The Jump Could Be Coming for These 5A Guards

A lot of players had solid seasons, and we made it a point to get them on our radar. A few we still have to see more from but they still made their marks. That's what makes this group interesting. They've already shown they can play at a high level in 5A, but it feels like there's another gear there. Some are stepping into bigger roles, some are taking over more responsibility, and others are simply in a position to put their name in conversations they weren't part of a year ago. If things break right, this could be the season where these guards stop being good players in their league and start becoming names people across the state know.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and got you covered for the grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     Lozano is a player I personally haven't written about before, but he had himself a season worth mentioning. Lozano was one of the bright spots for Summit as he put up 15.6 points a game as a junior and showed that he could carry the scoring load. He was the scoring option for Summit, who got double-covered at times and still produced and found a way to put the ball in the basket. Lozano can play both on and off-ball, occasionally shoots the 3-ball, and runs the offense the right way. We want to see more of him as an under-the-radar standout who could make some noise this year with some wins. Get him on your radar.     Godspeed is a player who feels like he has been around for quite some time, and this past year, he put his name out there even more as he was one of the focal points for Golden. He put up 14.6 points a game; they put the ball in his hands and trusted him to be able to put up some big scoring games. He was a double-figure machine, shot the 3-ball extremely well as he moves off the ball, and got out in the open court and scored. Godspeed is a player who could be a defensive menace if he locked in on that end of the floor as he plays the passing lanes well and should be on a bit more radars heading into an important Senior season. He's worth following.     Mayle had Northglenn competing in games and showed that he could have some big games that led to victories as well. In his junior year, he put up 13.4 points a game, improved as a 3-point shooter who let that open up his game a bit, and also showcased some efficiency despite seeing so many different looks by teams. Mayle is a 3-level scorer with upside, he plays above his size, and he can create off the dribble. The next step is turning that into easier scoring opportunities as I truly feel that once the game slows down for him, he's going to be able to have even bigger scoring numbers. He's one of the 5A's best scorers, and I expect that to be the same in his Senior season. Just needs to come with some wins.     Lane elevated his game as a junior as that Falcon team won their conference and went 17-7 on the year, and he was one of their leaders. Falcon went on an impressive 14-game winning streak, and they put the ball in his hands and let him operate, and they rode the momentum from there. Lane opened up the floor with his 3-point shot, he hunted shots, and they made sure to ride the hot hand. Still, he remains a bit under the radar, and this is a year where he can change that. We want to continue seeing him being a scoring guard but also being able to dish it off to the open man and push the pace a bit more. There's so much attention on him that being able to get others involved could open up the floor more for him as well. I am curious to see what the next step looks like for him as he certainly should be a player who is on more radars     Whenever I watch Pino, I go back to what he looked like at the Sophomore Showcase. He was decisive, played downhill, and looked tough to keep out of the paint. There were flashes of that throughout the season, but I think there's another level coming. He has a crafty handle, creates separation with ease, and finishes with either hand around the basket. Palmer's backcourt should be more connected this year, and they'll need Pino to be one of the players driving that success by getting teammates involved and finding ways to still get his own. He averaged 8 points a game as a sophomore, and I'm expecting a strong season from him and wouldn't be surprised if he becomes one of the bigger risers in 5A.

A lot of players had solid seasons, and we made it a point to get them on our radar. A few we still have to see more from but they still made their marks. That's what makes this group interesting. They've already shown they can play at a high level in 5A, but it feels like there's another gear there. Some are stepping into bigger roles, some are taking over more responsibility, and others are simply in a position to put their name in conversations they weren't part of a year ago. If things break right, this could be the season where these guards stop being good players in their league and start becoming names people across the state know.