First Live Period: Under-The-Radar Guards To Watch (17U, Part I)
The spring AAU season will be in full swing this weekend as the first live period gets underway.
Teams from Colorado will be out on the road as they prepare to put their best foot forward in front of college coaches.
Here are some 2018 guards to keep an eye on out on the trail this weekend:
Xai’Vion Jackson, 5-10, Colorado Hawks Nations
While Daylen Kountz, Sam Masten, Jon’il Fugett make up as good a guard trio as you’ll find in the Rocky Mountain Region, Jackson’s role of the bench for the Hawks can’t be understated. Jackson is an excellent on-ball defender who relishes his role as a guard who brings the pressure. He’s an intelligent player who thrives in using angles as a defender, forcing ball-handlers away from their comfort zones. The Hawks thrive in transition, and when Jackson gets the ball in transition, his eyes are up the court and surveying for open teammates. Jackson, a key member of the Eaglecrest team that won the 5A state championship this season, is a highly dependable player who coaches taking in the Adidas Gauntlet stop in Dallas this weekend should keep a close eye on.
Jack Moore, 6-1, B&B Academy
Moore is a dangerous outside shooter with smooth mechanics. He’s best in catch-and-shoot situations, but he displayed a good headiness with the ball in his hands while helping lead Golden to the Class 4A state semifinals this past season. He’s longer than 6-1 frame would suggest, and that helps him defensively. His strength is as a shooter, and if he continues to work on his quickness and developing ways to get that shot on his own, he could be a productive small-college player. Moore and B&B are playing at the H-Town Classic in Houston this weekend.
Austin Forsberg, 6-1, Denver Elite 2017s
Forsberg is an unsigned senior whose outside shooting ability helped Eaglecrest win the big-school state championship last month. He’s a great catch-and-shoot weapon and works hard to put himself in position to do damage from the perimeter. Uses pump fakes well and isn’t afraid to take it to the basket. Small schools still looking for an effective shooter for their rosters should check in on this under-the-radar guard. Forsberg will be playing locally at the Mile High Invitational at Gold Crown Field House this weekend.
Champion Martin, 6-2, Denver Elite 17U
The 2018 guard displayed an impressive attacking mentality at the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off earlier this month. A track standout at Cherokee Trail, Martin has the athleticism to push the pace in transition and is always on the move to the basket. Has good size and length as a defender and plays with a high motor. He’ll also play at the Mile High Invitational.
Jalen Talbott, 5-11, Colorado Hawks Prospects
Talbott was instrumental two weeks ago in leading the Hawks Prospects squad to a surprise championship in the 17U Platinum Bracket at the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off. Talbott has bided his time in high school playing on a senior heavy Eaglecrest team that won the state championship last season, but new coach Jarris Krapcha has a talented lead guard to work with in Talbott, who handles the ball very well, is crafty on the attack and is a dependable outside shooter. He figures to draw some attention on the Adidas Prospect Series circuit, beginning with Friday night’s action at Duncanville Fieldhouse. Darius Houston and Shawn’Trell White are also under-the-radar guards to watch on that team.