CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown: Standout guard transfers (Part 2)

Commonwealth Basketball Group hosted its annual JUCO/Prep showdown this past weekend, bringing in some of the best junior college, prep school, and high school programs both from Virginia and across the East Coast and Midwest. After taking in the entire weekend of action, we came away with a handful of transfer guards who stood out for their new teams.    One of the most historic programs across the prep basketball landscape, Hargrave doesn't look to be missing a beat in the wake of an offseason coaching change, with West among an influx of high-octane talent into both the Tigers' prep and high school programs. West shined on Saturday night as a tone-setting utility guard an entertaining blend of strength, physicality, and quick-twitch athleticism. The North Carolina product by way of Trinity Academy of Raleigh didn't need plays drawn up for him in order to make an impact, consistently playing hard on the margins and showing a nose for the rim as a cutter and in transition. It was the most we've seen West given the opportunity to shine in an extended role, and he certainly looks to be on a real upswing in his development. As the son of a longtime NBA player, West brings some intriguing upside to the table with his late-blooming trajectory and now an extra year of runway to continue coming into his own.     Despite several key additions to the lineup, Potomac looked close to midseason form in a runaway Sunday win over St. Anne's-Belfield thanks in large part to its biggest addition in Franklin. A quickly-emerging swingman who really started coming into his own last year at Bishop O'Connell, Franklin is shifting from a complementary piece to a go-to scorer and showed little sign of needing to adjust to the new role. Franklin was effective and efficient pouring in buckets from all over the floor, particularly showcasing his smooth release and feathery shooting touch as a dynamic threat both off the catch and pulling up off the bounce. He shows fluid athleticism and a capable handle in open space with the ability to use his length to extend around rotating bigs as a finisher at the rim. There's still room for things to slow down for Franklin as a decisionmaker but his physical profile and ability to put the ball in the hole consistently make him an intriguing prospect to monitor at the D1 level.     FCS is still in the process of coming together as a unit with the bulk of its starting lineup coming in from other programs but Palmer nonetheless had extended stretches of impressive play in the backcourt. A breakout piece last year at Highland School in a reserve capacity, he's being thrust into a primary role for the Cardinals and looked comfortable taking on the added responsibility. He thrived as a shooter from long range, showcasing a smooth and confident stroke with polished mechanics across a variety of situations. Palmer also showed the ability to navigate pressure as a ballhandler and was fearless looking to finish through contact with his wiry strength and emerging athleticism. He has room to grow as a playmaker for others but Palmer's rangy frame and dynamic shooting should have him squarely on scholarship-level radars moving forward.     S3 Academy looked impressive as a unit on Sunday afternoon and perhaps nobody stood out individually to the extent of Clark. A sturdy guard coming over from Manchester (VA) as a repeat junior, Clark impressed with his strength and efficiency while playing both on and off the ball. He isn't the quickest but is smart and dependable with the ball with the ability to get into offense as a primary ballhandler and deceptive pace to beat his man on the perimeter to force the defense into rotation. Clark was also comfortable sliding off-ball as an efficient shotmaker off the catch. He won't win fans on the initial eye test, but Clark is a slow burn who coaches should develop an appreciation for after looking a bit deeper beneath the surface.     Massanutten made its fall debut with an almost entirely revamped lineup, and while things are still coming together for the Colonels as a whole, Carter had stretches of looking to be in midseason fom with his smooth attack on the perimeter. Carter has thrived in the past in various roles as a connector, floor-spacer, and secondary scorer but is being thrust into a go-to role consistently for the first time. He impressed with his typical shot-making prowess from the perimeter but also looked to be progressing as a downhill slasher, playing notably stronger through contact thanks to 10+ pounds of added muscle on his frame. Overall Carter presents a promising blend of floor and upside at the D1 level with his established comfort in a secondary role and ongoing growth as a primary scorer.

Commonwealth Basketball Group hosted its annual JUCO/Prep showdown this past weekend, bringing in some of the best junior college, prep school, and high school programs both from Virginia and across the East Coast and Midwest. After taking in the entire weekend of action, we came away with a handful of transfer guards who stood out for their new teams.