Guards on the Rise: Trending Juniors

Stutson impacts the game in just about every possible way. The Hiram guard plays with nonstop energy and a motor that keeps him around the ball from opening tip to final buzzer. It feels like every possession includes Aiden making a hustle play, forcing a deflection, grabbing a rebound or creating an opportunity for a teammate. His activity level immediately stands out because he never takes a play off.   Offensively, Stutson does a great job balancing scoring with facilitating. He keeps his head up when attacking the paint and consistently looks to create for others once the defense collapses. Aiden plays with good pace and understands how to keep the offense flowing without over-dribbling. When he hunts his own offense, he does a nice job getting into the lane where he leans on a soft floater package to score over size. He also crashes the offensive glass hard for a guard, grinding out extra possessions and easy baskets through sheer effort.   Defensively, his motor shines brightest. Stutson flies around the floor creating havoc with active hands and strong anticipation. He contests plays, jumps passing lanes and brings toughness despite not being the biggest guard on the court. Players with his combination of effort, versatility and feel consistently help teams win games. Stutson fills the stat sheet naturally because he stays involved in every aspect of the action.     Manglogiannis has an answer for everything offensively. The Creekview point guard may not possess overwhelming size at around 5-foot-10, but he compensates with toughness, strength and confidence attacking defenders. Alex plays with an aggressive mentality and embraces physicality whenever he gets downhill. He consistently muscles his way into the paint and finishes through contact despite bigger defenders rotating over to challenge him.   What stands out most is how under control he remains when navigating traffic. Manglogiannis changes speeds effectively and uses his body well to shield defenders once he enters the lane. He shows touch on his tear drop floater while also spacing the floor confidently with his jumper. Defenders can't simply sag off him because he's comfortable knocking down perimeter shots, but crowding him only opens driving lanes where he thrives attacking gaps.   Alex also impacts winning with his competitiveness. He steps up in key moments and doesn't shy away from pressure situations late in games. Defensively, he stays active in passing lanes and plays with enough toughness to disrupt opposing guards. His blend of scoring ability, physicality and poise gives BCB a reliable lead guard capable of controlling stretches of games offensively.     Cane plays with the type of energy every coach loves. The West Forsyth guard competes hard on both ends and consistently finds ways to impact winning without needing the ball glued to his hands. Colin plays bigger than his size because of his athleticism, effort and willingness to mix it up around the basket. He's a sneaky good leaper who crashes in for offensive rebounds and creates extra possessions from the guard spot.   Offensively, Cane keeps the ball moving and understands how to play within the flow of an offense. He willingly makes the extra pass and does a great job creating opportunities for teammates, but he also knows when to become aggressive hunting his own offense. Colin scores from all three levels and looks comfortable pulling up off the dribble, finishing at the rim or spacing the floor from deep. His versatility as both a scorer and playmaker keeps defenses honest.   Defensively, Cane's motor continues to pop. He pressures the ball, jumps passing lanes and competes every possession. He's the type of pesky guard who constantly creates winning plays that don't always show up in highlight reels. Whether it's chasing down loose balls, grabbing rebounds in traffic or making the extra rotation defensively, Cane consistently does the little things that elevate a team.     Groce continues trending upward in Northwest Georgia. The 6-foot-2 guard immediately catches attention with his size and skill on the perimeter. Blaine comfortably plays both on and off the ball while bringing a polished, high-IQ approach to the game. His outside shooting jumps out first because he wastes little time getting into rhythm from three-point range. Once he sees one go down, his confidence grows quickly.   While the shooting grabs headlines, Groce's passing ability deserves just as much praise. He sees the floor extremely well and makes advanced reads for his age. Blaine rifles passes into the post, pushes the break effectively and consistently rewards teammates running the floor. He processes the game well and understands how to make the right basketball play. As he continues adding shiftiness and burst off the bounce, his ability to consistently penetrate defenses should only improve.   Groce also flashes strong finishing instincts around the basket. He elevates well in traffic and shows touch finishing through defenders. Defensively, his activity level stands out. He competes on the ball, creates turnovers with active hands and impacts games with his two-way effort. The well-rounded skillset combined with his size and feel makes him one of the more intriguing young guards in the area.     I love how Atsain competes against bigger opponents. Even surrounded by length and size, the Etowah point guard never looks overwhelmed. Instead, Chane thrives using his quickness, pace and feel for the game to carve up defenses. He plays with confidence and understands exactly how to manipulate defenders once he gets into the paint.   Atsain excels as a penetrator because of how well he changes speeds. He doesn't simply rely on pure quickness. Instead, he keeps defenders off balance with crafty pacing and sharp decision-making. Once he enters the lane, Chane consistently plays off two feet and remains under control while reading the defense. His feel shines brightest in these moments because he always seems to make the correct read. Whether it's stopping for a pull-up jumper, floating the ball over shot blockers or kicking out to shooters along the perimeter, Atsain operates with composure.   What stands out most is his command of the game despite his size. He doesn't force action and rarely looks sped up. Chane plays with confidence as a floor general and consistently creates quality looks for both himself and teammates. With a new-look Etowah squad entering the season, Atsain looks poised to carve out an impactful role because of his toughness, pace and playmaking instincts.     I appreciate how DJ Jackson never allows defenders to rush him. The Brunswick guard plays comfortably at his own pace and shows patience beyond his years. He's always prepared to fire confidently off the catch, but what stands out is his willingness to keep the offense flowing if the shot isn't immediately available. Jackson doesn't force tough looks. Instead, he probes the defense and reads the floor as both a facilitator and scorer.   DJ proves especially dangerous when defenders give him space from beyond the arc. He owns a smooth, patient release and shoots the ball with confidence once he gets his feet set. His mechanics remain compact and repeatable, allowing him to quickly punish defenses that lose track of him on the perimeter.   Beyond the shooting, Jackson shows a mature approach offensively. He changes pace well, keeps defenders guessing and understands when to attack versus when to move the ball. His composure with the basketball helps stabilize the offense and allows teammates to play comfortably around him. Guards who can space the floor while also making smart decisions with the ball always carry value, and Jackson consistently shows those traits.