Top 250 Expo: Top Guards

<p><strong>Top 250 Expo: Top Guards</strong></p> <p>Here is a look at some of the best guards I got to see in person on September 27. There were 20 teams with five games going at once, giving us a smorgasbord of great basketball.</p> <p><strong><br /> 2021 5-9 PG [player_tooltip player_id="869660" first="Marcos" last="East"] – Mundy’s Mill</strong></p> <p>Marcos displayed great quickness and an ability to pressure the ball. His defensive efforts often led to deflections and steals. East pushed the ball well in transition and got to the basket when he wanted to. He drilled four threes in his opening game and finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8944.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1056857 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8944-150x150.jpg" alt="Maalik Leitch" width="150" height="150" /></a>2022 5-10 CG Maalik Leitch – South Gwinnett</strong></p> <p>Maalik Leitch was wired to score. He fired early and often and got hot in the second half, scoring 23 of his game-high 31 points while netting five threes. The lefty has a soft touch and scores from multiple levels. His ability to shoot from deep opened up driving lanes.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-3 SG Love Mikanda – Grayson</strong></p> <p>All downhill, Love Mikanda could often be seen cleaning the defensive glass and then going coast-to-coast in the blink of an eye. Mikanda plays hard and has a great motor which allows him to play bigger than his size, especially when attacking the boards. He really turned heads with his 18 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Adding an outside shot will really help his development long-term.</p> <p><strong>2022 5-11 SG [player_tooltip player_id="1045843" first="Jonah" last="Hamilton"] – Etowah<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8958.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1056867 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8958-150x150.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>The three-point marksman was locked in, draining five triples in a 25-point outburst. The lefty did more than just stroke it however, he showed that he could get some tough buckets in traffic. Hamilton’s outside shooting will carry him a long way in his basketball career. He’s always ready to pull the trigger and doesn’t shy away from big moments.</p> <p><strong>2022 5-11 PG Avery Marshall – Harrison</strong></p> <p>Avery Marshall balanced hunting his shot and getting others involved. He’s a threat from beyond the arc and has a strong enough body to finish when he gets to the hoop. The strength he possesses also helps him chip in on the glass. Marshall knocked down four three-pointers and tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in an impressive showing.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-2 PG [player_tooltip player_id="598781" first="David" last="Thomas"] – Eagle’s Landing<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8952.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1056893 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8952-150x150.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>One of my favorite guards in 2023 did not disappoint. [player_tooltip player_id="598781" first="David" last="Thomas"] is the real deal with his scoring prowess and mature overall game. He stays engaged on both ends of the floor and never lets up off the gas. Thomas is an active defender that harasses ballhandlers and can earn poke aways and deflections. Offensively, he’s a true three-level scorer that has a quick burst to the basket that helps him break away from the pack. He piled in 34 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 9 steals and 1 block. Thomas is a stud.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-4 SG [player_tooltip player_id="1054258" first="JC" last="Curry"] – Hart County </strong></p> <p>There was a ton of talk about the kid with the cool hair on Team 17. That kid was none other than Hart County’s [player_tooltip player_id="1054258" first="JC" last="Curry"]. He ripped off a 40-point outburst midway through the day that put the camp on notice. Curry’s always been an interesting looking prospect dating back to when I first saw him as a freshman. He’s a very good athlete with a wiry yet strong build. He’s a microwave scorer that can catch fire from the three-point line, but he’s also got enough creativity to shake his man and punch in dunks. Hart County is led by [player_tooltip player_id="934249" first="Shone" last="Webb"] and [player_tooltip player_id="820299" first="Tahj" last="Johnson"]. They need a third scoring option and a potent point producer in the backcourt – that will be Curry.</p> <p><strong>2021 6-2 CG [player_tooltip player_id="1047059" first="Clifford" last="Davis"] – Thomasville<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8963.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1056902 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_8963-150x150.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>Electric. Explosive. A lot of adjectives come to mind when watching [player_tooltip player_id="1047059" first="Clifford" last="Davis"] go to work. He’s a certified bucket getter that will once again annihilate defenses in South Georgia. He’s a great athlete that is a highlight waiting to happen when he gets into the paint. Davis has deep three-point range and he’s elusive when breaking down defenses. He will need to be on college radars this upcoming season.</p>