High-Level Guards at the Derby City Duel

There was a lot of talent in the 14U and 15U divisions of the Derby City Duel, but the advanced guard play might've stood out the most. Here's a recap of some of the top floor generals:    If an MVP of the 15U division were to be chosen, Evan would've been in the conversation. He was everywhere on the court in the Cincinnati Rockerz matchups. His ability to turn offense into defense with intense on-ball pressure and quick hands stood out. On the offensive side of court, he was able to play on and off the ball with an equal level of comfort. He has a smooth hesi dribble in his bag that shifted the defender every time he used it. Evan also showcased an ability to score on multiple levels.     Similar to Evan, Baylor's movement patterns and decision-making appeared to be beyond his years on several occasions. It seems that being a lockdown defender is a requirement to join the Cincinnati Rockerz program and Baylor fits the bill. His pace with the ball in his hands stood out and he rarely looked out of rhythm. He found a lot of success getting to the rim off of baseline drives and proved that he can finish through contact around the rim.     "Shifty" is the best descriptor to describe Aiden's style of play. Although not the most physical player given his smaller frame, he relied on his speed and controlled ball handling skills to blow past defenders and penetrate the lane. Running with CTJ Elite 14U, Aiden and his squad found themselves in a close game and heated environment in their final matchup of the tournament. Aiden put on a show in the battle, racking up several late game steals, assists and buckets in the effort.     Bon handled a lot of point guard responsibilities for Hoop City Elite 15U and looked very comfortable doing so. He has good size for his position and should be growing still. His pace set the tempo for his squad, and he proved to be reliable in setting his teammates up for success through his decision-making. Bon's jumper was also one of the smoothest in the building. Might be too early to say be he appears to be a scholarship-level player in the future, especially if he finds a way to kick his motor up a notch.     I believe DJ was the only 2032 prospect in the building, which was evident in his small stature. His game play, however, is advanced beyond his years and he had no problem holding his own against older competitors. He was the best point guard on the court in several of Demi Rayn Elite 13U's matchups. Showcasing advanced pace, ball-handling, and shot making abilities, DJ has the goods to be an elite guard in the future. His shooting range from long distance really stood out after he knocked down a few that didn't even look physically possible for him.     Kentucky Future Elite represented as the other 13U squad playing up in the 14U division. Connor wasn't fazed by competing against older kids, however, and oftentimes appeared to have the highest IQ on the court. He threw several head turning no-look dimes in the halfcourt and during fast break opportunities. Probably even more impressive was Connor's willingness to defend the ball. He was solely responsible for forcing more than a handful of steals that led to buckets for his team.

There was a lot of talent in the 14U and 15U divisions of the Derby City Duel, but the advanced guard play might've stood out the most. Here's a recap of some of the top floor generals: