2023 Watch List Breakdown: Guards (Part 2)

<p>We will take an in depth look at the guys we included in the 2023 watch list and why we included them. We will continue by taking a look at part two of the guards list, looking at seven guys we think you should keep an eye on moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999630" first="Robbie" last="Matos"] | 5’9” PG | Virginia Episcopal</strong></p> <p>Matos played a big role for a young VES squad that had their ups and downs but he showed great potential moving forward as a two way guard that can excel in transition and set the tone on both ends. He’s an extremely quick and fast kid end-to-end, he’s able to attack gaps and get in the paint at will and he has a toughness you have to love. As he continues to hone his craft and playmaking abilities he’s going to be someone that’s very tough to match up with.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999633" first="Ryan" last="Hite"] | 6’0” PG | King’s Fork</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Hite-Ryan.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1008197" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Hite-Ryan-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Hite is a guy who played as a freshman on one of the most talented teams in the state, and while he didn’t get a ton of opportunities to show what he can do he did show flashes of his potential moving forward. He’s a lead guard who’s very smart for his age, he has a good skill set on the offensive end and he has a mix of craftiness and athleticism that bolds well moving forward. He can shoot it, makes others better and is a competitor on both ends as well, and while he didn’t get a chance to show it with such a talented team he can really score the rock with the ball in his hands.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999637" first="John" last="Awoke"] | 6’2” PG | Annandale</strong></p> <p>It’s been a while since Annandale has had a player of Awoke’s status, as the young guard earned First Team All Conference honors as a freshman this past year. While it’s still early to say, it seems like Awoke has a chance to be a very good prospect with his size, skill set and athleticism at the lead guard position. He’s a guy who doesn’t need a ball screen to create as he’s able to create space off the bounce to get his shot off, he’s a true three level scorer off the bounce and he’s a good defender both on and off the ball.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999641" first="Jayden" last="Ross"] | 6’1” CG | Osbourn Park</strong></p> <p>Ross played a solid roll off the bench for Osbourn Park this year as he was behind District POTY and incoming VSU freshman [player_tooltip player_id="793129" first="Ethan" last="Wilson"], but he’ll have more opportunities to show what he can do moving forward. The 6’1” guard is a guy who can play on and off the basketball, he shoots it well from deep and can get downhill and get the rim as well. He has a ways to go as a true point guard but he showed good confidence as a freshman and has a lot of room to get better moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999644" first="Stark" last="Jones"] | 6’2” CG | Roanoke Catholic</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Jones-Stark-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1008198" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Jones-Stark-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Jones showed some real potential this year as a sixth man for a young Roanoke Catholic team that should be good in the next few years. He’s a guard with good size that can play on and off the basketball, he’s a natural athlete and good finisher around the basket and he doesn’t force things and makes the right plays. What stood out the most about Jones when watching him play was his ability on the defensive end, as he can guard multiple positions, moves his feet well and has quick hands.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999649" first="Etienne" last="Strothers"] | 5’10” PG | Menchville</strong></p> <p>Strothers is another guy who was on varsity as a freshman but didn’t get tons of opportunity to play because his team was so good, including his older brother Allen who is a division one prospect and plays the point guard position. The younger Strothers has shown potential though, as he’s a highly skilled and high IQ lead guard with great vision that can make shots from deep. We have him listed at 5’8” in the rankings but he’s sprouted up and he’ll have great guidance from his brother and his father and head coach LaMont who played in the NBA.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999652" first="Troy" last="Giles"] | 5’11” CG | Smithfield</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Troy.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1008199" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Troy-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Giles is a sleeper in the 757 area for a Smithfield team that has a chance to be very good next year. A competitive and explosive combo guard, Giles is a smooth lefty that can get to the rack at will, can score from multiple levels and can make others better. He has good length and will likely keep growing, and he brings it on both ends of the floor.</p>