PH Windy City War: Max’s Guard Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the guards who impressed over the weekend in Chicago at the Prep Hoops Windy City War!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2401381"],"_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-69f2292028b09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dumont impressed against one of the top 15u teams in the Midwest in Brad Beal Elite on Sunday. The lefty guard plays the game at his own pace, and has a strong frame as a guard that he uses to maneuver his way into the lane off the dribble. He hit a tough turnaround jumper over a longer guard, was knocking down threes, and was powering his way up to the rim off two feet to score inside. Dumont flashed the vision to create for his teammates when he got into the lane, able to deliver crafty bounce passes through tight gaps to set up his forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2125671"],"_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-69f2292028b9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nojus impressed running with [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] Gold over the weekend. Physically he fits the profile of a next level guard, with his long and agile 6'3 frame, combined with the athleticism to finish above the rim in the open floor. Those tools help him defend either guard spot, and he has no problem getting up and pressuring the ball. Offensively he's someone who can play either guard spot, contributing as a scorer or facilitator for his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2125668"],"_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-69f2292028c0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Similar to his twin brother, Nedas offers versatility on the offensive end. We saw him and Nojus set each other up for [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']'s opening two baskets of the game against Geek Squad, and they connected for a few more buckets throughout the game. Nedas keeps the ball moving, doesn't over dribble, and has the handle/poise at 6'3 to get his team into their offense under pressure. The game just seems to come natural to the Venckus twins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2226077"],"_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-69f2292028c79"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gabe is a true point guard for his [program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Sixers' last='Elite'] team. He's an unselfish player who understands the personnel around him, and knows how to get them all involved. In the game I watched he was finding his long and athletic wings slashing to the basket in transition, and in the half-court knew how to get his shooters the ball in pockets of space. Gabe finds ways to get two feet in the paint, force defenders to collapse on him, and locate an open man. Defensively he's a scrappy on-ball defender who's going to be the first one on the floor for a loose ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553904"],"_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-69f2292028ce3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">J'Cobi was providing a spark off the bench offensively for [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] in the two wins I watched. Against LVL on Saturday his team was behind in the first half, and Mathis provided the spark needed to get them back in the game. He closed out the first half with a pair of threes and another finish at the rim to give his team all the momentum at the break. J'Cobi comes into the game with a ton of confidence, and there's no hesitation to shoot when he catches in space. I liked the way he came out ready to compete on the defensive end as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2918205"],"_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-69f2292028d4d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keiwon may have been the most dominant player I saw all weekend at the 15u level. Anytime he wanted to get to the rim, Keiwon was able to blow by defenders off the dribble. His quick first step, shifty handle, and explosive burst off the floor made him nearly impossible to stop in isolation. Sag off though and Gulley could simply pull up from three. With [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] playing a high pressure defense where they were constantly looking to force turnovers, Keiwon was able to get out in the open floor to either finish or drop dimes to his teammates constantly throughout the game. He even showcased impressive bounce getting up for an alley-oop dunk against LVL on Saturday morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2750002"],"_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-69f2292028e29"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Byron checked in off the bench in the 8am game for Basketball Paradise and immediately brought another level of energy to the floor. He's always in attack mode, and plays with impressive change of speed on the ball. Able to create separation for a pull-up jumper, or hesitate and then blow by you to get to the rim. Listed at 6'1 but has impressive length that helps him play even bigger than that size. Not afraid to sit deep in a stance where he has good lateral quickness to consistently cut off opposing ball handlers and get over screens on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->