Class of 2020 (Point Guards)
Prep Hoops Missouri now takes a look at the top point guards in the Class of 2020
Phillip Russell 5’10” Vashon
The talented guard enjoyed a very productive summer with Brad Beal Elite which resulted in scholarship offers from Division I schools such as Valparaiso, SEMO and UMKC. He is an excellent 3-point shooter, which enables him to play off the ball as well in a two-point guard lineup. He’s quick and he handles the ball well, plus he showed an ability to get in passing lanes and create turnovers. He’ll be the floor leader for Vashon’s loaded team in 2019.
Dontae Taylor 6’2″ Parkview
An aggressive lead guard who is tough to keep out of the lane when he wants to get to the basket. He has put in two good years of varsity ball already at Parkview. He averaged 12 points a game in helping Parkview to the Class 5 state quarterfinals as a sophomore. He’s physically strong and very determined, which enables him to play through contact easily.
Rashad McDaniel 5’11” Trinity
The thick point guard displayed some excellent offensive chops during his summer of play with MO Team Carroll. He uses his physical strength to his advantage to bully smaller guards to the basket or post up in the lane. He displayed the ability to score from all three levels along with good court vision. He has a quick set of hands, which he used to pick a lot of pockets. He will be a key player for Trinity, which will be a top-level Class 3 team.
Maricus Grant 6’2″ Battle
The athletic lead guard proved to be one of the top defensive performers in the state, regardless of class. His on-ball pressure is relentless as he will pick up opposing ball handlers from the backcourt and hound them for the full 94 feet. He is also good at playing the passing lanes and create steals. He loves defense and plays it with a passion. His aggression translates to the offensive end with his ability to attack the basket.
Quenton Shelton 6’2″ Lebanon
The talented guard enjoyed an excellent summer playing for Woodz Elite out of Arkansas, which was one of the top 16U teams in the country. Quenton helped them win the 16U title at the EYBL Peach Jam with his versatile play in the backcourt. He is a knock down shooter from 3-point range with a little flair to his game. He has been a serious scoring and passing threat for Lebanon since he entered the school as a freshman.
Kaimen Lennox 6’1″ Truman
The talented guard is primed for a breakout junior season at Truman. He has all of the instincts of a good point guard with his ability to facilitate, lead a team and play solid defense to set the tone. He combines that with the ability to go and get buckets when he feels his team needs it. He has a strong first step to the basket and the ability to pull up and hit jumpers in the middle area.
Jaylen Boyd 6’0″ Ladue
A very crafty southpaw who constantly keeps opposing defenders off balance with his ability to change speed and directions on the dime. He is a solid defender who has improved his game in two big categories. He has added a 3-point stroke to compliment his ability to knife in the lane for layups and short jumpers. He is also a more explosive athlete, as shown by his numerous dunks with both hands in transition.
Adam Sommer 6’3″ Parkway South
One of the bigger point guards in the class, Adam has a strong body and he uses it well to keep those pesky defenders at bay to keep the offense moving. He has good court vision and can deliver some very nice passes off the dribble to cutting teammates. He gets where he wants to go on offense and can hit a mid-range jumper off the dribble and knock down his share of 3-pointers.
Kobe Campbell 6’0″ Raytown South
The young point guard saw many minutes as a sophomore on a Raytown South team that advanced to the Class 4 state championship game last season. He can play at a high rate of speed, but he is able to keep things under control without making a lot of mistakes. He is very good at getting into the lane and his decision making is quite good.
Jeremiah Johnson 6’2″ McCluer
A long, wiry point guard who uses his size and length to excel at both ends of the court. He has a nice set of handles and can create his own offense with them. He does well in a pick and roll as he can go downhill to the rim or pull up for the jumper if a defender goes underneath the screen. When he is active on defense, he can cause problems. He led McCluer to late run and a surprise appearance in a district championship game a year ago.
Jalen Perry 5’9″ Liberty North
A very quick point guard who plays a fast game, but does a good job of staying under control. He can cause problems with his ability to get into the lane, where he can drop in a floater or find an open teammate for a dunk or and open jumper from 3-point territory.
Tyrus Reddin 5’8″ Cape Girardeau Central
A diminutive athlete who plays much bigger than his actual size because of his explosive leaping ability and fearless attitude on the court. He can lull defenders to sleep, then drop them off with a quick burst of speed to the basket to finish at the rim over opposing bigs. He can also be a pest on defense. He returns to lead a Cape Central team that should be a real factor in Class 4 in 2019.
Payton Howard 5’10” Sikeston
You won’t see much of Howard on the basketball court during the summer because he’s an elite-level baseball player. On the hardwood, he is a savvy performer who can handle the ball and knock down jumpers from the perimeter without a lot of effort. His feel for the game is excellent and he has displayed a lot of savvy and poise in some big situations for a youngster for the Bulldogs.
Tayven Glasgow 6’1″ Lee’s Summit West
A thick-bodied pass first point guard who plays an old-school game where he likes to facilitate and keeps his teammates involved in the action. His basketball IQ is high and he uses his physical strength to ward off defenders and get to the basket through contact. He stays under control and he also has a solid post up game to take advantage of his size. He is also a fine prospect on the football field.
Jace Lance 6’0″ Marshall
A very capable floor leader with the ability to facilitate the offense and get buckets for his team. He is an excellent 3-point shooter who can also get to the basket and make plays off dribble penetration. He has been a stalwart in the Marshall’s starting lineup since his freshman year.
Tahj Patterson 5’11” Lutheran North
A skilled combo guard who averaged 10 points a game as a sophomore at North. He had a solid summer as he ran with Team Tae out of Nashville during the grassroots season. He has solid range from 3-point territory and he has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. With the transfer of standout guard Jordan Nesbit out of North, Patterson will be counted on to carry a bigger scoring load.