Centennial Classic: Top Guards
Ankeny — Hoover took home the title at the Centennial Classsic last weekend, and even though the Huskies put very little size on the floor, their guards were all game-changers. Four guards on the Huskies were sensational play-makers in their own right; they make up half of this list. Here’s eight of the best guards we saw at the event.
Hosea Treadwell, 6’2 G (Hoover) — 2019
This Hoover guard is primed for a monster senior season, and he’ll be among the very few vying for All-CIML contention, that’s tough to do. He scored 28 in a first-round shellacking of Iowa City West, then let his mates take the reins in the semis against Linn-Mar before going off for 30 in the title game, a win over Omaha Central. Treadwell was the best player on Sunday at Centennial.
Kenny Quinn, 5’9 PG (Hoover) — 2019
At one point in the day, Quinn, all 5-feet-nine inches of him, was down in the post and a 6’2 guard was down there trying to post him up, key word trying. Quinn made a remark to him, something to the effect of, “don’t even try and post up,” and despite having a considerable height advantage, things did not end well for the taller guard. Quinn is sturdy and smart on defense, and has excellent lateral quickness while guarding the perimeter, too. He’s a premier defender in the state.
Manny Austin, 6′ G (Hoover ) — 2021
The rising sophomore showed glimpses of what he might be capable of last season when he played considerable minutes with the varsity as a freshman. More impressive, that was one of the best teams in the state he was playing up with. Austin has grown some, physically, and his game has improved a ton. He’s a threat to be a real superstar as an upperclassmen for the Huskies with his ability to float to the rim and finish at or near the rim, and his sweet jumper from mid-range and deep. And he’s a Husky, so he Ds up, too.
Adam Jackson, 5’10 G (Hoover)
A built 5’10 scoring guard, Jackson had a breakout season last winter as a junior, helping the Huskies to a 19-3 record while averaging 12.1 points per game, making him the leading returning scorer (Treadwell averaged 12.0). He’s one of those guys that if he gets hot, you just clear out and let him go. That’s exactly what happened in the semifinal against Linn-Mar, Jackson was slicing and dicing with his quick handle and canning his mid-range, too, en route to 16 first half points, all of them from inside the arc. He finished that one with a game-high 22 points.
Antonio Turner, 5’9 PG (Iowa City High)
Whoo, this guy was putting on a show right off the bat Sunday on the main court at Centennial. He led his team to what could have been considered an upset of the much bigger host squad, Ankeny Centennial, while scoring 19 points and coming away with a slew of dimes and steals. Turner is very quick and a possesses a tight handle, his vision is his best strength and that makes him a dynamic play-maker. This was probably the most eye-opening performance of the day.
John Steffen, 6′ PG (Linn-Mar)
One weekend after showing out at Kings of the Court, Steffen was back in the Des Moines area showing out again. We caught him during a semifinal loss to Hoover, he was very good in that one for the Lions, scoring a team-high 19 points and playing the point guard role effectively. A light’s out shooter, he canned three in that semifinal, and was getting to the rim with a tight handle and some blow-by ability. Steffen is a steady and skilled guard with two big years coming at Linn-Mar.
Preston Kelling, 6’3 G (Ankeny Centennial)
Maybe the most improved player we saw at the event, it’s clear that Kelling has been working on his game, and his confidence level has risen considerably. We had him pegged as a sharpshooting wing before, but he was handling the ball well and playing point guard at this event. What was most impressive is his ability to get to the rim off the bounce, and at 6’3, he’s able to finish over smaller opponents more often than not. He was also kicking out for open looks routinely after getting past his man. The Jags will need to fill the point guard void left by Hunter Strait, it looks like Kelling is a capable candidate.
Nick Pepin, 5’10 PG (Iowa City West)
We saw Pepin play twice, in the first game against Hoover it took while for him to get in, and when he got in, Kenny Quinn was giving him fits. That was a bad game all-around for West. In the consolation final, West narrowly lost to Centennial; after trailing big late, it was Pepin who catalyzed a nice comeback. He’s a fiery guard with a nice jumper and some toughness to him. He’s not a flashy ball-handler, but he keeps the ball secure and limits turnovers. West’s starting point guard Dante Eldridge was not at the event, so we didn’t get a chance to see how the two play together, but it seems Pepin might get some nice run with the Trojans next winter.