Elite Prep League Available Guards

The first season of the Elite Prep League, featuring some of the top post graduate teams from the mid-atlantic, has gotten underway with many of the seven teams playing well against some of the top competition in the country. There is tons of talent for the next level in the league, and with conference play getting started we decided to take a look at some of the top available prospects in the league. Here, we take a look at some of the top guards available.   Kailon Nicholls | 6'0” PG | Hargrave '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Nicholls-Kailon-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Nicholls-Kailon-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1669133" /></a></figure>   Nicholls has recently picked up some division one offers with his play so far for the undefeated Tigers, and I expect that to continue as teams realize he's just scratching the surface with how good he can be. The 6'0” lead guard is super shifty off the bounce and creates space with ease to get shots off, he lives in the lane and is an athletic finisher with good body control and he can set the tone defensively guarding the basketball. He will continue to improve moving forward and could be an absolute steal at the next level.   Mike Gray | 6'1” CG | Massanutten '23   Gray has shown early in the season that he could be Massanutten's best third option and has thrived in his sixth man role coming off the bench where he shows a good motor and the ability to score it in bunches. He plays like he's on fire flying all over the place defensively, he can play on or off the ball to get shots and when he gets it going he can fill it up in bunches and change the dynamic of the game. He's a good look for smaller scholarship programs that are looking for a high motor guard to develop over the next few years.   [player_tooltip player_id='1579092' first='Malachi' last='Palmer'] | 6'5” CG | Mt. Zion '24   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Palmer-Malachi-Certified-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Palmer-Malachi-Certified-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1670936" /></a></figure>   Palmer has been in the national rankings discussion since he was a freshman, but this year at Mt. Zion it looks like he's really turning the corner and could be even better than we predicted before. At 6'5” he's a big guard with good strength that can take bumps off the dribble and get downhill where he can finish through contact, he has a great midrange and pull-up game and is improving on his outside shot and he can make plays for others off the bounce too. He checks all the physical and athletic tools and continues to improve as he's starting to show he's one of the top guards in the nation.   [player_tooltip player_id='1117694' first='MJ' last='Smith'] | 6'2” CG | Mt. Zion '24   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Smith-MJ-MZP-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Smith-MJ-MZP-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1618015" /></a></figure>   Smith came to Mt. Zion after being a standout at Manor in Portsmouth and the leap of competition has helped him improve in some big ways over the last year. He's a smooth scoring guard who has effortless range from deep, he has filled out and gotten stronger and more explosive as a finisher around the rim and he's very good at drawing contact and getting to the line consistently where he shoots a very good percentage. He's had some huge games so far this year, including a 34 point outing against Putnam Science, and he is starting to garner some major division one interest with this group.   Aaron Talbert | 6'0” PG | Combine '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Talbert-Aaron-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Talbert-Aaron-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1622037" /></a></figure>   Talbert was a standout on Scotland's high school team last year, and this year he's helped Combine to a great start as he has shown he's a true floor general who can make everyone around him better. He handles pressure well and doesn't get sped up against the press, he can touch the paint at will where he's a good finisher and makes good reads to get his teammates open looks and easy buckets and he can knock down shots from deep as well when he's left open. He plays with good pace and is a good on ball defender setting the tone on both ends of the floor, and is an under the radar player that could step in and make an impact immediately at the next level.   Reece D'Allesandro | 6'0” PG | FUMA '23   D'Allesandro doesn't start for FUMA right now, but the way he's played early in the season has seen his role pick up as of late and he should continue to see more opportunities as the season goes on. He's a skilled and cerebral guard that makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, he can drill it from deep when he's left open and he has shown the ability to create shots late in the shot clock and make tough shots when his team needs him to. He isn't the most athletic guy but he plays with a good motor and has good instincts and should be on the radar of smaller schools.   Russell Branch | 6'2” CG | FUMA '23   Branch has shown early in the season that he's the x-factor for this FUMA team that has plenty of size and needs guards to make plays, and his all-out style of play does that for them. He's an attacking guard who drives the ball hard to the paint and can finish through contact, he flies around defensively and makes plays on that end of the floor and he puts pressure on the defense constantly with his relentless motor. He has had a good start to the season for them and he has shown to be a very productive piece to this team.   Fani Lewis | 6'1” PG | First Love '23   Lewis is the floor general for this First Love team that has a lot of firepower, and he's the one who can get them shots and make plays off the bounce for them. He's a smooth guard who changes speeds and directions well, he takes care of the ball and handles pressure well and he controls the tempo and gets them into their sets to get the offense going. He can touch the paint and make plays for himself and others and defensively he's a good on ball defender who gets after it.   Fani Lewis | 6'1” PG | First Love '23   Lewis is the floor general for this First Love team that has a lot of firepower, and he's the one who can get them shots and make plays off the bounce for them. He's a smooth guard who changes speeds and directions well, he takes care of the ball and handles pressure well and he controls the tempo and gets them into their sets to get the offense going. He can touch the paint and make plays for himself and others and defensively he's a good on ball defender who gets after it.

The first season of the Elite Prep League, featuring some of the top post graduate teams from the mid-atlantic, has gotten underway with many of the seven teams playing well against some of the top competition in the country. There is tons of talent for the next level in the league, and with conference play getting started we decided to take a look at some of the top available prospects in the league. Here, we take a look at some of the top guards available.