Mercer County Guards to Watch

<p>Mercer County has consistently produced quality basketball with Trenton Catholic taking home the Tournament of Champions in 2010. Nottingham is the last Mercer County school to make the Tournament of Champions when the Northstars won Group 3 in 2018. The county is filled with quality guards who are ready for 2022 seasons. Here are some of the top Mercer County guards to watch.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1150281" first="Antwan" last="Bridgett"], 5’7 PG Trenton 2023</strong></p> <p>Bridgett had a breakout sophomore campaign as he ran the Tornadoes’ offense efficiently. The 5’7 guard plays with good court vision and rarely makes mistakes with the ball in his hands. Bridgett has a lightning quick release on his shot and can knock down triples in bunches. He is an underrated rebounder and plays with quick hands on the defensive end. Bridgett’s ability to run the offense is something that will help Trenton this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1027935" first="Ayden" last="Hogan"], 6’2 SG Hightstown 2022</strong></p> <p>Hogan is one of the more underrated guards in Central Jersey in the 2022 class and is ready for a big final varsity season. The 6’2 guard has a good mid-range game and does not mind drawing contact on his way to the basket. Hogan moves well off the ball and can hit open jumpers from behind the arc. He is always talking on the defensive end and dives on the floor for loose balls. Hogan is a gritty guard prospect who does what it takes to help his team win.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1150293" first="Keypoe" last="Dennis"], 5’11 PG Trenton Catholic 2023</strong></p> <p><strong>Mike Jones Jr.</strong> will be the go-to guy on offense for the Iron Mikes, but watch out for Dennis in the back court as well. The 5’11 guard is lightning quick with the ball in his hands and is at his best in transition. Dennis is a good finisher around the basket and has a solid mid-range game. He is capable of playing off the ball and moves his feet well on the defensive end. Dennis is the perfect compliment for Jones in the backcourt as Trenton Catholic looks to have a big 2022 season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901962" first="Ethan" last="Pires"], 6’4 SG Pennington 2022</strong></p> <p>Pennington does not compete in the NJSIAA, but the school is located in Mercer County making Pires eligible for the list. The 6’4 lefty has a smooth shooting stroke and shoots the ball with confidence from distance. Pires is more than just a shooter as he can also get to the rim and finish. He is an underrated passer and has the potential to defend multiple positions. Pires is a skilled shooting guard who is ready to lead Pennington’s attack in his final varsity season.</p> <p><strong>Dan Vessey, 6’2 SG Hun 2023</strong></p> <p>Hun is similar to Pennington as it is not part of the NJSIAA, but the school’s location in Princeton makes Vessey eligible for the list. The 6’2 guard is a sniper from distance with a quick release and an ability to knock down triples in bunches. Vessey moves well off the ball, setting himself up for easy layups and jumpers. He has a good handle and can run the offense in a pinch. Vessey is a scoring shooting guard whose  stock has been on the rise over the past couple of months.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Prospects to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1202207" first="Connor" last="Topping"], 6’2 SG Princeton Day 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Ray Gouli, 6’1 SG Allentown 2023</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1150542" first="Kevin" last="Ellis"], 6’0 PG Hopewell Valley 2023</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902748" first="Hampton" last="Sanders"], 6’0 PG Lawrenceville 2023</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1152305" first="Chris" last="Vlahos"], 6’3 SG Notre Dame 2023</strong></p>