Live Period Preview: 2027 Delaware Guards, part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Scholastic Live Period quickly approaching, it's time for a breakdown of the prospects who will be available for college coaches to see. Here's part one of the 2027 Guards:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2759059' first='Ghazi' last='Abdurrafi'] | 6'2 G 2027 Howard </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abdurrafi's ability to do a little bit of everything on offense and a lot at the point-of-attack on defense was a catalyst for the Wildcats in their championship run. Defense is where he's most consistently effective. With his on-ball agility and size, Abdurrafi can be a thorn in the side of big guards and overwhelm smaller ones. Then he can erase them completely when he's defending off-ball by denying and deflecting passes that come his way. Abdurrafi is a talented glue guy, able to knock down the open three and willing to make the extra pass and crash the boards. He also had some ability to scale up as a scorer with his slashing and shotmaking from the second level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2364703' first='A'zir' last='Ellegood'] | 5'9 G 2027 Sanford </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top returning point guard in the state (and one of the best overall last season), Ellegood keeps defensive players on their heels with how quickly he can get to his spots. The dynamic playmaker likes his mid-range pull-up when teams try to stop him from creating for others. But he won't hesitate to step behind a screen and drill a three or get to two feet in the paint, because he makes a living at the free throw line. Ellegood is no stranger to carrying a heavy usage and still getting after it on defense. Immediately after a bucket, he's bound to rip his man at halfcourt and put two more points on the board. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2867291' first='Jaden' last='Gladney'] | 6'1 G 2027 Hodgson </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An under-the-radar prospect within the state, Gladney is a problem on the second side. He confidently exploits advantages and attacks tilted defenses to get into the lane for floaters or stop-and-pop for jumpers from the mid-range. His touch extends beyond the arc as well. Gladney hits his fair share of threes with the occasional step-back. When he doesn't have the ball, he is tenacious on the boards and guards his yard defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2614928' first='Donovan' last='Griffith'] | 6'0 G 2027 Appoquinimink </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffith is a standout defensive back on the football field, but his effectiveness on the court shows that he's an all-around athlete. Off-the-dribble and off-the-catch, Griffith can get downhill by ramming through defenders or decelerating and maneuvering around them. The moments when he plays with pace are often when he makes plays for others. And when someone kicks the ball out to him off of a missed shot, he can knock down the catch-and-shoot three. Griffith's physicality and contact-balance is equally valuable on defense. He stonewalls offensive players when they try to drive on him and rebounds over wings and forwards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2703278' first='Bryce' last='Jackson'] | 5'11 G 2027 Wilmington Friends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though slight-of-frame, Jackson is a potent defender and a versatile shooter from deep. He plays low to the ground where he can get underneath other ball-handlers, beat them to spots, and maneuver around screens. On offense, Jackson is a modern guard who creates separation for threes off-the-bounce but can also shoot off of movement. He then leverages the threat of his jumper to swiftly get into the lane, where he can setup others to score or finish around the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2565807' first='Michael' last='Jones'] | 6'1 G 2027 St. Elizabeth </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possibly the best shooter in the class, Jones is a threat as soon as he catches the ball. He can spot-up from anywhere and come off screens for a bevy of threes. Running him off of the line doesn't quite work either because he always keeps his eyes up and can get to his spots inside of the arc. But closeouts don't scare him because he's comfortable countering with his step-back. And once Jones gets going, he starts to flourish in other areas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Guards Part 2 (Forthcoming)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Wings (Forthcoming)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Forwards (Forthcoming)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->