Guards Who Made Impression at Freshman Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Freshman Camp provided an excellent look at several young guards who stood out with their scoring ability, playmaking, defensive intensity, and overall feel for the game. From shot-makers to lead guards and two-way contributors, this group showed plenty of intriguing tools to track moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3715036' first='Xavier' last='Young'] | Mt. Zion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3715036' first='Xavier' last='Young'] is a confident scoring guard who showed a willingness to let it fly throughout the camp. He has a solid handle and can comfortably operate with the ball in his hands. Young does a good job getting downhill on straight-line drives and putting pressure on the defense. He knocked down multiple threes off the bounce, displaying the ability to create his own perimeter looks rather than relying solely on catch-and-shoot opportunities. His combination of confidence, ball skills, and shot-making gives him an intriguing foundation as a young guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3583728' first='Logan' last='Martin'] | DePaul Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5-foot-10, [player_tooltip player_id='3583728' first='Logan' last='Martin'] brings a strong shooting element to the backcourt. He is a reliable catch-and-shoot threat with legitimate range and showed excellent shot selection throughout the game. Martin consistently played within the flow of the offense and did not force opportunities. His biggest impact may have come on the defensive end, where he competed with a high motor and picked up full court for extended stretches. His willingness to pressure the ball and make opponents work gives him the makings of a quality two-way guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3702374' first='Robert' last='Smith Jr']. | Marist</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3702374' first='Robert' last='Smith Jr']. was one of the more complete guards on the floor, consistently making winning plays without needing to dominate the ball. He is a long, highly skilled guard who can serve as a connector while still providing scoring punch when needed. Smith has an advanced feel for the game and understands how to manipulate defenses to get to his spots. His positional size and length allow him to create advantages on both ends of the floor, while his savvy makes him difficult to speed up. He also brings a tenacious defensive presence and consistently makes the players around him better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3732392' first='Zion' last='Thomas'] | Dyett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-1, [player_tooltip player_id='3732392' first='Zion' last='Thomas'] has the size and versatility to create problems in the backcourt. He showed the ability to score from all three levels, giving defenses little room to take away any one area of his offensive game. Thomas can attack off the bounce, make plays in the mid-range, and knock down perimeter shots when given opportunities. Defensively, he competes well for his size and has the versatility to switch onto multiple positions. His two-way skill set makes him an intriguing guard to continue tracking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2344767' first='Tobi' last='Farley'] | Mt. Carmel | 2030</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2344767' first='Tobi' last='Farley'] is a shifty 5-foot-10 scoring guard who consistently found ways to put pressure on the defense. He showed the ability to score at all three levels, making him difficult to contain when he gets into an offensive rhythm. Farley has a crafty handle and does a good job changing direction and pace to create driving lanes. He also possesses sneaky athleticism for a smaller guard, allowing him to finish plays around the basket with more explosiveness than expected. His scoring instincts and ability to create off the bounce stood out throughout the camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2943104' first='Elijah' last='Mckinnie'] | Kenwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elijah McKinney is a scoring guard who plays with an advanced understanding of the game. He does a particularly good job getting to his spots and rarely appears rushed when operating in the half court. McKinney uses his body control effectively when attacking the basket, allowing him to absorb contact and finish through defenders. His ability to understand angles and manipulate his defender gives him an advantage as a downhill scorer. The combination of feel, physicality, and scoring instincts makes McKinney an intriguing young guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DaKarai Simmons | St. Laurence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-1 with a strong frame, Simmons brings a physical presence to the backcourt. He puts significant pressure on defenses by attacking downhill and looking to finish through contact. Simmons is comfortable initiating contact and using his strength to get his shot off around the basket. He also showed quality ball-handling ability and the passing instincts to operate as a combo guard. His ability to score, facilitate, and consistently pressure the paint gives him a versatile offensive package.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2906394' first='DJ' last='Moore'] | Marist</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2906394' first='DJ' last='Moore'] was one of the more dynamic scoring threats in the group, showing a strong combination of size, length, and explosiveness at 6-foot-2. He can beat defenders off the dribble or punish them with his perimeter shooting. Moore was particularly dangerous when attacking off the bounce, using his burst to get downhill and create scoring opportunities. He also showed a strong nose for the basketball on the glass and competed for rebounds outside of his area. His pull-up jumper adds another layer to an offensive arsenal that already features impressive slashing ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ronald Rhone | De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ronald Rhone brought plenty of energy and toughness to the backcourt throughout the camp. At 5-foot-10, he plays with a tenacious defensive mindset and consistently found ways to make an impact despite his size. Rhone has a jittery handle that allows him to attack defenders from different angles and create driving opportunities. He also shot the ball with confidence when defenders went under screens or gave him space. His ability to control the pace of the game while staying aggressive gives him an intriguing foundation as a lead guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2385688' first='Stan' last='Strong Jr']. | Dyett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2385688' first='Stan' last='Strong Jr']. showed the qualities of a true floor general throughout the camp. While he did not need to score in bunches, Strong consistently made the correct reads and created opportunities for teammates with the ball in his hands. His ability to get to his spots and force defenders to react opened up space for others around him. Strong was especially dynamic in one-on-one situations and in the open floor, repeatedly splitting defenses and turning the corner for acrobatic finishes. He has an advanced feel for finishing around the basket, particularly against taller defenders and through contact, making him a highly intriguing young playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3691702' first='William' last='Heisler'] | Lockport</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3691702' first='William' last='Heisler'] is a competitive 6-foot-1 guard who impacts the game in multiple areas. He plays with a relentless motor and seems to consistently find himself around the ball, whether making a play offensively or disrupting the opponent defensively. Heisler did an excellent job getting his hands into passing lanes and ball-handler pockets, creating tie-ups that quickly turned into transition opportunities. He also showed good timing as a shot blocker and displayed offensive creativity with a smooth crossover and finger-roll finish. His two-way mentality and willingness to compete on every possession make him a guard worth monitoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2846705' first='Rashad' last='Thomas'] | St. Laurence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2846705' first='Rashad' last='Thomas'] is a slick scoring guard who can create offense both with the ball in his hands and while moving without it. He has a smooth handle and is capable of getting downhill, but his perimeter shooting was especially impressive during the camp. Thomas is a volume shooter from behind the arc who consistently keeps his hands and feet ready on the catch. His release is textbook, allowing him to get shots off without needing much time. He knocked down multiple threes during game play and showed the type of shot-making ability that can stretch a defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3724798' first='Davon' last='Steen'] | 2031</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3724798' first='Davon' last='Steen'], an eighth grader competing up at the Prep Hoops Freshman Camp, showed plenty of confidence against older competition. The left-handed guard is a terrific shooter who can impact the game both on and off the ball. Steen also displayed strong passing ability and an advanced basketball IQ, consistently looking to involve teammates rather than simply hunting his own shot. He played with excellent pace and was comfortable using his speed in the open floor to create advantages. His competitive approach on defense, combined with his ability to handle the ball, shoot, and facilitate, made Steen one of the younger players who clearly belonged in the environment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->