5 WPIAL Guards Who Could Average 20+ This Season

Keep an eye on these five WPIAL guards this season. All of them can score in bunches!    [player_tooltip player_id='2990313' first='Noah' last='Koupiaris'] is a nightmare matchups for opposing defenses. At 6'3 with a ton of athleticism, it is really tough to guard him. After losing much of last season to injury, Koupiaris enters his senior year healthy and ready for a fresh start at Peters Township. He has legit range from beyond the arc and has no problem knocking down contested jumpers. And it is that shooting that opens everything else up. Koupiaris has the handle, first step, and athleticism to beat defenders who crowd him, and he doesn't shy away from contact once he reaches the paint. However, it is the midrange game that really sets Koupiaris apart. His court vision is one of the better parts of his game and is willing to give the ball up when the defense sends extra attention. In transition, Koupiaris runs well and has the athletic ability to finish. The situation at Peters Township makes this season particularly intriguing. Koupiaris arrives as a senior after the Indians graduated multiple backcourt pieces. That gives him a huge opportunity for him to make his mark. His team-first mentality has consistently stood out. He is willing to make the extra pass and do whatever gives his team the best chance to win.     EJ Golvash averaged 16 points per game as a junior while sharing the floor with an experienced backcourt, earned First Team All-Section honors, and followed it with a strong summer with Caveman AAU. He can make shots from all over the court, either off the catch or create them off the dribble. Defenses have to know exactly where he is. Give him daylight and he will punish you from three. He has the handle to create his own offense. Golvash is comfortable using screens off the dribble and once he turns the corner, he gets downhill quickly. Once he gets into the paint, he is crafty and finds ways to score in multiple ways. Golvash thrives when the game opens up in transition. He was awarded First Team All-Section as a junior, averaging more than 16 points per game. He then carried that momentum into the summer, where his play earned more recognition and continued to establish him as one of the guards to follow in Western Pennsylvania. Baldwin lost several experienced senior guards from last year, so this will put more on Golvash's shoulders.      [player_tooltip player_id='3424443' first='Jack' last='Stoessel'] is about to take on the role of lead guard at Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The 6'1 Central Catholic point guard spent his junior year surrounded by an experienced senior group, yet still earned First Team All-Section recognition. He also led the Vikings in assists last season. This year, Stoessel will be put into more of a scoring role. He is crafty once he gets into the lane and finds ways to get his shot off in multiple ways. He is also comfortable stopping short and knocking down a floater or quick pull up jumper. Stoessel has one of the best shot fakes I've seen, and he uses it to get by the first defender. At that point, his entire game opens up.  He gives 100% on every play and understands the game. [player_tooltip player_id='3424443' first='Jack' last='Stoessel'] will be the leader of this year's Vikings squad, and that is one of the reasons I see them as a WPIAL Class 6A favorite.     [player_tooltip player_id='3191462' first='Smaj' last='Reason'] will be the primary offensive weapon at South Allegheny this season. And this kid can really score in bunches. He has really good range and plays with plenty of confidence. Once he knocks down a few from deep, his entire game opens up and Reason becomes a real problem for opposing defenses. He has a great first step, and once he gets beyond the initial defender, he draws a lot of fouls from the helpside and scores a bunch from the free throw line. One of the things I like most about Reason's game is that he doesn't force shots. All his scoring comes from what the defense allows. He also plays with the kind of aggression needed from a featured scorer. He doesn't shy away from physicality. I really like Reason in the transition game. He has the quickness to get ahead of a retreating defense, and his willingness to attack contact makes him dangerous when the floor opens up.     There are guards that change the game simply because of how hard they compete. [player_tooltip player_id='2773580' first='Gary' last='Tarbuk'] is that type of guard. He has already played significant varsity basketball, and his résumé contains some big time performances. Tarbuk is one of the best shooters in the WPIAL, and it is one of the things he has done well since he started playing varsity as a freshman. But over the years, he has become much more than just a shooter. He loves getting downhill in the transition game and attacks openings in the half court office when he gets a chance. When a game becomes physical or emotional, Tarbuk leans further into the competition and never backs down.There is a spark-plug quality to Tarbuk, and when combined with his basketball IQ, he is a player that any coach at the DIII level would love to have on their team. Tarbuk has the traits that are difficult to coach. He is confident, he competes, and he doesn't shy away from physical play.

Keep an eye on these five WPIAL guards this season. All of them can score in bunches!