CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown: Standout guard transfers (Part 1)

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 transfer guards who stood out for their new teams.    Highland's 4-0 weekend was one of the main storylines coming out of the event and there wasn't a greater driving force behind the undefeated showing than the dynamic play of Hunter in the backcourt. Finishing his career at Highland after spending last year at Hargrave Military Academy, Hunter was up to his usual tricks while showcasing his blazing speed and shifty ball skills on his way to touching the paint seemingly whenever he wanted. Things look to be slowing down for him as a decisionmaker, continuing a trend that started over the summer. Most notably, Hunter is turning over a new leaf as a perimeter threat, hunting jumpers with a purpose both off the catch and in the pullup game. There aren't many more dynamic downhill threats in the country, presenting Hunter with some high-level upside outcomes if he can continue rounding out the finer points of his game.     Saran has shown flashes intermittently throughout his years at Western Reserve Academy (OH) but was one of the weekend's biggest eye-openers while stepping into a prominent role as a senior for Blue Ridge. Finishing up his high school career in Virginia with his brother transferring to Richmond as the Spiders' starting point guard, Saran stood out with the same type of crafty vision and passing flair that earned his brother a spot in the high-major ranks. He brings good size to the backcourt with a poised handle and smooth pace while initiating offense, also showing the ability to slide off-ball as a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat from the perimeter. He'll have to show he can consistently keep quicker guards in front of him on the other end, but Saran looked the part of a guard who could burst onto D1 radars with his size, skill, and playmaking feel.     Hargrave's high school program looks fully revamped heading into its first year competing nationally on the Grind Session circuit, with perhaps nobody in the lineup possessing the level of talent and upside that Terry brings to the table. A native of North Carolina who spent last year at Souther Durham, the repeat junior brings an eye-catching blend of size, athleticism, and ball skills. He was a consistent problem for defenders to handle as a downhill slasher, touching the paint consistently whether attacking from the wing or initiating offense as a jumbo lead guard. Terry flashed some feel as a passer when cut off on his drives and looked to be at least enough of a threat from the perimeter to keep defenders honest. Already with D1 recruitment as part of the 2027 class, he could be in line to elevate his stock even higher with an extra year of development.     S3 Academy looked impressively cohesive on Sunday for a largely new-look lineup and that included the dynamic play of Mickleberry in the backcourt. The repeat junior from Glen Allen brings great size to either guard spot with an impressive ability to beat his defender to spots off the bounce off a live dribble without needing a ball screen, using his slithery quickness and deceptive pace as a ballhandler. Mickleberry struggled to finish at times but showed smooth footwork and fluid athleticism while navigating bodies in the paint. On the other end, his size and wiry strength give him a versatile profile with the ability to switch across the perimeter. We'd like to see him stretch defenses more consistently as a jump shooter but Mickleberry's size and ability to generate paint touches from the point of attack should put him onto D1 radars over the next year.     Jackson-Reed impressed as a tough-nosed unit in a hard-fought OT loss to Hargrave's Grind Session team, and nobody embodied that spirit to the extent of Bryant. A big, physical utility guard, the Mt. Zion (MD) transfer played with constant aggression while showcasing a bruising downhill game with impressive polish and quickness for his build. Bryant was tough to stop getting to his bread and butter but also showed the ability to keep things honest as a reliable shooter from the perimeter with his feet set. Bryant will be among a core of seniors leading the way for the Tigers this season and could be a candidate to play onto scholarship-level radars over the course of the winter.

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 transfer guards who stood out for their new teams.