Top 2020 PGs
The strength of the 2020 class especially at the top of the board is the lead guards. We look into the best of the best here!
Adam Miller (Morgan Park)
Current Ranking: #1
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
The 6’4” point guard has great size and the ability to really score it from all three levels. He is back now playing with the Mac Irvin Fire after about a month out to start the spring with an injury. Miller had a strong close to his sophomore season in his first year of playing in Chicago after moving from Peoria. Smooth scorer with size that has become more consistent with his jump shot. High-major prospect.
DJ Steward
Current Ranking: #2
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Steward lived up to his status as a top 30 player nationally in 2020 this spring. The slick handling lead guard absolutely dominated at times. This guard shot it about as well as we have seen him especially from three. Also controlled the game as a distributor dishing the rock to his shooters on the money time after time. He works so well running the show for this Meanstreets 16U squad. High-major all the way!
Tyler Beard (Whitney Young)
Current Ranking: #3
Travel Team: Meanstreets
The Whitney Young sophomore is a freak show athlete with the way to uses his speed and leaping ability to make an impact on the game. Beard rebounds extremely well for a guard high pointing them over bigger post players. So fast in transition and is impossible to stop when he has opponents going backwards. Plays above the rim finishing alley-oops with ease. Defensively he also makes plays in the air swatting shots at an insane rate for a guard. High-major point guard that lit up Nike Elite 100 in June.
Ahron Ulis (Marian Catholic)
Current Ranking: #6
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Ulis really elevated his game as a sophomore this season at Marian Catholic. He played a major role in taking his team to the state final four. The lead guard has an amazing ability to be a playmaker in the open floor. He has the speed and vision to find others. One of the best pure passers in the state’s sophomore class. He has become a capable three point shooter. Projects as a mid-major prospect.
Marcus Watson (Morgan Park)
Current Ranking: #7
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Watson had an outstanding showing at the state tournament helping lead his team to another state title. He is an angular guard that plays bigger than his height especially defensively because of his length. Gets into his man and doesn’t let him get comfortable. Watson is so smooth with the rock weaving in and out of defenders and scoring at the cup with acrobatic layups. Lot of transition scores. Mid-major player.
Reggie Strong (Farragut)
Current Ranking: #8
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Strong is an angular point guard from Farragut who PHI has ranked in the top 10 overall in the state. I like the progression he has made his game over the last year. Strong used to be more of a score first mentality. With the players around him elevating his game he is more than willing to be a distributor getting them the ball in spots to succeed. Sound passer that is learning to run a team in the half court. Also is a plus defender that has very active hands getting multiple steals a game. Mid-major prospect.
Elliot Sieger (Whitney Young)
Current Ranking: #16
Travel Team: KL5AIA
Sieger played with a new team this spring and the Whitney Young guard. He didn’t shoot it well from the perimeter when we saw him. His long release is still a bit of a concern. Sieger pushed it in transition with his speed and burst getting past opponents. Was consistently in attack mode throughout the contest scoring with layups, runners, and getting on the glass. Right now more of a low-major kid.
Ray’Sean Taylor (Collinsville)
Current Ranking: #22
Travel Team: Gateway Illinois
Taylor put on a show when we evaluated him late in the spring playing for Gateway Illinois 16U. The point guard pushes the tempo getting the ball up the floor in a hurry with his speed. Ability to win one on one off the dribble getting in the lane where he finishes well at the rim. Also has a nice looking jumper that he can hit both pulling up and from three. Crisp passer that has some creativity dishing to teammates. Needs to be monitored by low-major programs.
PJ Edwards (Springfield Lanphier)
Current Ranking: #23
Travel Team: Team RWA
Edwards has great size at 6’3” with strength and projectability. Even when he doesn’t score he can impact the game. His defense is very good. Gets up into his man and uses his quick hands to get in passing lanes and swipe the ball from opposing guards. High risk/high reward passer. Excellent guard rebounder. As a scorer he is powerful attacking getting in the lane and to the charity stripe. Streaky three point shooter. D1 prospect that we would like to see be more consistent.
Alex Wood (Normal U-High)
Current Ranking: #38
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Wood intrigued us when we saw him last summer with his leadership and ability to get others involved. His game continues to grow and evolve. Wood has become a more consistent threat from the perimeter shooting from three. Quick and concise release. Shoots one dribble pull ups with ease. Wood is a plus passer that plays with a high IQ especially in the half court. Worthy of low-major interest.
Donovan Newby (Bloom)
Current Ranking: #39
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Newby missed part of the high school season with an injury, but he is back healthy and had a nice showing running the show for the Wolves 16U this spring. The Bloom standout is more of a scoring point guard that is at his best attacking downhill where he scores with tough layups and runners over post players. Low-major prospect.