HS Fall Invite: Tuesday’s Standout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ENCINO, Calif. — The High School Fall Invite brought together a strong collection of high school and prep school teams and prospects and Tuesday's action at Crespi high school was loaded with college coaches from all levels. We were in the gym for all six games and below is our break down of the standout guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194390"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468a85"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Barnes assumed the role as primary scorer and playmaker as the Celts took the floor without his twin brother, Isaiah, and Crespi didn't miss a beat. The 6-foot-1 senior showcased his balanced, all-around skill-set and impacted the game on both ends of the floor. Not only is Barnes a glue-type player who defends his position at a high level, rebounds and competes for extra possessions, but he showed increased scoring confidence and embraced that extra responsibility with strong drives and finishes and knocked down open catch-and-shoot threes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2919053"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468ad8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paul continues to unlock more and more layers of his game and late Tuesday night he had his three-point shooting locked in during a tight game against AZ Compass Prep. Paul, a 6-foot-1 point guard known for his table-setting, pace, and basketball IQ, took an aggressive approach to putting the ball in the basket in this game and was efficient on his catch-and-shoot, off-movement and rhythm dribble opportunities from behind-the-arc and connected on those perimeter shots with deep range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2532089"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468b0c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ford blends a strong frame and physical brand of basketball with quickness and burst that makes him tough for defenders to contain and keep in front in transition and half-court offense. The 6-foot-2 junior touched the paint with ease and made high IQ decisions with his passing and scoring opportunities. The Louisiana-native is also a high level perimeter defender whose lateral speed, strength and instincts allow him to pressure, contain and contest shots on closeouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2540166"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468b3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cecil had his complete point guard skill-set on full display Tuesday. The 6-foot-4 prospect out of Utah, by way of Australia, struck a good balance of scoring and playmaking with his off-bounce and catch-and-shoot three-point consistency standing out as his best offensive tool. Cecil played at his own pace and showed impressive court vision which allowed him to create for teammates with high IQ decisions in transition and half-court offense. He used ball screens, changes of speed and direction and his eyes to manipulate defenses and find open shooters or bigs for lob passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2435372"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468b6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nance is one part of a Notre Dame back-court that is among the best in the Western U.S. The 6-foot-5 lefty continues to raise his stock with productive play as a scoring and playmaking guard who can play on or off the ball. Nance had his three-point and mid-range jumper dialed in on Tuesday which he was connecting on both off the catch and off the bounce. The senior's positional size, and continued improvements over the last year, have made him a highly sought after prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mate Khatiashvili","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"SoCal Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468bec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Khatiashvili was among the best passers, creators and playmakers that we saw on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 point guard has a strong international history playing with the Georgian Senior National Team and led his U18 EuroBasket team this summer with 8.1 assists per game. Khatiashvili is clearly a high level signal caller whose combination of ball skills, pace, passing ability and overall feel for the game made it clear he can run a team at the next level. Khatiashvili played a controlled brand of basketball, was rarely sped up and consistently made the right decision with the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2646501"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468c22"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When it comes to next-level readiness, Bowman, Jr. is among the most high major ready guards in the country. The 6-foot-4 UConn commit has the physical and athletic tools to compete at the highest levels of college basketball and his scoring ability is up to par with that, as well. Bowman, Jr. was catching lobs, pulling up for deep threes, finishing through contact at the rim and made timely plays for teammates in transition and out of pick-and-roll situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3531699"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab5af7468c8a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arnold is one of the most under-appreciated sophomore prospects out west and deserves to be on the national radar with his basketball savvy as both a scorer and playmaker. The 5-foot-11 point guard has an elite feel for the game and his ball-on-a-string handle, combined with his vision, pace and scoring and distributing IQ, led to him carving up the opposing defense. Arnold is a consistent paint touch guy who can score with craftiness and touch around the basket and deliver accurate passes to shooters and lob threats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->