Six San Antonio and Austin Guards Set Up for Big Seasons

A guard can score 20 and still play a bad game. That part tends to disappear when the highlights go up. I am looking for the player who controls possessions, defends when he is tired and makes the right read when the gym gets loud. These six 2027 guards from San Antonio and Austin have tools that can help teams win. Each also has something left to prove. That is the evaluation. Not the advertisement.    Jones can score, create and control pace without looking rushed. That matters. Harlan does not need him hunting a difficult shot every tr. It needs him doing what he does best, leading and reading the floor. Forcing the defense to commit and making the next pass. The talent is already there, he has proven himself to be a sought after prospect. A big season means leading every possession, including the quiet ones.     Baskin has strength, quickness and the skill to get where he wants with the ball. He averaged 14 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season, so the production is not imaginary. Now comes the growth he demonstrated in summer development. Baskin now controls the game when the first move does not work a counter and the simple pass The scoring will get attention. The demonstrated decision making will determine how much Bowie wins.     Martin is 6 foot 7 with legitimate guard skill. He shoots it, attacks closeouts, rebounds and can start the break himself. That combination creates problems before the defense even reacts, He is already committed to Louisiana Tech. This season is about command. Size. Versatility. Defends multiple spots. Doesn't need the ball to impact winning. He makes Westlake better—many nights he will be the best player on the court.     Jinkal sees plays early and usually makes the game easier for teammates. He spaces the floor, moves the ball and understands where to find the next opening. He consistently makes the correct basketball play and rarely forces the issue. Technically, he is very skilled, good feel and an understanding of how to play within the flow of the offense. Defensively, he uses his wingspan and high basketball IQ to fill passing lanes, create deflections and turn anticipation into steals. He impacts possessions without needing to dominate the ball     Springer gave me something I trust: on-ball defense. He applied physical pressure, absorbed contact and got right back into his stance without donating cheap fouls. That is guard play that travels. He also knocked down a contested three. If he organizes the offense and keeps setting the defensive tone, George Gervin Academy will have a point guard it can trust.     Let us get the position right first. Brewer is a guard-wing, not a traditional lead guard. What he does bring is proven perimeter scoring, size and rebounding. He averaged 23 points and seven rebounds through the opening eight games last season and scored 21 in a win over Westlake. The numbers are loud enough. The next evaluation was quieter: defense, decisions and impacted the game when the shot wasn't falling. That tells me he is not only a scorer but a complete winning player.

A guard can score 20 and still play a bad game. That part tends to disappear when the highlights go up. I am looking for the player who controls possessions, defends when he is tired and makes the right read when the gym gets loud. These six 2027 guards from San Antonio and Austin have tools that can help teams win. Each also has something left to prove. That is the evaluation. Not the advertisement.