Big Shots Richmond Jam: MD/VA 2027 Guard Standouts

Over the weekend, Big Shots and Paul Biancardi set up shop at Henrico & Events Center featuring over 190 teams from the East Coast. Over the course of this week, I'll break down scouting notes on prospects from the 15-17 age group levels in a variety of states.   I start with the 2027 MD/VA guards who caught my eye below.    There's a real argument that no prospect left a bigger impression on me this weekend than Franklin. With his size around 6-foot-5, you could slide him between the two or the three, but in healthy spurts this weekend he was able to show his grab-and-go ability to lead the break and make plays. Franklin was outstanding from an efficiency perspective as he helped Team Breakdown DMV P32 to the championship game where they would come up short against Team Breakdown FL P32. In the chaotic pace or environment that grassroots ball can bring, Franklin's ability to play at his own pace, bury shots from deep or process reads off the bounce with such precision were all aspects to his game that I only saw in spurts as a sophomore at O'Connell. This could be the beginning of a huge summer ahead for Franklin, who averaged 17.3 points per game for the weekend headlined by an opening 28-point outing on Saturday.     DC Assault finished the weekend with a 2-1 record as they lost to Team Breakdown FL P32 in the semifinal round on Sunday morning. The final two games were stronger outings for the southpaw floor general as he played his typical controlled, but bursty pace getting to his spots when his team needed offense. A killer in the mid-range, Asare uses the combination of twitch and a frame that resembles a running back to establish separation where he can quickly get into his pull-up. He was also efficient from his catch-and-shoot opportunities in transition when he wasn't leading the break himself as he flared to the wing or corners once the ball handler crossed half court. Asare averaged 11.3 points per game.     Team Breakdown's stable of guards include a pack of tough, athletic and intense prospects. Austin had one of the more productive weekends of the rotation and if he wasn't scoring, was acting as a generator of offense with his ability to operate in high ball screens, attacks defenders off the catch or create advantages in isolations to establish paint touches and make the defense collapse. He's an athletic finisher in transition where he can add in some craft as others chase him down to contest at the rim or he'll full on accept and absorb contact in the air while maintaining concentration to convert. Austin averaged just under 11 points per game while supplying relentless on-ball pressure defense throughout.     [program_tooltip program_id='2078817' first='Virginia' last='Elite'] went 1-2 this weekend as their group continues to learn each others strengths and work out the kinks before the live period. While they have intriguing long-term prospects throughout the roster, Wright is more of a producer in the now and he proved that again with his play as the lead guard. There isn't much that's flashy about Wright's game, but there's no issue with that when you consider his strict north to south attack in getting downhill and putting massive pressure on the rim. He was effective at finding the slightest of driving lanes and using a quick first step to exploit them. On countless occasions, Wright attacked the rim looking to initiate contact and force the ref's whistle, which he did effectively and converted at the charity stripe. Wright is an intense competitor at both ends and should be a big piece to this [program_tooltip program_id='2078817' first='Virginia' last='Elite'] squad this summer in UA Rise play. The DeMatha product finished the weekend averaged 17 points per game in the three contests.     [program_tooltip program_id='2828099' first='Nova' last='Cavs'] nearly pulled off what would have been one of the bigger upsets of the weekend as they pushed Tre Mann Elite PRO16 to the brink, but came up short by 1 point. This group as a whole moves the ball well and plays with refreshing cohesion. As for Conklin, he led the way in the scoring department averaging a little over 10 points per game in a balanced attack and after a stock-rising junior season at Woodson, looks to steady add value as the spring and summer progress. Conklin can knock down shots with precision off the catch, but showed good instincts as an operator off the bounce and making reads both as a passer or scorer depending on how the defensive rotation unfolded.

Over the weekend, Big Shots and Paul Biancardi set up shop at Henrico & Events Center featuring over 190 teams from the East Coast. Over the course of this week, I'll break down scouting notes on prospects from the 15-17 age group levels in a variety of states.