Top 2019 PGs
The depth at the point guard position is one of the strengths of the 2019 class in the state of Illinois. We look at the best of the best at the lead guard spot!
Markese Jacobs (Uplift)
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Overall Ranking: #2
Jacobs is still the top prospect at the point guard position as he has always been. The former Kansas commit is a strong and compact point guard that brings a lot of scoring pop and athleticism to the table. Jacobs had a good showing at Summer Jam where he led his team to the semifinals including hitting back to back game winners early in the tournament.
Marquise Kennedy (Brother Rice)
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Overall Ranking: #4
Kennedy is the prospect with the most buzz in the state right now at this position. The Brother Rice point guard played very well in Atlanta and when we saw him in Milwaukee he was stellar! Kennedy is a lead guard that has the ability to get to the rim with ease. Quick first step and finishes well in traffic. Capable shooter and is a sound passer.
Ray J Dennis (Oswego East)
Travel Team: Team Rose
Overall Ranking: #10
This 6’2” point guard racked up the offers at a high rate with his play for Team Rose during July. Dennis is a smooth point guard that handles the ball extremely well and works around ball screens. Sound pull up jump shooter from both mid-range and three with textbook mechanics. Really like his feel for the game as both a scorer and distributor.
Joseph Yesufu (Bolingbrook)
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Overall Ranking: #14
Compact guard that pushes the tempo with his speed in the open floor. Did a nice job of getting his teammates the ball in position to succeed in July. Was mostly a distributor when we saw him with Meanstreets in July, but he has proven with his high school team that he can score with his jets and pull up jumper.
Chris Roberts (Lincoln Park)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #18
Speed is the name of the game for this Lincoln Park point guard. In a class with a lot of speedy guards he would be the one I would bet on in a race end to end. Electric speed in the open floor and also consistently wins off the dribble where he gets in the lane. The jump shot needs to be more consistent.
Kejuan Clements (Simeon)
Travel Team: Team Rose
Overall Ranking: #19
Clements missed July due to an injury, but during the spring he was solid with Team Rose. The Simeon senior is a power point guard that played his role as a junior last season and is one to watch this year as he will be the guy for the Wolverines. Physical and compact body that allows him to get to the rim. Solid pull up from mid-range and streaky from three.
Tyler Cochran (Bolingbrook)
Travel Team: Hoopers
Overall Ranking: #21
Big and physical combo guard who plays best with the ball in his hands attacking downhill. Uses his physicality to score or draw contact inside. Consistently scores on and-1s. Big time rebounder for his position. Not the greatest athlete, but he uses his power to make up for it.
Treyvon Calvin (St. Viator)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #29
Calvin is a point guard that can handle it in space and is a plus shooter from the perimeter. Sound jump shot from mid-range and can hit from three off the catch as well. Decent defender that can get a steal and take it the other way. Wiry frame.
Bryce Bultman (Nashville)
Travel Team: Illinois Bears
Overall Ranking: #31
Bultman is a 6’5” point guard with excellent vision and feel as a point guard. He is at his best when he can use that passing to get his guys the ball and let them do damage. Reads defenders and is an effective drive and kick distributor. Bultman did a nice job of handling the basketball in the open floor and getting to the rim in July. Got on the offensive glass for some put backs too. Jumper needs to improve its consistency, but he shoots it sound with elevation.
Jeremiah Washington (Bogan)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #32
Washington is a quick and shifty point guard from Bogan that is a plus passer. Pushes in transition with his speed. Feel for getting others involved, but can also score. Most of his offense comes off his handles whether it is drives to the hoop or creating space to get his jumper off. Lack of height might hurt him a bit, but we are fans of his competitiveness.
Trey Boston (Downers Grove North)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #45
Boston is a combo guard that is a microwave type scorer. Once he gets hot from three it is on! This guard had several games in the spring where he took over carrying his team with his perimeter shooting both off the catch and pulling up. Tough and athletic guard that can really score when he gets rolling. Puts pressure on the ball defensively.
Artese Stapleton (Kenwood)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #46
Stapleton is a lead guard that is thin and wiry. He relies heavily on his speed to be effective. Slick handles in the open floor and will go coast to coast. Acrobatic finishes at the rim and can be a bit wild at times. Streaky perimeter shooter. Quality defender that is engaged on that end with his length getting steals.
Semaj Henderson (Downers Grove North)
Travel Team: Illinois Heat
Overall Ranking: #47
The Downers Grove North 2019 point guard is played some of the best hoops of his career during July for the Illinois Heat. Henderson is a guard that loves to get downhill where he finishes well at the rim or gets to the charity stripe. Good initial first step. Solid jump shooter that is picking his spots better on when to take those shots.
Fred Cleveland (Leo)
Travel Team: Team RWA
Overall Ranking: #48
Cleveland is a small guard that produces. For him it all starts with his defensive intensity. Long arms for his size allows him to be pesky at the point of attack. He records quite a few steals that he took the other way for layups. Knows how to shield defenders away from the ball. Offensively he is a fun player to watch with his deep range on his shot and slick ball handling.