Guards Who Showed Flashes at the Freshman Showcase

The Freshman Showcase gave guards a chance to get out, compete, and show what they can do against players they may not normally see. At this age, I'm not expecting a finished product. I'm watching for flashes, defensive effort, and stretches of controlling the offense. These guards each had moments that caught my attention and gave me something to remember as we get ready to see how they develop throughout their freshman seasons.    Maxon caught my attention first on the defensive end, and that is something you don't see too much of at showcases, but that's where this was different. He stayed active without gambling on every play, hunted loose balls, and turned his defensive pressure into opportunities going the other way. I liked his technique closing out on shooters, especially how he stayed under control with his feet instead of flying past the play and being ready to move when they went to counter. He got his hands on passes, forced some uncomfortable possessions, and immediately looked to push after turnovers. There is a pesky element to his game defensively that could become a real calling card and he turned that into being a guy who got the offense flowing as well. The ball was not sticky with him, and he was moving and running the show. That translates.     McVeigh showed some legitimate range and accuracy from behind the arc, but I liked that he didn't spend the entire day hunting his own shot. He played with patience at the point position, moved the ball, and generally took what the defense gave him. There wasn't a lot of unnecessary dribbling or trying to manufacture something that wasn't there. When he had space, McVeigh was comfortable letting it go from deep. The combination of shooting and willingness to make the simple read gives him a good foundation to build from, and he's a player I believe we hear from on varsity, if not this year, then next.     Gibbs was a different kind of guard as he looked to get downhill in a hurry, and when defenders tried to slow him down, the physicality showed up. Once he got a shoulder past his defender, he was comfortable absorbing contact and had multiple finishes where he turned the drive into an and-one opportunity. I also liked the flashes he showed playing without the ball, as he was relocating into the open area and giving himself opportunities as a shooter. The next step is staying assertive. When Gibbs was aggressive and putting pressure on the defense, he looked like a different player, and we want to see that all the time.     Busch was one of the smaller guards on the floor, but he played with confidence and wasn't afraid to make himself part of the action. His shooting stood out early, and as the day progressed, there was more playmaking than I initially expected. He handled some of the responsibility of organizing the offense, got teammates into movements in a free-flowing offense, and showed he could create beyond simply looking for open jumpers. He took a few teams by surprise in 5-on-5 and built chemistry with teammates fast. There is still plenty of physical development ahead, but the confidence and understanding of how to run the guard spot were encouraging. Solid guard prospects who does the little things, and he had some of the best passes on the day. There's something there with Trey that excites me long term. I believe he'll be one of the most intriguing guards in the state by senior year.     Barron gave a good glimpse of what he can provide as the floor general. He got the ball in his hands and made plays, kept his eyes up, and did a nice job recognizing cutters instead of becoming locked onto his first option. As he settled into the dat he also became more comfortable looking for his own opportunities and started getting finishes around the basket. That balance was encouraging for him as the day progressed. Barron didn't need to dominate the basketball to make his mark, and he knew when to facilitate or make a play for himself.     Washington is a name I did not know who flashed some scoring versatility from the guard spot. He knocked down the three when defenders gave him room, but he wasn't completely dependent on getting looks from behind the arc. He also found openings in the mid-range and showed he could get himself into a comfortable pull-up. What added to his day was his communication. Washington directed teammates and wasn't afraid to talk through plays, giving him a little more presence on the floor than just his scoring. The shot-making is worth tracking as his overall guard game continues to develop but he will certainly develop over at Rock Canyon. Curious to see what he looks like by the end of the year, but he made the move to get out and compete and show what he has.

The Freshman Showcase gave guards a chance to get out, compete, and show what they can do against players they may not normally see. At this age, I'm not expecting a finished product. I'm watching for flashes, defensive effort, and stretches of controlling the offense. These guards each had moments that caught my attention and gave me something to remember as we get ready to see how they develop throughout their freshman seasons.