Prospect Rankings Update: 2018 Top Point Guards (Tier 1)
No position comes close to PG in the Class of 2018. Memphis has a proud history of producing elite point guards and three of the top five players in the whole state are Memphis point guards: Alex Lomax, Tyler Harris, Mark Freeman.
Darius Garland, the #1 player in 2018 was not always a sure thing. He and his father trained harder than any competitor realizes when they step onto the court. Because Darius plays so smooth and decisive, and shoots so fluidly, he looks like a natural talent. Don’t be fooled. Entering high school Garland lacked size, strength, and defensive instincts. He was smaller than small, but developed all the skills that matter longterm.
Darius Garland worked on handles, shooting off the dribble, moving his feet laterally, and he gained the expected weight of a growing young man. Entering his senior year there is no doubt he will be a spectacular starting college point guard. His ceiling continues to nudge higher with each passing month. The team of Darius, father Winston Garland, High School Coach Hubie Smith, and a trainer ferociously tinker with and improve the skill package.
This group of ten players represents the best of the best point guards in the state.
You can see the complete 2018 rankings here.
#1 Darius Garland
Always a deadly shooter, Garland’s defensive footwork and ability to finish in traffic really soared in the last two years. Vanderbilt is trying to close his recruitment by fighting off giants Duke, UCLA, Kentucky, and Indiana.
#2 Alex Lomax
Intelligent basketball minds will debate Lomax ahead of Tyler Harris, but Lomax is a better passer, better leader, and more steady defensively. Look at Lomax’s wins the last three years in AAU and high school. The tank spearheaded two state titles and a Peach Jam final four after his sophomore season. What more can a PG do to prove himself?
#4 Tyler Harris
Nobody had a better summer than Tyler Harris. His Team Thad 17u team won Bluff City Live and Fab 48. He was the Fab 48 MVP and simply impossible to defend all month.
#5 Mark Freeman
Of the top four point guards Mark Freeman might have improved his recruiting looks the most in the last six months. Most astute recruiters knew what Garland, Lomax, and Harris could be, but Freeman suffered for his height. By June D1 programs finally realized he can and does score and finish against D1-quality players already.
#14 Camron Johnson
Sadly Camron will bypass the college basketball path. Before verbally committing to Vanderbilt in June WR Johnson had a half dozen SEC football offers. Darius gets most of the shine, but Camron is just as quick as Jordan Bone (Tennessee) and obnoxiously disruptive with his hands and feet on defense. Brentwood Academy will lean more on him after BA guard Jeremiah Oatsvall (Austin Peay football) graduated.
#18 Jordan Johnson
UT Martin offered Jordan Johnson (Memphis Central) in June. With his remarkable shooting touch he might supply a college program with a secondary ball-handler. Two point guard systems are popular and Johnson can slot right in.
#21 Christian Jones
More than most young guards, Christian Jones is great at playing away from the basketball. He has experience playing alongside ball-dominant teammates (Freeman, Harris, etc) and thrives when defenses get too ball-focused. Jones routinely hits open shots, and finishing in traffic is also surprisingly easy for the Southwind guard.
#22 Junior Clay
The best point guard east of I-65 is Junior Clay. He visited Tennessee Tech mid-September.
#23 Caleb Fields
Wildly overlooked Caleb Fields bounces around with an unnatural athleticism. He glides across the floor and defends at an elite level when he wants to.
#24 Taelyr Gatlin
Gatlin deservedly climbed the most of these 10 in the last two months. Size and composure on the ball make him an attractive recruit. Look for his game to age well in the coming years.