’29 Rankings Update: Breakout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We updated our 2029 rankings on Wednesday, adding in over 40 new prospects from Maryland and Washington DC for a total of 145 in the rising sophomore class. This update is often tricky because of the variance in role and minutes for the freshman class across the region as developmental arcs/usage fluctuate frequently in a prospect's inaugural HS season. In this article, we'll break down some of the stock-rising guards that rose the most in this update after a productive few months of play in AAU/scholastic competition in front of college coaches. These are guys outside of the top 40 that I think have a chance to play a larger role with their HS team after a productive season on the AAU circuit. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3103262"],"_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-6a63e9272b143"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Bodiford first popped onto my radar with his AAU team this summer as he showed great passing feel as an offensive engine that plays his role as a play-maker to perfection. Bodiford makes great read both in side ball screens and middle PnR to thread the needle with timely passes to both the rollers and the shake shooters. Love his speed and pace in the open floor as a guard that knows when he needs to put the pedal to the floor and when he needs to wait that extra half beat to allow the play to fully develop before making his move. Bodiford impressed down the stretch run of the summer league playoffs, turning in performances of 15p 6r 4a in the championship game with Bullis and 10p 9a 4r in the semi's vs Takoma. I expect him to carry that momentum into the season as a valuable creator for a GC roster that doesn't have a ton of shot-creating ability off the bounce. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3420313"],"_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-6a63e9272b228"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Robinson has impressed our scouts as a rising sophomore point guard that should fill a bigger role in the Dunbar rotation this season with the graduation of several key pieces. Robinson uses great positional size to score over defenders in transition, sees the floor well in the halfcourt, and can create his own shot effectively off the bounce. Love the patience displayed from the young prospect as a play-maker that understands pace and dribble tempo. Would not be surprised to see him get on an MIP list for DCSAA basketball players this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3539433"],"_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-6a63e9272b2ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Nkafu could shake free in a phone booth and will buoy a Coolidge offense that has churned out the POY in the league for the past 4 seasons. Nkafu navigates tight spaces in the paint without turning the ball over because of the quickness and speed of his downhill drives. Love how quickly and how smoothly he can get into pull-up jumpers off the bounce both with or without a ball screen at the top of the key. Nkafu should continue to thrive in a Colts system that values both physical play and a breakneck speed in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3490606"],"_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-6a63e9272b333"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Brown continues to fly under the radar despite performing at a consistent two-way level as a starter for Glen Burnie. Brown showed the ability to weave through traffic to score with some flair at the rim because of an advanced understanding of how to hit angles in the defense-- similar to a running back explosively hitting the hole. Loved his burst with the ball in his hands but the skill level in his footwork to maneuver around the defense to use a series of pivot moves to stick floaters and turn-around jumpers in the key. Our scouts also came away impressed with the flashes of vision as a passer in the halfcourt that does a great job of drawing two and creating for his teammates. As several of the best guards in the county move onto join the collegiate ranks, Brown will be that much more valuable as a prospect that is already productive that also has 3 full seasons left to develop his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3291041"],"_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-6a63e9272b3b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Aidan Able meant the world to John Carroll as a 4-year starter that leaves the program to head to UMBC as the all-time leading scorer at JC. But I think he is leaving the program in good hands with White and backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id='3291039' first='Daniel' last='Brown']. White impressed this offseason as a player that can ostensibly play the 1-3 as an unselfish slasher that power his way to the rim, rebound the basketball at both ends, and provide some defensive versatility. His work ethic and leadership being this advanced at this stage of his development spells some nice long-term upside as a versatile wing that can do it all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->