Premier Point Guards of the 2024 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are just a few of the state's premier lead guards, all of which bring versatile shotmaking to the table. Their impact goes beyond scoring, providing necessary leadership and selflessness to curate winning cultures.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1166976' first='Cody' last='Vassar-Steen'] - Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":2135284,"width":286,"height":188,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Vassar-crop-865x568-1684349802.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/Vassar-crop-865x568-1684349802-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2135284" style="width:286px;height:188px" width="286" height="188" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vassar-Steen will be an intriguing guard to watch this upcoming season, proving effective as a scorer on all three levels. Standing right around 6' tall, the guard is a dangerous shotmaker on pull-up jumpers. Creating excellent elevation on the shot base, there is little opponents can do to dissuade him once he is mid-air. Even through double clutch shot attempts, Vassar-Steen shows prowess as a difficult shotmaker off of movement going either direction. His shotmaking equity extends out to the three point line, where he is especially effective rising up into shots following a pound dribble. Although an excellent shooter, the guard can leverage his tight handle and shooting gravity to attack downhill versus contact. His continued growth as a facilitator will be worth tracking, given how much gravity he already possesses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1897886' first='Dillon' last='McCleskey'] - Albuquerque Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1897965,"width":248,"height":165,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Dillon.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Dillon.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1897965" style="width:248px;height:165px" width="248" height="165" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">McCleskey appears #11 on left</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCleskey shows value as a sharpshooter beyond the arc, effective at knocking down jumpers through a contest. The lead guard boasts value as a spot-up shooter and quick twitch ball handler, capable of slithering his way into the paint through point of attack and help defense. Standing right around 6' tall, the guard can create driving lanes through an array of combo moves. Off of those moves, McCleskey can get to spin moves once his opponent has gotten on the hip, allowing for scoring opportunities. The guard has no trouble scoring through contact, often contributing on such opportunities with his right hand.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1680006' first='Jordi' last='Rojo'] - Belen&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rojo is a moldable perimeter prospect who brings value from anywhere on the floor. The 5'10 lead guard shows value scoring around the rim, getting quite a few opportunities from the initial rip through and first step. While attacking downhill, Rojo can finish with the short floater or ambidextrous finish through traffic. There is no doubt that Rojo can succeed away from the ball as well, capable of flowing off of weak side actions into quick trigger three point attempts. Although getting a large quantity of makes off the catch, these makes were not just spot-ups, featuring a variety of movement shooting on relocations. Defensive instincts were another area to watch, proving capable of reading passing lanes along the top, often leading to steals and subsequently transition layups.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1685443' first='Julian' last='Arroyo'] - Lovington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arroyo has displayed well rounded value as a scoring threat along the perimeter, boasting a tight handle that creates quite a few avenues for the guard. Proving effective at scoring through contact, the guard has a strong base that propels his scoring efficiency around the rim. Arroyo has the ability to lull point of attack defenders with pump fakes or slow jabs, before exploding downhill with purpose. His quick shot release forces opponents to respect his gravity behind the three point line, allowing his baiting abilities a bit more leverage than most. Arroyo will be a fascinating prospect to watch, providing three level scoring production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->