2020 Point Guards: Most To Prove (Part 2)
With the 2018-19 season quickly approaching, there are endless prospects out to show they can play with the big boys at the next level.
Last week, I broke down 10 rising senior point guards (Part 1 and Part 2) who must prove their worth this fall.
Here’s a look at some more rising junior point guards who will be looking to do just that here this season.
ICYMI: 2020 Part 1
Over at Inspire Prep, 6’2″ guard Khalyl Simmons is carving out a name for himself. The dangerous shooter gets hot quickly and isn’t afraid to pull up in your face. Simmons is a pure shooter and with interest from VCU, Coastal Carolina, Stetson and others, I expect the junior to earn some offers awfully soon. He is No. 48 overall in the latest 2020 Florida rankings.
Unfortunately, Keon Buckley sat out most of the spring and summer with an injury. The Lakewood Ranch guard is a vocal leader, who is always having fun on the court. At 6’0″, he’s filling out his frame and I saw him work on his slashing and jumper quite a bit as a sophomore in the season and at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo. Buckley comes in at No. 60 in the 2020 Florida rankings.
The younger brother of rookie New York Knicks forward Kevin Knox, Kobe Knox has shown glimpses of what he can become. The outside touch has always been there for him and if he can work on his attacking game, he’ll boost his stock plenty. UNF offered Knox earlier in the summer and at 6’3″, he’s added two inches in height. Knox is No. 64 in the 2020 Florida rankings.
Whenever I see Jalen Speer hoop, he always makes it known he’s on the floor. At the UF team camp in June, he hit a 3-pointer at the fourth quarter buzzer to help his PK Yonge group clinch the win. 2019 guard Byron Smith returns to the Blue Wave for his senior season while 2021 guard Adrian Bloodworth is a good piece in his sophomore season. This is Speer’s team as he feels comfortable running the show. He is No. 65 overall in the 2020 Florida rankings.
2020 PK Yonge G Jalen Speer beats the buzzer with this 3 fresh off a timeout. The celebration ensues after this game winner. The Blue Wave beat Miami Rebels 63-60 in a thriller. @PKYBasketball @rawerecruits pic.twitter.com/4L0TpbFmjN
— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@thehoopvibe) June 22, 2018
All the tools are there for Crisnel Francois to take that next step. The 6’2″ Suncoast guard is a gritty playmaker, who loves driving to the rack, dishing out quick passes and being a leader by example. Francois should be able to prove his worth this fall and generate some offers. He settles in at No. 56 in the 2020 Florida rankings.
ICYMI: The new 2020 Florida prospect rankings