2023 Backcourt Leaders Under the Radar

Alex Fydryszewski

November 2, 2022 @ 11:33 PM

The very deep class of 2023 has college players up and down the rankings and its easy to see talented, college level players get lost in the shuffle when the talent pool in the senior class runs so deep. Today we feature a handful of guards who should make big noise this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1402076' first='Jason' last='Eisele']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-eisele/"></a><a></a>  | 6'2” | G | Jefferson   Eisele was recognized as an all county guard as a junior and is a multi sport athlete.  He's an athletic slasher with a good first step to the basket. He has a good mid range pull up jumper. Moves well off the ball in the offense and can hit shots from beyond the arc. He had 26 vs Wayne Hills, 29 vs Wallkill Valley and 22 vs Pequannock. He's part of a group of returnees looking to push Jefferson on.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203226' first='Jordan' last='Winnik']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-winnik/"></a><a></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-winnik/"></a><a></a> | 6'2” | G | Saint John Vianney 2023   Winnik played a support role in the Lancers solid season last year but he's going to be given more responsibility this season as a senior. He's a smart guard who can handle the ball and break down defenders off the dribble but can also pull up and hit shots beyond the arc. Winnik had 13 vs now closed Mater Dei and 9 vs Middletown South and Freehold Boro as top games. Expect his numbers to rise with the graduation of Nate Williams, who himself was probably the most under-recruited player in New Jersey last year.   Chimeziri Okeoma | 5'10” | G | Union Catholic   UC's made moves to become very competitive overnight and Okeoma will be asked to be a dose of instant offense for the Vikings. A silky smooth guard who gets hot in a hurry and can light it up offensively at the drop of a dime. Okeoma is at his best floating around the perimeter and finding looks from deep. Good, quick first step to the rim and he can weave through bigger defenders. Okeoma had 33 on Edison, 25 on Linden and 20 vs East Side and Roselle Catholic. His move to UC maximizes his exposure as a senior and he'll be tested every single night.  Colleges should be very interested. You never pass up Watchung Conference guards and he's one of the top players in the county this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1396264' first='Elijah' last='Motley']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/elijah-motley/"></a><a></a> | 6'0” | G | Linden   After playing a supporting role in his junior year to Nigel Merville, Motley will be tasked with leading the Tigers this winter. He's creative with the ball in his hands and a smart passer who finds spaces to make offense happen. He can facilitate in the half court. He's a quick shooter and works hardest on defense--which is a standard for Union County. He had 16 vs Egg Harbor and 13 vs Union as a junior. Latest in a long lineage of Linden guards going back to the 1950s. Linden has always had guards. Colleges should be very interested…. because... you guessed it...You never pass up Watchung Conference guards.   Joe Sluck | 5'9” | G | Mountain Lakes 2023   Sluck is a multi sport athlete. He fearlessly attacks the rim off the bounce. He's also effective at breaking down defenders, has a good first step to the bucket and has a solid basketball IQ.  Mountain Lakes may have struggled a bit during the 21-22 season, but Sluck carried them through their victories, including dropping 32 on Kinnelon.  He also had 26 in a win over Dover and led them by Manchester Regional with 18.

The very deep class of 2023 has college players up and down the rankings and its easy to see talented, college level players get lost in the shuffle when the talent pool in the senior class runs so deep. Today we feature a handful of guards who should make big noise this winter.