Great Lakes Finals: Top Playmaking Guards

Great Lakes Finals brought out some of the region's best talent, but it was the playmakers who truly dictated the game. From pure floor generals to shifty, dual-threat guards, these prospects stood out with their vision, handle, and ability to elevate their teams.   Here are the top playmaking guards who made a statement this weekend.   2027 Class   Daeleon Wofford | [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] 2027   Wofford is a slick, scrappy floor general who plays with an immense amount of passion. He is an absolute blur in transition, gaining rapid momentum on the break and delivering on-the-money passes to running teammates. Wofford is equally effective when operating a half-court set, displaying the IQ to set up his teammates or call his own number for a bucket when the defense sags.   [player_tooltip player_id='2389398' first='Orlando' last='Edwards'] | 88West 2027   An athletic lefty, Edwards was a nightmare for defenses trying to keep him out of the paint. He possesses a tight, "ball on a string" handle that allows him to execute precision attacks directly to the basket. Aside from slicing through the lane for tough finishes, Edwards knocked down the deep ball and showed a willingness to mix it up and rebound in traffic. He projects as a highly reliable, two-way guard at the next level.   Ty Harrison | TNBA 2027   At 5'9", Harrison is the definitive engine for his squad. He is an ultra-quick, pass-first facilitator who excels at breaking down his defender, getting into the teeth of the defense, and creating easy looks for others. Defensively, he is a pesky on-ball defender whose quickness caused a multitude of turnovers all weekend. While he looks to set up others first, he proved he will confidently knock down perimeter shots if left open.   2028 Class   [player_tooltip player_id='2834186' first='Nigel' last='Moore'] | Zero Fears 2028   The Peoria guard brought a tremendous blend of toughness and energy to the hardwood this weekend. Moore is a crafty, true floor general who consistently elevates his teammates with sharp decision-making and creative passing. The slick lefty can get anywhere he wants on the floor, reading pick-and-roll situations with veteran poise. Whether threading the needle through tight windows or attacking the paint and finishing with control, Moore kept constant pressure on the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='2422347' first='Darrin' last='Laye Jr.'] | MW Renegades 2028   Laye is a high-IQ, fast-twitch guard who plays with supreme confidence. He is incredibly versatile, showing the ability to run the point or slide off the ball seamlessly. Laye flash-fried defenders with his shiftiness in the open court and displayed a deep offensive bag—hitting fluent floaters in the lane, draining threes off ball screens, and burning defenses off the catch. Defensively, his active hands made him a constant threat for deflections.   TJ Smith | Chicago Fire 2028   An uber-quick guard who is a one-man fast break waiting to happen. Smith consistently ripped down defensive rebounds and immediately turned defense into offense with his elite burst. He is incredibly shifty with the ball in his hands, but he made just as much of an impact on the defensive end. With super quick hands, Smith racked up several on-ball steals that led to easy transition buckets. He also showcased deep range from beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='2844916' first='Connor' last='Spatz'] | [program_tooltip program_id='3647874' first='Chicago' last='Cannons'] 2028   Don't let the 5'7" frame fool you; Spatz completely dictated the pace of the game with his elite ball-handling and vision. He features a deceptive change-of-pace style that freezes defenders, allowing him to touch the paint at will and execute perfect drive-and-kick passes. When defenses respect his passing lanes too much, Spatz is more than capable of pulling up and knocking down triples off the bounce.   Amari Brown | Zero Fears 2028   Brown is a slippery guard with excellent balance, allowing him to absorb contact and finish creatively around the rim. His half-court vision was superb throughout the weekend, prioritizing his role as a facilitator while still proving he has the range to keep defenses honest from three. Defensively, Brown was a flat-out ball hawk, applying relentless full-court pressure and forcing opposing ball-handlers into costly mistakes.   2029 Class   Aaron Harrington | Midwest Renegades 2029   Harrington plays with the ball on a string and boasts a mature package of moves when he touches the paint. He displays terrific vision and basketball IQ when making plays on the move, scoring efficiently at all three levels. Whether he was knocking down top-of-the-key threes, getting to the charity stripe, or dropping off dimes to teammates after collapsing the defense, Harrington was an offensive catalyst.   [player_tooltip player_id='2940657' first='Duece' last='Johnson'] | IL Wolves 2029   Boasting a 6'1" frame with long arms and a tight handle, Johnson is a highly intriguing prospect. He gets into the lane effortlessly, using his length to put soft touch on his finishes over contesting defenders. As a playmaker, Johnson doesn't overcomplicate things—he reads the floor well and makes the simple, correct pass to keep the offense moving. The incoming Marist guard also provided a great spark on the offensive glass, pointing to a standout season ahead.

Great Lakes Finals brought out some of the region's best talent, but it was the playmakers who truly dictated the game. From pure floor generals to shifty, dual-threat guards, these prospects stood out with their vision, handle, and ability to elevate their teams.