Rankings Update: 2027 Shooting Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up in our rankings coverage for the&nbsp;<em>Class of 2027</em>&nbsp;is a&nbsp;<em>positional breakdown</em>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<em>shooting guards</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In all, 28&nbsp;<em>Shooting Guards</em>&nbsp;appeared in our rankings update, including the top ranked&nbsp;<em>shooting guard</em> and <strong><em>#1</em></strong> overall prospect in New England, <em>St. Thomas More's</em> <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2195047' first='Patrick' last='Otey']</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77248","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"77239","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6960012cb5e7a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five&nbsp;<em>shooting guards</em>&nbsp;of note from the latest rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2878905"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695fe2526a701"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merritt, out of the <em>New Hampton School</em> in New Hampshire, checks in at <strong><em>#9</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and <strong><em>#42</em></strong> overall. Merritt wasted no time introducing himself to New England, with 32 points in his debut for <em>New Hampton</em>. He's a three level scorer that is comfortable dribbling into his shots, while also showing a high level feel as an off ball mover and cutter. He's terrific in catch and shoot situations from behind the arc and shows some wiggle off the bounce as an isolation scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568341"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695fe2526a78f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Newsom, out of the <em>St. Luke's School</em> in Connecticut, checks in at <strong><em>#14</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and <strong><em>#58</em></strong> overall. Newsome is a physical guard that excels scoring off the bounce in the mid-range and from behind the arc. He does a nice job of elevating into his jumper, finishes through contact around the rim, and has established himself as one of the best offensive rebounding guards in New England. Defensively, he can guard any position on the floor, using his athleticism to defend on the perimeter and his strength to hold off bigger forwards in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470961"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695fe2526a818"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peabody, out of <em>Phillips Avademy Andover</em> in Massachusetts, checks in at <strong><em>#21</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and <strong><em>#94</em></strong> overall. Peabody is a crafty scorer that seemingly continues to add elements to his offensive game. He has more wiggle off the bounce than you'd expect and is really crafty when he gets into the paint as a scorer. He's a high level shooter, particularly in catch and shoot situations, but has really impressed with his ability to get into his mid-range game off the bounce, where he's almost automatic. Defensively, he guards any spot on the perimeter and does a nice job of cleaning up long rebounds in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2367409"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695fe2526a899"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Boyd, out of <em>Central Catholic High School</em> in Massachusetts, checks in at <strong><em>#27</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and <strong><em>#125</em></strong> overall. Boyd is a big guard that does a terrific job of moving without the basketball, particularly when it comes to getting open in catch and shoot situations. At 6'5", he can get his shot off against almost any defender, utilizing a high and quick release. He attacks closeouts to finish at the rim with length, rebounds it on both ends of the floor, and has the mobility to defend in space against smaller guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2711381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695fe2526a914"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neal, out of <em>Lynnfield High School</em> in Massachusetts, checks in at <strong><em>#32</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and <strong><em>#162</em></strong> overall. Neal has picked up where he left off this summer, showing the ability to operate as a primary decision maker with the ball in his hands, while making plays with length around the rim and consistently knocking down shots from behind the arc. He's a jumbo guard that does a nice job of playing at his own speed, has the ability to keep defenders off balance with his dribble, and does a nice job of using his size to see over the defense as a facilitator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye out this week as we continue with our&nbsp;<em>positional breakdowns</em>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<em>Class of 2027</em>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->