KS Top 250 Expo: Top 2021 Shooting Guards
The one-day Top 250 Expo gave shooting guards from across Kansas a rare chance to compete against top opponents in the early fall. The freestyle up-and-down event wasn’t exactly suited to this position group, but these ballers showed they are…
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Continue ReadingThe one-day Top 250 Expo gave shooting guards from across Kansas a rare chance to compete against top opponents in the early fall.
The freestyle up-and-down event wasn’t exactly suited to this position group, but these ballers showed they are versatile and athletic.
Here were the top shooting guards at the showcase (listed in alphabetical order):
Josh Jordan Josh Jordan 6'3" | CG Salina South | 2021 State KS , Salina South:
Jordan is a natural point guard, but often is forced into the off-guard role when he’s paired with some other dynamic point man. He handles the role well enough, because he has a team-first game and versatile talents. He can put it in from anywhere, and he showed off his range at the Expo. He is 6-foot-2 and strong enough to play in the lane and guard bigger opponents.
Devon Junghans Devon Junghans 5'9" | PG Salina South | 2021 State KS , Salina South:
Jordan’s teammate at Salina South, Junghans is just 5-foot-10, but has an off-ball game. He is very quick and can take the ball into the lane despite his height. He made several nice spin moves against defenders to get open shots. He can catch and shoot, or create his own opportunities. He’s also a tough defender because of his quickness and aggressiveness.
Brandon Kingharper Jr, Olathe North:
Kingharper has a nice combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability. He showed at the Expo he can hit the three and he’s capable of battling in the lane as well as handle the ball full court. Kingharper is 6-foot-1 and solidly built.
Jayce Korf, Hugoton:
Korf is probably a bit overlooked from the farthest corner of the state. He is 6-foot-3 and has a smooth game. He can shoot from all over the court, and has a versatility that would allow him to play a variety of spots. He can push the ball up the floor, handle it in traffic or heavily guarded, and unselfishly finds teammates. He made some very nice step-back shots at the Expo that, at his height, will be very tough to defend in the high school ranks. He is a lanky and scrappy gamer that more people should know about.
Devan McEwen, Lebo:
One of the top dual-sport athletes in Kansas, McEwen showed up for the Saturday afternoon Expo after quarterbacking his football team to a runaway victory the night before. (Lebo is undefeated in large part due to McEwen!) The small-school star has the body to be a very versatile shooting guard. He’s 6-foot-2 and solidly built. His physique allows him to do a little bit of everything at these highly athletic club events. He can handle the ball, shoot it from deep, and take it in the lane. His physical strength was his top asset when dueling the ultra athletic guards he saw at the Expo. Competing against such talented opponents prepares him for another high school season like his second-team all 1A performance a year ago.
Jahi Peppers Jahi Peppers 5'9" | CG Highland Park | 2021 State KS , Highland Park:
The up-and-down freelancing style of the Expo fit Peppers like a glove. He is lightning quick and can run for days. So as the structure broke down and players got tired, Peppers excelled. He stands 6-foot and is solidly built, but he has a knack for slithering through traffic and blurring past defenders in the open court. Peppers has point-guard skills, but he’s suited for the off-guard role he plays at Highland Park, where he’s teamed with another lightning quick guard in Juan’Tario Roberts.
Nevin Ponds Nevin Ponds 6'0" | CG Lawrence | 2021 KS , Lawrence:
Ponds did some of the dirty work for his team that featured some top-quality big men. He crashed the boards and scored in the lane, defended and helped move the ball and feed the posts. He can shoot it from deep and has the ball handling skills to play point, push the ball up the floor in transition and break down defenders to penetrate.
Carter Reid Carter Reid 6'0" | SG Bishop Carrol | 2021 State KS , Carroll:
Reid is a super-athletic 6-footer who is often teamed with a top-notch point guard – he ran alongside Max Alexander Max Alexander 6'0" | PG Next Level Prep | 2022 KS this summer on Kansas Pray N Play. Reid recently lost his distinctive mullet, but he hasn’t lost a step on the court. He can catch and score from the perimeter or drive the lane. He loves to play at a breakneck pace and push defenses to their max. His quickness, jumping ability and physical strength allow him to crash the boards, out-muscle opposing guards and get where he wants to go.
Austin Smith, Junction City:
Smith has been overshadowed somewhat on the guard-rich Junction City squad, but he is a key contributor for the Blue Jays. Though just 5-foot-9, he made numerous great drives for buckets at the Expo. He is a smart and crafty guard who doesn’t always need the ball in his hands to make a difference. He is an excellent ball handler in the open court who looked ahead for open teammates in Kansas City rather than just try to do it all himself.