Freshman Showcase: What 2030 Guards Put Themselves on Map?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Freshman Showcase is consistently an event where we see players for the first time as a staff and get our initial impressions of them as a player.&nbsp; We get a baseline for who they are now as a player physically, skill wise, and what they could become.&nbsp; Here is a look at the point guards who emerged at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2674535' first='Abdur' last='Falaq'] (Joliet West)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Falaq is a lead guard from Joliet West with a wiry frame.&nbsp; The incoming freshman can handle it, but also play some off the ball.&nbsp; Knocks down shots as a spot up shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3728979' first='Tommy' last='Garakat'] (Glenbard South)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garakat is a 5'10” guard that brings explosive athleticism on straight line takes.&nbsp; Was impressed with how well he finished with either hand at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2837399' first='Holden' last='Wagner'] (Buffalo Grove)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wagner goes 5'11” with an excellent passing game.&nbsp; True PG that gets others involved and as a scorer was most impactful getting loose in transition for scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3587428' first='Jamir' last='Wesley'] (Normal U-High)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wesley is a central Illinois floor general at 5'10” that has a lanky frame which suggests he should continue to grow.&nbsp; Slick ball handler in both the half court and transition.&nbsp; Scrappy rebounder and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2565808' first='Jackson' last='Spencer'] (Oswego)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oswego 5'9” point guard that was a major factor on the defensive end, used his strength to finish through contact in the paint, and was a capable three point shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2789305' first='Nathaniel' last='Merriweather'] (Oswego East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'9” the Oswego Est guard presents a rangy frame and plays with a ton of energy.&nbsp; Was at his best pushing in transition for scores playing off his speed and acrobatic finishing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3601438' first='Andrew' last='Thiel'] (Plainfield North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10” point guard from Plainfield North has shake with the rock in his hands dancing by his defender for acrobatic layups in the paint.&nbsp; Also was a scrappy defender pushing off steals.</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>Martin goes 5'8” from DePaul Prep.&nbsp; He has legit range on his shot and solid athleticism.&nbsp; Could be a name to watch for the Rams down the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2780958' first='Dylan' last='Rader'] (2032)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rader is just a 7^th grader, but he more than held his own against players two years older than him.&nbsp; Small guard that has legit range as a shooter as he poured them in off the catch, step back, and pull ups.&nbsp; Mixed in a soft touch floater game and dishes the rock with flair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796867' first='Jacob' last='Pharthong'] (Taft)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10” point guard from Taft does a lot of little things well.&nbsp; Cuts off the ball, scrappy, and has a sweet soft touch finishing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3721786' first='Ronald' last='Rhone III'] (De La Salle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 5'10” point guard from De La Salle.&nbsp; Rhone had a strong showing at the camp playing on the ball as a pull up jump shooter with projection to his game.&nbsp; Can push in the open floor and has some passing instincts to his game.&nbsp; Slick ball handler getting downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3341041' first='Jayden' last='Cooper'] (Urbana)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Urbana 5'11” point guard brings a powerful frame and relentless motor.&nbsp; Cuts off the ball and makes things happen constantly with a nose for the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3723686' first='Ethan' last='Malone'] (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malone is another young prospect to track for Iggy.&nbsp; He guard was adept at playing off his speed in the open floor splitting the defense along with converting around defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3590106' first='Ethan' last='Owens'] (Mt. Carmel)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owens is a guard to track in the future for the Caravan.&nbsp; At 5'10” the point guard has smooth handles, makes nice reads as a passer especially in the pick/roll, and can create space for his shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2365905' first='Teegan' last='Klemencic'] (Huntley)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'6” Huntley guard is a lefty that knocked down some threes throughout the camp along with showing nice passing instincts at a young age.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->