2021 Metro Hidden Gems: Shooting Guards

<p>With the 2021 class losing out on the spring portion of the AAU season, we at Prep Hoops want to give recognition to some hidden gems at the shooting guard position. A majority of these players are ranked outside of our top-100, and are all capable of playing at the next level!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774885" first="Dawson" last="Rudolph"] (6’2 2021 SG, Park Center)- </strong>A talented player who had a limited role due to the senior talent in front of him at Park Center, Dawson should have plenty of opportunity to contribute next season. He’s a tough player with physicality and some quickness on the perimeter, and is a hard-nosed defender who never takes a possession off. Offensively he’s dangerous spotting up from three but can finish around the rim when he gets inside. He averaged 2.9 ppg as a junior mainly coming off the bench as a defensive specialist.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957231" first="Anthony" last="Martin"] (6’2 2021 SG, Minneapolis South)- </strong>One of the top performers in the Minneapolis City Conference this past season, [player_tooltip player_id="957231" first="Anthony" last="Martin"] proved to be a three-level scoring threat. A creative handler capable of getting open look off the bounce, Martin has confidence shooting from three, can pull-up from mid-range and hit with a defender in his face, and is a crafty finisher capable of contorting his body to score around the rim. Anthony averaged 17.3 ppg as a junior, and could be in for a big time senior season if he continues to improve over the next six to seven months. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774901" first="Jackson" last="Purcell"] (6’4 2021 SG, Eastview)- </strong>An athletic guard with great size for the position, Jackson carved out a big role off the bench for a senior dominated Eastview team this past winter, and will be a go-to player for them next season. Purcell is an exceptional on-ball defender whose combination of quickness and long arms allows him to pick opponents’ pockets and get out in transition. In the open floor he has the explosiveness to finish above the rim, and he’s a solid spot-up shooter in the half court. That combined with his craftiness getting to the rim allowed him to average 7.2 ppg during his junior season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774790" first="Derek" last="Burgess"] (6’1 2021 G, Cristo Rey Jesuit)- </strong>A strong guard with a torch from beyond the arc, [player_tooltip player_id="774790" first="Derek" last="Burgess"] has been hurting opposing teams with his outside shot for years. As a junior he spent the year averaging 13.2 ppg while shooting 37% on 162 three point attempts. Derek moves well off the ball to find openings along the perimeter, and has no problem launching shots from beyond the college line. His strong frame also allows him to compete for rebounds in the paint, evident by the 5.4 rebounds per game that he averaged as a junior.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957229" first="Carter" last="Owens"] (6’3 2021 SG, St. Paul Highland Park)- </strong>A smooth slashing guard who was among the top scorers in the St. Paul City Conference this past season, [player_tooltip player_id="957229" first="Carter" last="Owens"] is a smooth slasher who gets to the rim with ease. Playing with great change of pace Carter can get his defender sleeping and then blow by with a quick burst to get in the lane. Once there he seems to glide through the air in slow motion able to contort his body fluidly to finish around defenders. Though the consistency in his jumper isn’t quite there, he has shown that he can knock down a few threes off the bounce once he gets in a rhythm. Carter averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game as a junior. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957607" first="Adam" last="Holod"] (6’1 2021 SG, St. Paul Academy)- </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957607" first="Adam" last="Holod"] has already eclipsed 1,000 career points after averaging 21.8 a game as a junior, and is a solid three-level scorer. Adam can dribble his way onto the block where he has crafty footwork to get off a shot, and he can knock down mid-range jumpers off the bounce. From beyond the arc he can hit off the bounce or run off screens and knock down shots off the catch. He’s shown constant improvements every year in high school, and if that trend continues he could be in for a massive senior year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774787" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] (6’3 2021 G, Woodbury)- </strong>Having added a few inches in height since his sophomore season, [player_tooltip player_id="774787" first="Mac" last="Lockner"] stepped up as a reliable shooting threat for Woodbury. He steps into his shot with confidence, and has the range to hit from well beyond the high school line. Mac averaged 6.3 ppg during his junior season, and is a guy who will consistently give his team two or three baskets a game. Defensively he works hard and fights to get over screens, and he has quick hands that lead to a lot of tipped passes and steals to get out in transition.</p>