Eight Crafty Guards

Today the focus is on crafty guards. These men manage to create something out of nothing. Dribbling, passing, cutting off the ball. Their methods are not all alike, but their results are undeniable. All players were scouted during the first full week of January. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775559" first="Reed" last="Kemp"] (Franklin) Solid, two-footed leaper. Matt was playing a key role as a sophomore for Franklin. He finds himself a senior leader on, again, a great Franklin Rebel team. Thurman plays Robin to [player_tooltip player_id="775559" first="Reed" last="Kemp"]’s Batman. Together the pair has won many games. Kemp’s success does not occur in a vacuum and Thurman truly gives Kemp extra chances with wonderful rebounding. Thurman is quite a bit better rebounding on the defensive end though. He doesn’t track rebounds outside area at an elite level, though he does curtail the opposition’s possessions with his high two-handed hauls. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />Ethan Bradford (Sullivan East) Ethan Bradford is talented enough as a scorer to play on or off the ball. For the Patriots Ethan is best when he operates with limited touches. Not to say he cannot handle, but he does plenty with little. Bradford possesses the shooting touch to knock it down upon the touch (catch-and-shoot). In traffic, Bradford usually looks to score quickly instead of evasive dribbles. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="983727" first="Davin" last="Watkins"] (Nolensville) Davin is a taller guard, at least the AA level. Watkins plays more combo than point guard. His craftiness comes in the form of mid-range and some drives. Watkins assumed a larger scoring role last year, in his junior season. The ascendance to prominent scorer took a little time for Davin. He was a little unsure and timid to grab the crown early in 2019. Now he has no hesitation and creates for himself and others. Watkins is a must-see to understand. There is nuance to his game. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /> Bryant Rippy (Rossview) Adept with his left-hand. Bryant is supremely gnattish with his penetration and high motor. Rippy consistently tracks down loose balls. Beech (1/8) runs out some taller guards, but Bryant was creating problems with his speed and guile. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /> [player_tooltip player_id="775574" first="Greg" last="Moore"] (Knoxville Central) Tall, very thin guard. Creates his own. https://twitter.com/tpePASSION/status/1347720981381574657?s=20 <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /> Nick Deng (Ravenwood) Nick "The Sly Raptor" Deng played sneaky good against Brentwood Friday night. Deng’s reputation previously was that of a devoted shooter. He put in his time training with Next Level Jeremy Pope on that craft. Apparently, his court vision is opening up too. Deng managed to get past the frontline of the Brentwood defense and attack the high post with the dribble. That creativity and speed burst allowed him to collapse the defense and find his friends. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /> [player_tooltip player_id="537290" first="PJ" last="Smith"] (Goodpasture) Few statewide possess the handle and creative basketball mind of [player_tooltip player_id="537290" first="PJ" last="Smith"]. Smith’s ability to befuddle defenders is special, whether it be with an in-and-out dribble or a simple cross. He has quite a few tricks in his bag and the unassuming demeanor hides a deceptive dribbling spirit. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /> [player_tooltip player_id="775537" first="Kameron" last="Jones"] (E.C.S.) This list was made for [player_tooltip player_id="775537" first="Kameron" last="Jones"]. Kameron’s handle is possibly the best in the state. There is an old man’s game feel to his play. He shifts from herky-jerky to slippery like a snake. Kameron’s annoyingly-good shooting hurts a lot of hearts. Beyond that shooting strength, Jones is that dude with the pill. He slips between traps and then leaps with his long strides to burn past other players. Kameron is signed to Marquette. After Kennedy Chandler left the state, Kameron ascended to the state’s best ’21 guard.     Partial Rosters w/ starters* Ravenwood #1 Matthew Williams* (2022) #4 Molette* (2022) #5 Nick Deng* (2021) #10 Andrew Lamuno* (2022) #14 Owen Grismore (2021) #15 Ben Bonga* (2021) #21 Ethan Dills (2021) #23 Connor English (2021) #25 Jake Mulder* (2022) #44 Noah Clifford* (2022) Brentwood #10 <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prephoops.com/player/john-windley/">[player_tooltip player_id="775552" first="John" last="Windley"]<img class=" lazyloaded" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/EAL506xXYAI5wXP-150x150.jpg" data-src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/EAL506xXYAI5wXP-150x150.jpg" /></a>* (2021) #12 Griffin Burke* (2021) #24 Macen Redner* (2021) #30 <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-medalie/">[player_tooltip player_id="1029084" first="Jack" last="Medalie"]</a> (2023) #32 Joseph Hohn* (2021) #44 Dustin Bluhm* (2021) #14 Carter Patton (2022) Sullivan East #11 Ethan Bradford* (2021) #25 Jon Walden* (2021) #34 Dylan Bartley* (2021) #54 Mason Montgomery* (2021) #50 Clayton Ivester* (2021) Nolensville #0 Riley Byron* (2021) #2 [player_tooltip player_id="983727" first="Davin" last="Watkins"]* (2021) #3 Ashton Smith* (2021) #4 [player_tooltip player_id="775631" first="Max" last="McAllister"]* (2021) #10 Grady Powers* (2022)