2021 Rankings: Top Shooting Guards/Combo Guards
Ben Johnson, Lexington Catholic (M.A.T.T.S. Mustangs) – Ben is a high scoring guard that is moving off the ball as his career moves on. Johnson is an electric scorer who will continue to improve as he learns to move without…
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Continue ReadingBen Johnson, Lexington Catholic (M.A.T.T.S. Mustangs) – Ben is a high scoring guard that is moving off the ball as his career moves on. Johnson is an electric scorer who will continue to improve as he learns to move without the basketball. He can be a big time catch and shoot wing as his release is quick and his range extends to the parking lot. The biggest question mark for Ben moving forward will be his ability to guard elite athletes and be a good two way player instead of primarily an offensive force.
Scotty Draud, Beechwood (Louisville Magic) – At 6’5 and still growing, Draud has great length for the shooting guard position. Scotty is another one who will need to improve moving without the basketball as he is very ball dominant at Beechwood. Draud continues to improve off the bounce and has shown an ability to guard his position while playing with the Magic this spring and summer. There is a good chance Scotty Draud ends up as one of the highest scoring players in Northern Kentucky history by the time he graduates.
Kelly Niece, Simon Kenton (Indiana Elite 16u) – Niece is an explosive scorer that can shoot it or put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. He spent the spring and summer playing up a grade level on the best 16u team in the country so he is likely to return this year with an even better knack for scoring the ball against the 8th region and rest of Kentucky. The only concern with Nice going forward is if he is going to grow and become more of a true shooting guard or if he’s going to be a point guard. If he’s not going to grow, he’s going to have to improve a ton as a defender.
Dashawn Jackson, Frederick Douglass (Manimal Elite) – Another prospect with a big ceiling, Jackson will compete with Ben Johnson to be the best sophomore in the city of Lexington the next three years. Originally when I saw Dashawn he was more of a catch and shoot specialist that was deadly as a corner shooter. Lately he has become more of a slasher from the wing. If Jackson continues to develop and put together the entire package of skills, he will wind up a no brainer D1 player in my mind and should move up the rankings as they progress.
Alijah Watts, Hopkinsville – Alijah has slid in the rankings since they first posted but mainly because other players are developing quicker than he has. Watts still has a high ceiling as a combo guard but he needs to become more than just the lefty slasher he is right now. Watts struggles to finish with his right but he has the burst and athleticism to get past most defenders. Alijah has played some really impressive stretches of basketball over the past year since I first saw him. When he figures out how to play that hard and effective all the time, he can be a force in the 2021 class.
Other Names to Know:
Jaquais Franklin, Elizabethtown (Hoop Dreams)
Devean Franklin, Fern Creek (Louisville Legends)
Connor Robinson, Clay County (M.A.T.T.S. Mustangs)
Cory Vanhoose, Johnson Central (Team Vision)
Myle Morones, Bryan Station (Charlotte Court)