 3s to start the 2H gave his team the lead for good as advanced conditioning allowed him to play heavy minutes without letting tired legs affect his off-ball movement.

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