CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown: Standout 2029 guards

Commonwealth Basketball Group hosted its annual JUCO/Prep showdown this past weekend, bringing in some of the best junior college, prep school, and high school programs both from Virginia and across the East Coast and Midwest. After taking in the entire weekend of action, we came away with a handful of 2029 guards who stood out with their impressive play.    TES didn't come out with a win against an older and bigger Mt. Zion Prep (MD) team but Winiarski nonetheless put on a show in as prolific an individual performance as we saw all weekend. The sophomore guard poured in 22 first half points on his way to 30+ for the game, keeping the Titans in striking distance throughout. Winiarski shoots as pure a ball as any you'll find, pouring in jumpers from all over the floor with textbook mechanics off the catch and pull. He's not a speed demon but is exceedingly smart and skilled with the ball, navigating to spots with a penchant for playing through contact around the rim. Winiarski's foot speed may be a question mark at the highest levels but his skill level, savvy, and toughness making him one of the state's more promising guard prospects.     Smith built up some considerable buzz this summer with Team CP3 on the EYBL platform and backed up the hype with a dynamic performance in a win over Lake Taylor. The sophomore controlled the game throughout with the ball in his hands, mostly getting where he wanted on the floor while striking a smooth balance between scoring and facilitating. He's able to get exceptionally low to out-leverage his defender and turn the corner, showing mature pace and an advanced ability to use bumps for his size and age. He shows promising instincts on the defensive end, helping get the Saints out into transition going back the other way. We'd like to see Smith grow into a more vocal leader as he gets older but his ability to command a game from a skill standpoint is second to none in the class.     We caught Evans in May hitting a game-winner for [program_tooltip program_id='2226248' first='Boo' last='Williams'] in an EYBL game and the sophomore continued to impress with his smooth attack on Saturday afternoon. He looks to have added an inch or two to his frame with still further length to grow into, nice speed in the open floor, and evolving athleticism at the rim. Evans impressed with a slick handle and polished footwork in the lane, showing an advanced sense for utilizing contact and manipulating space to find windows to finish inside. There were stretches of the game where he fell into the background to an extent but the flashes he showed off the dribble were as eye-catching as any guard we saw all weekend.     One of the more intriguing under-the-radar transfers in the state, Robinson made his debut with STAB after coming over from Trinity Episcopal for his sophomore year. A jumbo guard who can play on or off the ball, he impressed most while displaying his advanced pace and court vision as a jumbo ballhandler. Robinson was repeatedly able to manipulate defenders with his eyes and use his size to make reads over the top. He also shot the ball with confidence and routinely found his way to the foul line while showing an ability to initiate contact effectively as a driver. The finished product for Robinson may still be a ways away but the upside could be as high as any guard in the class if everything comes together for him when all is said and done.     One of the lesser-heralded members of a deep and talented sophomore class at Miller, Jenkins showed plenty of reason for long-term optimism with his energetic two-way play off the bench. Strikingly long, slender, and light on his feet, Jenkins is a smooth guard who brought consistent activity to both ends of the floor. A repeat sophomore via Evergreen Christian, he was active on the margins while also showing off a smooth shooting stroke and nice body control as a finisher at the rim. Currently unranked in the sophomore class, Jenkins looks like a strong breakout candidate heading into the season with clear scholarship-level potential down the line.     Shining Star Academy put together a nice team-wide effort on Sunday against St. James and while its upperclassmen did the bulk of the heavy lifting, Newton flashed some intriguing two-way ability in support as the only sophomore in the rotation. The young guard brought a scrappy presence to both ends of the floor, standing out particularly as a dogged on-ball defender who could really bother opposing guards. He was effective as a shotmaker offensively and looked to possess some punch off the bounce despite not being needed to show too much of his arsenal. Newton still looks like a baby and could have some promising long-term upside if he tacks on to his frame at all in the years to come.     Harper may not be called on as a major scorer this season but showed plenty of reason for long-term intrigue as he develops at a perennial power in Lake Taylor. He aces the immediate eye test with a wildly long, lanky frame and prototypical positional size while still being in the earliest stages of his physical development. His role for the Titans is largely in the 3-and-D vein right now and Harper shows both promising shooting potential and consistent activity on the defensive end of the floor. It'll be intriguing to see how he can add strength to his frame and develop as a playmaker in the years to come, with Harper having the raw outlines to blossom into a D1 prospect over time.

Commonwealth Basketball Group hosted its annual JUCO/Prep showdown this past weekend, bringing in some of the best junior college, prep school, and high school programs both from Virginia and across the East Coast and Midwest. After taking in the entire weekend of action, we came away with a handful of 2029 guards who stood out with their impressive play.

Kane Winiarski

VA #11

PG #3

HEIGHT 6'2"

POS PG

CLASS 2029

View Player

Kane Winiarski

State: Virginia

School: Trinity Episcopal

Club: Team Loaded VA

TES didn't come out with a win against an older and bigger Mt. Zion Prep (MD) team but Winiarski nonetheless put on a show in as prolific an individual performance as we saw all weekend. The sophomore guard poured in 22 first half points on his way to 30+ for the game, keeping the Titans in striking distance throughout. Winiarski shoots as pure a ball as any you'll find, pouring in jumpers from all over the floor with textbook mechanics off the catch and pull. He's not a speed demon but is exceedingly smart and skilled with the ball, navigating to spots with a penchant for playing through contact around the rim. Winiarski's foot speed may be a question mark at the highest levels but his skill level, savvy, and toughness making him one of the state's more promising guard prospects.