2019 Rankings Breakdown: Top Playmakers
A playmaker on the hardwood can be defined simply as a guy who makes things happen either for himself or for his teammates.
It could be an isolation bucket with the shot clock or game clock running down, a step-back 3-pointer or mid-range jumper with a hand in the face or even a simple drive-and-kick to an open 3-point shooter or shooting a passing lane on defense to get an easy transition bucket.
The following five players are the very best creators in Southern California for the class of 2019.
5. Jaden Shackelford (Oak Hills/The Truth)
Shackelford is probably the least well-known player on this list due to him playing high school basketball in the high desert of Hesperia. But now that the 6-2 combo guard has joined The Truth and gotten some run on the EYBL Circuit, his ability to score and create has taken center stage. Shackelford is a quick and crafty lefty who scores from all three levels, but also has impressive vision when probing the lane.
4. Ethan Anderson (Fairfax/Gamepoint Pump N Run)
Fairfax guard Ethan Anderson uses combination of strength and speed to get to his spots and create.Anderson is an absolute bully with the ball in his hands. He has a nice combination of strength and speed and understands how to use both to his advantage. Anderson uses his strength to get to any spot and shot he wants in the half-court setting and has blow-by speed in transition. The 6-footer gets to the basket at-will and can absorb and finish through contact better than any guard in the class.
3. Rejean “Boogie” Ellis (Mission Bay/San Diego All-Stars)
Ellis burst onto the scene as a pure three-level scorer during his middle schools years and freshman season at Mission Bay, but the electric 6-foot scorer has shown signs of improving distribution and placement on his passing. Still, though, the scoring aspect of playmaking is still Boogie’s forte. The difficulty level of his shots is on the same level as LaMelo Ball and he’s a consistent jump shooter from both 3-point and mid-range.
2. Gianni Hunt (Bishop Montgomery/California Supreme)
Of all the prospects on this list, Hunt is more of the pure point guard playmaker type. The lefty is tough as nails on both ends of the floor and runs the intricacies of Doug Mitchell’s Bishop Montgomery offense to a “T.” Hunt is of the pass-first variety and places all of his finds on the money for teammates. The next high school season will be a big one for the 6-foot-1 floor general as two of Montgomery’s best players – Ethan Thompson and Jordan Schakel – graduated, meaning more scoring responsibility for Hunt.
1. LaMelo Ball (Chino Hills/Big Ballers)
Ball is easily the most dynamic guard in this So-Cal class. His feel on the ball is uncanny for a 15 year-old and, as chronicled in the Top Shooters Breakdown, the 6-3 guard is also one of the elite scorers in the class, as well. What goes unnoticed by most about Ball’s game is his vision. Like his older brother – and No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft – Lonzo Ball, Melo sees the game a few steps ahead of everyone else and has a flair for the dramatic with his dimes.