Hoop Group/All Academic Scholar Stage: impressive shorts guards

On Monday, October 13th, I attended the Hoop Group X All Academic Basketball Scholar Stage showcase at Milton Academy. There were about 150 players present and games for 5 hours on three different courts. I tried to watch as many guys as possible — but as always, it's difficult to watch and get a good read on everyone.   With that being said, here are some short guards who really impressed me.    Flemming is unbelievably fun to watch. The 5-foot-9 point guard is obviously very undersized, but he's super quick with the ball in his hands and can get by basically anybody as a result. He has always had an amazing handle and a quick first step, but he showed off a really nice mid range game and three point shot on Monday, which I hadn't necessarily seen before. Flemming is going to ball out for Newton South this year and will probably transfer schools eventually to improve his recruitment. He's definitely a D3 player.     Though only a freshman, Mason plays well beyond his years. The 5-foot-8 point guard has gotten stronger since I last saw him, and it has allowed him to more comfortably handle pressure from bigger and older guards. He's able to handle the ball while scanning the floor and looking for kickout passes, which he's quite effective at finding. He's such a good passer and has an amazing head on his shoulders for his age. He also competes like heck on the defensive end and was in every single passing lane all day. Relentless kid.     Medina is a mesmerizing athlete who's impossible to stop watching once you seen him explode both vertically and horizontally. The 5-foot-10 guard gets above the rim for dunks and breezes by his initial defender with quickness whenever he wants, but he also plays at his own speed and makes great, under control decisions — a rare combo for a kid his age. He lives in the midrange and has a beautiful shot, but he can also finish with contact at the hoop. He should be a starter and top 2 leading scorer for Concord Academy this season, and scholarship schools should be intrigued.     O'Neil is a blur on the basketball court and is exactly the type of guy you want running your offense. The 5-foot-9 guard is bulky and strong, so he holds his line well on drives and uses his physicality and speed/quickness to get consistent paint touches. He was one of the more impressive passers at the entire showcase and played the right way throughout, even though many players resorted to isolation ball. He makes excellent reads at the nail and rim and is phenomenal in the pick and roll. He won't wow you with scoring, but he can certainly light it up a bit if you need him to. Definite D3 player.     Kenney is undersized and skinny — only 5-foot-10 and definitely not the heaviest — but he's ultra skilled and makes up for his lack of size with his mind. He makes phenomenal reads in the half court and can make all the passes in the book, but he also operates well as a spot up shooter and closeout attacker. He has an awesome feel for the game and is fun to watch, but some added strength would be huge for his defensive ability and eventual recruitment. He should be a key cog for Salem High School this season and has another two years to put on weight.

On Monday, October 13th, I attended the Hoop Group X All Academic Basketball Scholar Stage showcase at Milton Academy. There were about 150 players present and games for 5 hours on three different courts. I tried to watch as many guys as possible — but as always, it's difficult to watch and get a good read on everyone.