PrepHoopsTN / Above the Rim Gym Fall Combine Recap: Part XXI
MURFREESBORO-
Guards. Guards. Guards.
The Fall Combine filled to the brim with deliciously talented guards.
Speedster Franklin Daniel Jr. further promoted the brand of Stewart’s Creek basketball out-dashing almost everyday. Daniel Jr. understood how to functionally exploit his speed advantage. This will be an enormous season for both Daniel Jr. and the Red Hawks basketball program.
Colton Phillips, Class of 2023 guard from MTCS, battled against some real monsters Sunday September 23rd in Blackman High School gymnasium. The challenge was mighty. How did he fare?
Colton Phillips 2023 MTCS Point Guard
Colton Phillips was one of the two middle school competitors in the Above the Rim Gym / PrepHoopsTN Fall Combine. Colton stands 5-foot-9 in shoes and weighs just 113 pounds.
Colton’s wingspan is 67 1/3″ and his standing reach measures 89 1/2″ off the ground. As a 5-foot-8 guard Colton is a capable catch-and-shoot guy at the high school level. He doesn’t yet have the speed to get by varsity defenders and his handle needs tightening when measured against varsity athletes.
Colton’s shot is repeatable and consistent. He is reliable shooting out to about 15′ and that will naturally extend as he physically matures naturally.
Franklin Daniel Jr. 2019 Stewart’s Creek Point Guard
Fast. Of the two sprint lanes, Franklin was the second fastest with Coach Gibson’s timing. The senior guard motored to a sparkling time of 3.38. Be warned that almost all of our sprint times are too fast to be believable against NBA combine times, so instead of hanging too much weight on his time just know that Daniel Jr. was faster than 97% of the hoopers in his sprint lane.
In halfcourt sets, Franklin shifts speeds efficiently. He can take the space-grabbing gigantic strides and seemingly instantaneously down-shift into quick jab steps. With varied speeds this guard smoothly escapes traps and keeps defenders unsettled and guessing.