Esquivel has been a constant improver over the last year, and he’s continued it in the early part of this season. He’s a killer in the paint, utilizing pullups and a nice floater to hit over bigs, and he’s improved as a shooter to hit threes at a better clip. He’s averaging 20.3 points and 7.5 assists per game so far.

Esquivel was one of the top playmakers of the afternoon with his ability to skip through the defense, attack those in between areas with efficiency, and get the ball up the floor quickly in transition. He’s not the tallest or the strongest kid out there, but he has tremendous balance and footwork to keep himself strong and able to change direction quickly while working off the dribble. It wasn’t just his passing that helped him make plays either, he was able find space off the ball and with the dribble in the mid-range to bury jumpers and use every part of the floor to attack.

I watched him in Centralia this spring and saw the potential to be a great point guard who can also score. He is strong and can get into the lane often where he is capable of both scoring and facilitating. He is also a good shooter from three. He played with a high basketball IQ and makes good decisions as an unselfish player.

This guy is probably one of the more underrated names on this list but if he is able to help lift East Valley to a playoff appearance next season, he should start to garner more attention. He’s starting to get a little bigger, a little stronger, and was already an excellent ballhandler and playmaker for the Red Devils. Esquivel also has a 3-point shot that seems to be getting better and better, and he could end up being one of the top point guards in the 2A next season. Keep an eye out for this under the radar player who shows a knack for making plays and has the instincts to stand out in any game.

Esquivel is the shortest player on this list, he is the youngest player on the list, and yet neither has seemed to hold him back. He started all season for the East Valley Red Devils and showed he’s got the confidence and skill to lead a team even as a freshman. He didn’t jump out as a big-time scorer last season but was excellent in running the offense, taking care of the ball, and providing a nice outlet as a shooter from distance. Esquivel is supremely quick and is already a prepared leader on offense.