Proving Grounds: Top Guards (Part 2)

<p>This weekend I made the seven hour trip up to Cartersville, Georgia for the Prep Hoops event: Proving Grounds. Across two long days of basketball I was able to see several college level players. These are a few of the guards who stood out:</p> <p>CG [player_tooltip player_id="818667" first="Justin" last="Hicks"] 6-3 (Team Sky Priority) Bishop Snyder 2021, G Austin Lewis 6-3 (Sky Priority) Bishop Snyder 2021</p> <p>Somewhere in the Jacksonville, Florida area, there is a very happy Bishop Snyder coach. In addition to [player_tooltip player_id="956788" first="Nick" last="Lowery"] who was already mentioned in Part 1, the Cardinals boast at least two other college level guards in Hicks and Lewis. Hicks is an extremely tough and athletic combo guard who displayed a well-rounded game averaging 21 points seven rebounds and six assists across the weekend. A hard-nosed defender, it is also very difficult for defenders to stay in front of when he gets going downhill. While Lewis does an excellent job of picking his spots, has several moves going to the basket and is an excellent rebounder for his position. With only seven players this weekend, Team Sky Priority gave a very good Judah Nation team all that they could handle. With Lewis and Hicks mixed with an assortment of other top Jacksonville talent, Bishop Snyder should be in for a memorable season.</p> <p>CG [player_tooltip player_id="955807" first="Devin" last="Perry"] 5-11(LA4) Keystone Prep 2021, CG [player_tooltip player_id="818761" first="Jalen" last="Harris"] 6-1 (LA4) Hillsborough 2021</p> <p>Team LA4 earned standout performances from a duo of guards this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="955807" first="Devin" last="Perry"] added to his standout summer scoring 22 points against a talented Atlanta Celtics south team. A bit undersized, Perry shoots the ball from 3-point land at a high clip off the dribble and the catch in shoot. With a quick first step and elite body control the guard can attack the basket and uses floaters to avoid shot blockers.</p> <p>Sharing the backcourt with Perry, [player_tooltip player_id="818761" first="Jalen" last="Harris"] scored 28 points on the tournaments opening day to lead his team to a 60-51 win against Filling the Lane. A three level scorer, the guard does his best work attacking the basket and does an excellent job finding his open teammates. As one of the top returning point guards in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, I expect to see Hillsborough again be a top team with Harris leading the charge.</p> <p>CG [player_tooltip player_id="818806" first="Nelson" last="St. Louis"] 6-4 (East Coast United) Port St. Lucie 2021, G/F Sageny Horace 6-5 (East Coast United) Centennial 2021</p> <p>Missing dynamic forward Rickey Lovette and the uber athletic [player_tooltip player_id="953417" first="Davion" last="Sistrunk"], East Coast United relied heavily on its pair of versatile guards. With excellent size for a guard St. Louis bullies his way to the basket, creates for his teammates, and is an accurate 3-point shooter. On the ride home from Cartersville the dynamic combo guard received an offer from NAIA Brescia University. With an AAU season filled with consistent standout performances, Division II and NAIA schools are starting to take notice.</p> <p>A long fluid athlete, at 6-5 Horace has the ability to play and defend each position out on the perimeter. With a high basketball IQ he can be found at times running the point, getting into the lane with crafty handles and reading the defense either scoring himself or getting an assist. Recruiting wise many Division III schools have been in touch.</p> <p>G Johnny Torrence 6-4 (Filling The Lane-White) Santa Fe Catholic 2021</p> <p>Team FTL White had themselves a successful weekend going on to win the Hard Work bracket. Leading the way for FTL, Torrence scored a team-high 18 points in the semifinal, hitting a pair of three-pointers and using his mix of size and athleticism to bully his way to the basket and the foul line. He was able to follow up that performance by scoring 11 points in the championship. Transferring to Santa Fe Catholic for his senior year, Torrence will be a member of one of the better backcourts in Polk County next season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>