UA S1 Scouting Notebook: MD/DC 16U Guards

The UA Association had their first session of circuit play this weekend in Kansas City. Over the course of the next few days, I'll break down some of the MD/DC prospects from <a href="https://prephoops.com/program/team-thrill/"> </a><a href="https://prephoops.com/program/team-thrill/">[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/program/dc-premier-2/"> </a><a href="https://prephoops.com/program/dc-premier-2/">[program_tooltip program_id='2078456' first='DC' last='Premier']</a> as I move on to the guards at the 16U level.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/uaa-s1-scouting-notebook-md-dc-17s-guards/">For the 17U guards, click here.</a>   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/uaa-s1-scouting-notebook-md-dc-17s-wings-bigs/">For the 17U wings/bigs, click here.</a>    Tarawally's breakout weekend concluded with arguably the most impressive performance of the weekend circuit-wide as the 6-foot-4 power guard went for 41 points on a scorching 15-of-18 from the field. Simply put, Tarawally had his way all weekend long helping Premier to a 3-1 showing in Kansas City. As he showed throughout his sophomore campaign at Gwynn Park, Tarawally is a bully getting downhill and can force his way to the rim with physicality, but can also tap into more of a finesse approach where he uses euros, step-throughs, etc. to avoid rotating defenders before finishing around the cup with either hand. The most pleasing part of the weekend viewing for me was his efficiency from outside. Because of his physical traits, Tarawally has always been a downhill force, but there's clear evidence the touch on his jumper has improved significantly with his share of triples over the three days in the Midwest. On the weekend, Tarawally averaged an alarming 26.5 points per game.     Another showing of the top-ranked 2029 MD/DC prospect backing his status as Costley was a key ingredient in Thrill leaving with an unscathed, 4-0 record in S1. His biggest bucket came in the final game when he cut backdoor for a layup at the buzzer to escape an early morning Sunday matchup against NJ ShoreShots. He showcased his prolific outside shooting ability with a super quick trigger in transition fading to the wings as the ball handler crossed half court or coming off pin downs in the half court with sound, compact footwork to get into his release. Costley is much more than just a sniper. He made quick reads with the ball as a distributor as this Thrill team has multiple guys with great instincts as off-ball cutters. He's showing better processing speeds on the catch with how much gravity he demands from the defense on any catch from beyond the arc.     What we hoped Woodard would be for this Thrill group was exactly the case this weekend as the southpaw guard/wing that is tough, rugged and can make things happen without the ball. You instantly notice the impact that he makes coming off the bench and it's a huge piece for head coach Nardie Bogues to throw him on the other team's best perimeter player and put them on lock. He was disruptive in passing lanes, prideful on the defensive glass and really made an impression in transition as a lob threat. If he wasn't catching and finishing in mid-air, Woodard was streaking the lanes wide where he beat his man to the cup and finished above the rim with two hands on a handful of opportunities.     Jones is a nice complement to Tarawally in the Premier backcourt thanks to his floor-spacing ability. Jones can tee it off from well beyond the arc with a high-arching release that, when it goes in, barely seems to touch the net. He can play on the ball and get the offense initiated in the half court or play off the ball as a guy who's coming off pin downs, elevators, etc. He's a heady defender who plays with active hands, but a disciplined aggression that puts pressure on the opposing ball handler.     I liked the way Williams orchestrated the offense as the floor general. The 6-foot-3 southpaw guard came into high school and played strictly a catch-and-shoot role for a senior laden Mt. Carmel group and over the last year has really carved out a role for himself with the Cougars as a dependable defender from the point of attack. Offensively, his game and confidence has grown with develop functional athleticism to make him more of a threat not only for straight-line drive finishes around the rim, but also above it with some authority. It's always tough making the transition from a scoring guard to more of a table-setter, but it's been a smooth one thus far for Williams as he can still tap into his bucket-getting ways when needed.

The UA Association had their first session of circuit play this weekend in Kansas City. Over the course of the next few days, I'll break down some of the MD/DC prospects from Team Thrill and DC Premier as I move on to the guards at the 16U level.