Top Senior Guards: Miami
In this article:
Alejandro Caula, Homestead
The gritty, in-your-chest defender leaves no space and neutralizes plenty of prolific scorers. With his pesky style, he’s able to routinely provide the type of harassment that holds top scorers under their average. While defensive play is what he’s most recognized for, Caula has opened up a dependable shot which he can extend beyond the arc.
He’s a fluid scorer who can deliver corner jumpers and elbow jumpers and also get into the lane and finish. As a battle tested senior with the maturity and experience factor, he will be tasked with having a hand in a significant percentage of the production this season.
Julio Rodriguez, Champagnat
The gritty 6-foot guard is a flat out scoring cyborg. He showed a propensity for getting through and around defenders this summer, finishing at the rim through contact and adjusting his shot in crafty style through traffic. He’s able to score via the downhill game and really manufactures points with his fearlessness at carving his way to the rim.
He’s opened up his shot and invested more focus into that compartment of his game. He’s been steadily developing a 3-point presence, which adds balance to his diversified scoring portfolio. Averaging 22-25 PPG and piecing together numerous 30+ scoring performances this season is where the expectation level is set for the veteran Class of 2019 prospect.
Diego Rivera, Miami Christian
The 6-foot-1 guard is smooth and savvy with his scoring skill set. He’s shown a knack for transition 3-pointers and has a shot that’s capable of breaking open games. Though Rivera played behind stud guard Neftali Alvarez (now at Fairfield) last season, he showed glimpses in numerous eye-widening performances. It is now expected, as Rivera will likely centerpiece a loaded Miami Christian team that’s added some international flavor and compelling new pieces in 2018-19.
Algenis Quintana, Miami Christian
The rugged Class of 2019 guard from Puerto Rico has shiftiness and an ability to slash to the rim at will. He’s a pesky on-ball defender and will provide pressure all across the court. His handle and passing are sound components of his game, albeit his toughness and ability to slice down the lane and finish are what sets him apart from others.
Expect him to inherit the role of confrontational defender and orchestrate the offense from the get-go on this team.
Saint Vincent, Miami Beach
After averaging 20+ points and 10+ assists as a junior, Saint Vincent was at it again this summer. He catalyzed the transition game for Miami Beach, sparking the break and finding his teammates at opportune times. Offensively, he’s improved in his downhill game and his ability to make plays off the dribble. He possesses a pull-up game and an outside shot to supplement his maddening forays to the rim, where he can finish in nifty fashion and manufacture points at a torrid pace.
It would be hard to envision the battle-tested and proven guard putting up anything less than 25-28 points and 12 assists per game. He’s a game changer who can engineer runs and break it open with personal scoring spurts.
Toru Dean, South Miami
Dean has the potential to be a breakout prospect who garners a number of Division-I scholarships this season. There is several programs interested and this should result in offers within due time. Dean is a magician with the rock in his hands and can lead in the transition attack or deliver dazzling passes in the halfcourt set. He’s an energizer defensively and utilizes a unique blend of athleticism and sustained relentlessness in instigating turnovers.
Offensively, he scores it all three levels and is most poised during those vital, heightened pressure moments of the game.