Alongside Cannady in the backcourt, Canton is another consistent scorer who provides value as a guard who can play on or off the ball. At his best, he’s attacking off dribble-drive kicks where he can use his first step to establish advantages in the gaps, find his way to the rim, and finish through contact. He also thrived in transition where Canton can get a head of steam with end-to-end speed and put pressure on the rim. Canton knocked down a couple of smooth shots from deep throughout the course of their two games. As this aspect of his game becomes more consistent, Canton’s dynamism will continue to expand.

Canton continues to stack strong performances since making his move to Mt. Zion and this weekend was no different. The Warriors escaped their games above the border with an unblemished record and in their second game against DNA Prep (CAN), Canton’s 23 points and seven rebounds were key in pulling out the 74-71 victory. Canton was a consistent threat on fastbreak opportunities streaking the lanes with intent and others found him in stride for easy throwdowns. He’s been consistent in exposing driving lanes thanks to the gravity that others like Zion Green Zion Green 6'9" | PF Mt. Zion Preparatory Academy | 2027 State #18 Nation MD and Jasiah Cannady Jasiah Cannady 6'2" | PG Mt. Zion Preparatory Academy | 2026 State MD demand. Even when his defender is on an island, Canton uses his burst to gain an angle and shields them off with his strong frame to finish through rotating bigs around the bucket.

Canton jumped nearly 40 spots as he looks to fill out a primary role for Mt. Zion Prep this season. He’s looked strong this fall both literally and figuratively as the 6-foot-2 guard has established himself as an impactful finisher around the rim in fall events. With a quick first step to gain advantages in driving lanes, Canton consistently forces the defense to collapse and present opportunities for himself or others. He’s a presence in the open floor and creates advantages with or without the ball. The shooting has been an improving aspect of Canton’s game that could be the ultimate swing skill for projecting his ceiling. While his rise in the latest update was steep, he may not be finished.

This was my first viewing of Canton since he made the move to Mt. Zion and it seems his strengths will be highlighted quite nicely. The 6-foot-2 guard who’s nearing 6-foot-3 is a downhill force combined with quickness and a physical frame that makes him a handful to defend on drives to the rim. Canton is at his best playing in an uptempo setting where his end-to-end speed becomes clear, but it’s also prevalent in the half court as he can catch and quickly take advantage of the rotating defense by exposing driving lanes. His jumper from three is still a work in progress, but with time and space, Canton can knock them down with decent consistency. Considering he demands respect with his driving ability from his defender, becoming a knockdown shooter from deep will further unlock his offensive repertoire. He’s a stout defender and willing rebounder who can quickly grab-and-go.

-Canton is definitely a player that will rise pretty sharply in our next set of rankings and will likely continue to climb as the year progresses in new threads with Mt. Zion. Canton might be the fastest player in the area with the ball in his hands and is an incredibly explosive leaper that can really contort his body in midair to adjust appropriately to finish around the basket. He knocks down open jumpers, attacks closeouts effectively, and has a nose for the basketball at the defensive end of the floor. Canton should be one of the most consistent scorers in the area and should really boost his recruitment this season with MZN on the Grind Circuit.

Canton is an athletic guard who plays with a relentless attacking mindset. He consistently puts pressure on the rim with strong drives to the basket. His explosiveness makes him tough to stay in front of in one-on-one situations. Canton’s ability to get downhill keeps defenses on their heels throughout the game.

The other bright spot for Rutgers Prep in the season-ending loss were the flashes shown by Canton at the point. He was aggressive using his dynamic handle and strong frame to work his way into the paint, where he displayed crafty finishing ability using either hand and keen vision for kickouts to shooters. His competitive fire also showed through in spite of the lopsided score and the injuries alongside him. We’ll look to see growth in terms of his feel from the lead guard spot, but the building blocks are there for Canton to develop into a high-major guard over time.