December Report: Top Combo/Shooting Guards

Now that the end of the month (and year for that matter) has arrived, it's time to reflect on the action that was taken in and break down the top prospects evaluated at various positions. I'll move to the top combo/shooting guards that I evaluated for the month of December. <a href="https://prephoops.com/2021/12/december-report-top-point-guards/">For the point guards, click here!</a> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Carrington-Carlton-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1208187" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Carrington-Carlton-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1114066" first="Carlton" last="Carrington"] | 6'4 | St. Frances '23 Carrington has really come into his own this season as a consistent and efficient shooting presence for the Panthers. Playing alongside a bevy of talented guards who can also put the ball in the basket, Carrington does his work in a much simpler, fundamental way. What makes him a mid-to-high major target is how his scoring approach translates to the next level. If he isn't shooting off the catch, Carrington dribbles minimally, but for profit to get to his spot in the mid-range or around the rim. He has good basketball IQ and overall feel for the game. With his size and length for his position, he can match up against either guard position and even some wings at the high school level. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Tyson-Commander.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1340310" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Tyson-Commander-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="837919" first="Tyson" last="Commander"] | 6'4 | John Carroll '22 John Carroll faced one of the toughest schedules in the area to start the 2021-22 season and as a result, had some bumps in the road. Commander has been a consistent scoring presence for them throughout and while he built an early reputation as strictly a shooter from deep, he has since then developed a nice scoring attack off the bounce. He's good for routine above the rim finishes in space, creative finishes when shot-blockers are in the vicinity and always can stop on a dime and get into his shot from 15-to-17 feet. Commander plans on doing a post-grad prep year at Mt. Zion after his senior season. [player_tooltip player_id="957059" first="Austin" last="Abrams"] | 6'3 | Mount St. Joe '23 Abrams is quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch not only because he's a deadeye three-point marksman, but also because he knows exactly when and how to look for his shot. He lets the game come to him and uses the presence of his teammates such as 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1127305" first="Bryson" last="Tucker"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"] to locate open areas on the floor and get into shot-ready position. He hits three's coming off pin downs, off the catch in transition and is lethal in the corner off kick-out passes. Abrams isn't a one trick pony. He can make defenses pay for wild closeouts by putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim where he finishes with soft touch or locates his open bigs as a result of their man rotating from the weak side. Shooting at the college level is at a premium and I'd urge low-to-mid majors to take time in assessing the value that Abrams could bring. https://twitter.com/austinabramss/status/1473334857300332546?s=20 Marquel Paschall | 6'0 | St. Paul's 25 Paschall has put together a nice freshman campaign thus far for the Crusaders. He's a three-point threat whenever he has a sliver of daylight on the perimeter, but showed me that he can also finish consistently around the rim even through contact. He plays the game with much more confidence than you see in a lot of freshmen and as he continues to adjust to the varsity level, he should continue to emerge as an explosive scoring presence as he advances in high school. Dorian 'Nick' Jones | 6'2 | Parkville '22 Jones should have a great chance of winning Baltimore County Player of the Year this season thanks to his dynamic scoring ability, underrated vision as a distributor and prideful defense. He's one of the most athletic players you'll find the Baltimore Metro area, which results in highlight tape finishes in transition or above the rim blocks as a defender. Jones scores the ball in the variety of ways and if one of those guys who could easily log 20 points per game, but makes the right basketball play to his teammates in order to win. JuCo and prep programs should be knocking Jones' door down. https://twitter.com/iamDorian5/status/1471557325752254472?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="1049863" first="Ace" last="Valentine"] | 6'2 | Mount St. Joe '23 Valentine is another talented junior guard for the Gaels who also handles some of the ball-handling duties next to Tucker. What's impressed me most with Valentine this season is the evident burst of speed he has with the ball in transition or in quick isolation scenarios. Compared to his first two seasons, it seems like not only is he quicker, but healthier and more confident as well. Valentine is no stranger to hitting big shots with the game on the line and he reminded everyone in their recent game against Archbishop Ryan where he buried a buzzer beating three to advance to the Benedictine Capital Classic championship (where they'd eventually win). Valentine is a balanced scorer who continues to learn the point guard position. Low-to-mid majors should monitor his progress and development going further. https://twitter.com/theacevalentine/status/1469829052924051456?s=20 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Caron-Smith.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1348157" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Caron-Smith-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Caron Smith | 6'2 | Parkville '23 Smith had a solid freshman season individually at Loch Raven before going to South Kent Prep as a sophomore. Due to family reasons, he returns back to Baltimore and found his fit perfectly on a stacked Parkville team. Next to Jones and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1127304" first="Sincere" last="Barfield"], Smith adds a floor spacing presence with his outside shooting ability. He's recorded multiple games with 3+ triples and understands how to use his dribble for profit. He's a tough defender who embraces his individual matchup and will be a key cog in the Knights' pursuit of a 4A state title. [player_tooltip player_id="1259620" first="Darren" last="Harris"] | 6'5 | Paul IV '24 People know that I have a profound weakness for shooters and with that being the case, Harris is extremely high on my list of players to watch. He backs my argument well, establishing himself as one of the premier three-point shooters regardless of class not only in the DMV, but the country. His shot preparation in regards to footwork, getting squared quickly on the catch and getting the ball off his hands with a quick release is poetry in motion. Best of all, he doesn't need much space or time to get his shot off and remain accurate with results. If we could fast forward to his senior season, it's almost guaranteed that a plethora of power five programs will be hoping for his signature. https://twitter.com/SUVtv/status/1474929351812648965?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="999616" first="DeShawn" last="Harris-Smith"] | 6'5 | Paul IV '23 Simply put, Harris-Smith has all of the intangibles that you need to win ball games. He plays with energy and contributes to locking down opposing team's best perimeter threat, securing rebounds or 50/50s and supplies his team with contagious intensity. Harris-Smith has been consistent in displaying his polished overall game as well as a junior, looking more comfortable operating and attacking off the bounce. His brute frame and love for contact helps him finish tough shots around the basket. He's processing the game at a better rate on those drives as well to locate open teammates if driving lanes close. After a stellar showing in the last couple of events, he was offered by Villanova and should see plenty more power five programs get involved in the near future. https://twitter.com/PointGuardEyes/status/1476368527619727363?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="904682" first="Kyle" last="Pulliam"] | 6'4 | Good Counsel '22 Pulliam remains one of the top unsigned guards in MD/DC. The 6-foot-4 lefty is a smooth operator who brings a balance approach as a scorer and distributor from the two-guard position. He hits three's with regularity when he has time and space, gets to his spot in the mid-range with pace and uses his length to finish consistently in the paint. Because he plays with good pace, Pulliam dissects the defense on drives and makes the right pass to teammates either for a score or to set up another teammate with an extra pass. His length comes into play defensively where he can guard multiple positions while rebounding at a decent rate. Division II and Division III schools are all courting Pulliam, while some low-major DI's are keeping an eye on his progress this season